<p>For those of you in AP Chem using Zumdahl’s text, how important are the chapters after Nuclear Chemistry, except Organic chapter?</p>
<p>Are the Survey of Group I, II, etc chapters important? Also, are coordination complexes and metallurgy, crystal field theory important for the exam?</p>
<p>Actually can someone say what are the most important chapters? Like the things you must absolutely know for the AP Exam.</p>
<p>All the chapters prior to the elemental surveys and organic chem will be on there, though maybe not some of the latter bio-related topics in organic chem.</p>
<p>However, chapter 10 may only be there in their fundamental forms.</p>
<p>But I want to know whether chapter 21 is essential, particularly about coordination complexes, etc.</p>
<p>I took a look at the Group IA-8A chapters, and they seem helpful for the qualitative part of the exam and their relatively short, so I’ll prob spend a couple of hours reading them.</p>
<p>Most of chapters 1-17 are fair game for the test, except MO theory in chapter 9 and the structure of crystalline solids in chapter 10. The only organic that shows up is (a) naming needed for Question 4 (reaction writing) (b) simple isomerism (structural vs geometric isomers) and (c) the ability to recognize organic functional groups for the purpose of identifying intermolecular forces. Organic molecules also show up as examples in questions (for example - doing delta H calculations on a combustion reaction) but knowledge of organic isn’t really required. Questions about organic reactions haven’t shown up on the test since the 80’s.<br>
As far as nuclear, you can nearly skip the chapter. Balancing simple nuclear reactions is all that’s required. (i.e. identifying the isotope formed given the starting isotope and the particles emitted) Half-life calculations are also important, but those are covered in the kinetics chapter.
Coordination compounds typically only show up in Quesiton 4. You need to recognize which words signal that a coordination complex is formed, and how many ligands to use.</p>
<p>Does Zumdahl’s explain how to determine number of ligands?</p>
<p>Metal ions that commonly form coordination compounds (complex ions):
Al3+, Cu2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Fe2+(or 3+), Ni2+, Ag1+
All Curiously Colored Zebras Felt Nicely Agreeable</p>
<p>Common ligands: NH3, OH1-, Cl1-, SCN1-, CN1-</p>
<p>Most common coordination number: twice the charge of the metal ion.</p>
<p>Ex: (2003 form B Question 4g) Excess concentrated potassium hydroxide solution is added to a solution of nickel(II)Chloride.
Answer: OH1- + Ni2+ –> Ni(OH)4(2-) [That’s 4 hydroxides with a net ionic charge of 2-]</p>
<p>Note: 2003 test didn’t require balanced reactions.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what the Zumdahl chapter says, I’ve never actually read it. The above summarizes what you need to know for the AP test.</p>
<p>Thanks for that. So for those cation/anion combinations, the coordination # is always twice the charge of the metal ion?</p>
<p>For many metals that form coordination compounds, there is more than one possible answer for the number of ligands it bonds with. Coordination#=twice charge is almost always one of the possibilities, so it’s a safe bet. The scoring guide for the reaction questions always says that any correct response earns points, but the typical response listed in the answer key usually follows the “twice the charge” rule.</p>
<p>Sorry, short of time earlier - let me be a little more specific. From 1981 to 2004 there were roughly 20 complex ion equations in Question 4. (I haven’t sorted the equations from the last two years.) All of them followed the “twice the charge rule” except</p>
<p>Fe3+ + SCN- –> Fe(SCN)2+
sometimes Fe(SCN)6(3-) [six SCN ligands with net 3- charge] is listed as an exceptable alternate and sometimes its not.</p>
<p>Al3+ + OH- –> Al(OH)4(1-) (four hydroxide ligands with a net 1- charge)</p>
<p>The aluminum ion with 4 hydroxide ligands really is the standard - you should probably know that one. If you follow the “twice the charge rule” with Fe3+ and SCN-, you probably have a 50/50 chance of getting the points.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks a lot!</p>