The Merit Plus

Chemistry

Middle School Chemistry

Matter and Its Interactions

Matter: physical/chemical properties, states & changes, pure substances vs. mixtures.

Atomic Structure

Atoms & elements, atomic structure (protons, neutrons, electrons), intro to periodic table.

Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions involve reactants forming products, showing signs like color change or heat.

Energy in Chemical Processes

Chemical reactions follow mass conservation, involve heat change, shown in simple energy diagrams.

Gases and Their Properties

Gas behavior: volume, pressure, temperature; basic gas laws; real-life uses like balloons and breathing.

Introduction to Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry: count atoms/molecules, follow mass conservation, use models to grasp reaction ratios.

High School Chemistry (Grades 9–12)

Atomic Structure and Periodic Table

Atomic structure: subatomic particles, atomic/mass numbers, electron configs, and periodic trends.

Covalent Bonding and Molecular Geometry

Covalent bonds, Lewis structures, VSEPR theory, and how molecule shape affects polarity.

Covalent Bonding: Orbitals

Covalent bonding basics: valence bond theory, hybridization types, and intro to molecular orbital theory.

Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions: types, predicting products, balancing equations, and reactivity/activity series basics.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry: mole conversions, formulas, limiting reactants, percent yield, and reaction calculations.

Ionic and Metallic Bonding

Ionic and metallic bonding: ion formation, lattice energy, properties, crystal structures, and conductivity.

States of Matter and Gas Laws

States of matter & gas laws: kinetic theory, pressure-volume-temp relations, and key gas laws.

Thermochemistry

Thermochemistry: heat vs. temperature, calorimetry, enthalpy changes, and Hess’s Law basics.

Solutions and Mixtures

Solutions and mixtures: solubility, concentration types, dissociation, hydration, and colligative properties.

Acids and Bases

Acids & bases: definitions, strong vs weak, pH/pOH, and neutralization reactions explained.

Acid-Base Equilibria

Acid-base equilibria: dissociation constants, pKa/pKb, buffers, and titration curve basics.

Solubility and Complex Ion Equilibria

Solubility & complex ion equilibria: Ksp, common ion effect, precipitation, and complex ion formation.

Chemical Kinetics and Equilibrium

Chemical kinetics & equilibrium: reaction rates, rate laws, equilibrium constants, and Le Châtelier’s Principle.

Nuclear Chemistry

Nuclear chemistry: radioactive decay types, fission & fusion, half-life, and uses in medicine & energy.

Spontaneity & Entropy

Spontaneity & entropy: disorder, 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, Gibbs free energy, and reaction spontaneity.

Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry: redox reactions, balancing, electrochemical cells, reduction potentials, and battery use.

The Representative Elements

Representative elements: Groups 1–2, 13–18 chemistry, properties, reactions, uses, and periodic trends.

Transition Metals & Coordination Chemistry

Organic and Biological Molecules

Organic & biological molecules: hydrocarbons, functional groups, biomolecules, and their role in biology and polymers.

Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry

Unit 1: Atomic Structure and Properties

Explore atomic theory, electron configurations, and periodic trends using mass spectrometry insights.

Unit 2: Molecular and Ionic Compound Structure and Properties

Understand bonding types, draw Lewis structures, explore resonance, VSEPR shapes, and hybrid orbitals.

Unit 3: Intermolecular Forces and Properties

Learn about states of matter, IMFs, and how they affect solids, liquids, gases, and solution properties.

Kinetics

Study reaction rates, rate laws, mechanisms, catalysts, and how collisions affect chemical reactions.

Thermodynamics

Understand heat flow, enthalpy changes, calorimetry, and apply Hess’s Law to thermochemical equations.

Equilibrium

Explore chemical equilibrium, use ICE tables, calculate K values, and predict shifts with Le Châtelier’s Principle.

Unit 8: Acids and Bases

Unit 9: Applications of Thermodynamics

Study entropy, Gibbs Free Energy, redox reactions, and electrochemical cells like galvanic and electrolytic.