As the AP Exam* season approaches, now is a great time to revisit relevant topics that may have been overlooked during your exam preparation. Certain topics, especially those in electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and kinetics, tend to get missed either because they appear late in the curriculum, leaving little time for thorough coverage, or because their complexity can be daunting, leading some educators to skirt around them. In this blog post, we’re sharing some practical experiments from our lab books that can help you address potential gaps.

1. Electrochemistry: Understanding Voltaic (Galvanic) Cells

Concepts about electrochemistry frequently surface on the AP Chemistry Exam in questions about chemical reactions. Students need to be able to identify what is being oxidized and what is being reduced, as well identify and understand what is happening at the cathode and anode.

A lot of students memorize mnemonics about this, like “Red Cat” and “An Ox,” but it is essential for students to actually grasp the underlying principles behind it. The following experiments are a great way to get students comfortable with these concepts, including using the Nernst equation:

Recommended Experiments

• Electrochemistry: Voltaic Cells (Experiment #20, Advanced Chemistry with Vernier)
• Electroplating (Experiment #21, Advanced Chemistry with Vernier)
• Determining Avogadro’s Number (Experiment #31, Advanced Chemistry with Vernier)

2. Thermodynamics: Determining Enthalpy

Recommended Experiments

• Determining the Enthalpy of a Chemical Reaction (Experiment #13, Advanced Chemistry with Vernier)
• The Enthalpy of Neutralization of Phosphoric Acid (Experiment #26, Advanced Chemistry with Vernier)
• Burning Accelerants (Experiment #6, Forensic Chemistry Experiments)
• Food Is Fuel (Experiment #01, Food Chemistry Experiments)

3. Kinetics: Understanding Rate Constants

In kinetics, students investigate the rates at which chemical changes occur and what factors might influence those rates. For the AP Exam, students need to navigate between experimental data, rate laws, and a proposed mechanism.

Recommended Experiments

• The Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide (Experiment #12, Advanced Chemistry with Vernier)
• The Rate and Order of a Chemical Reaction (Experiment #25, Advanced Chemistry with Vernier)
• Color Countdown Timer (Colorimeter) (Experiment #7B, Forensic Chemistry Experiments)
• Rate Determination and Activation Energy (Experiment #35, Advanced Chemistry with Vernier)

What Vernier experiments have helped you prepare your students for the AP Chemistry Exam? We’d love to hear about your experience! Reach out to us at chemistry@vernier.com or call 888-837-6437.

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*AP and Advanced Placement Program are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of and does not endorse this product.