High School Chemistry
You either love it or hate it — no in between. This page covers the topics and content that is usually covered in high school chemistry courses. There are also specialized pages for AP Chemistry and IB Chemistry.
Virtual Tutor
More personalized support? Book a one-to-one session tailored to exactly where you are stuck. At your own pace, real-time feedback, and most of all guidance for support beyond the session. Read more about our tutoring here.
Ready to book a session now? Meet our high school chemistry tutors ready to help:
Group Sessions
CHEMDUNN hosts small groups of frustrated undergrads to unlock the most challenging concepts. It is like tutoring but done in small groups around a common topic. Think of them as seminars, workshops, mini-courses.
Learn more about groups here and check out our high school chemistry offerings here.
OnDemand Async Help
You've spent time Googling. ChatGPT just isn't giving you the answer either (well maybe). You just need a little help to get through that random problem which is blocking everything else. Submit the question, get the answer and explanation to your inbox. Done.
Get unstuck now.
We are in the lab at work getting resources to the popular topics of General Chemistry I and II for you. See what we’re doing below.
Semester 1
General Chemistry I
Atoms, Molecules, and Ions
Atomic theory and structure; Periodic table organization and atomic properties; Chemical formulas, molecular compounds, ionic compounds; Nomenclature basics
Stoichiometry
The mole concept, Avogadro’s number; Balancing chemical equations; Mass relationships in reactions, limiting reagents, percent yield
Chemical Reactions
Types of reactions (e.g., precipitation, acid-base, redox); Writing and interpreting balanced equations; Net ionic equations
Thermochemistry
Energy, heat, and work; Endothermic vs. exothermic processes; Enthalpy (ΔH), calorimetry, and Hess’s law
Electronic Structure of Atoms
Electromagnetic radiation and quantization of energy; Bohr model, quantum mechanical model of the atom; Electron configurations, orbitals, and quantum numbers
Periodic Properties of the Elements
Trends in atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity; Electron affinity; Relationship of periodic trends to electronic structure
Basic Chemical Bonding
Ionic and covalent bonding; Lewis structures and resonance; Bond polarity and electronegativity
Molecular Geometry & Bonding Theories
VSEPR theory (molecular shapes); Valence bond theory (hybridization) basics; Introduction to molecular orbital theory (optional or brief)
States of Matter & Intermolecular Forces*
Properties of gases, liquids, and solids; Gas laws (if time allows, or covered early in General Chemistry II); Intermolecular forces (e.g., dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding, dispersion)
Semester 2
General Chemistry II
Chemical Kinetics
Reaction rates and rate laws; Determining reaction order; Mechanisms and the Arrhenius equation
Chemical Equilibrium
Equilibrium constants (Kc, Kp); Le Châtelier’s principle
Acid-Base Chemistry
Definitions (Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, Lewis); Acid-base equilibria, Ka, Kb; pH calculations, buffers, titrations
Aqueous Ionic Equilibria
Common-ion effect; Buffer solutions; Solubility product (Ksp); Complex ion formation and precipitation reactions
Thermodynamics
First, Second, and Third Laws of Thermodynamics; Enthalpy (ΔH), Entropy (ΔS), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG); Spontaneity and equilibrium
Electrochemistry
Redox reactions and balancing in acidic/basic solutions; Galvanic (voltaic) cells and cell potential; Standard reduction potentials; Batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis, and corrosion
Coordination Chemistry (optional or introductory)
Complex ions and coordination compounds; Naming and structure of coordination complexes; Crystal field theory (basic principles)
Nuclear Chemistry (optional or introductory)
Types of radioactivity; Nuclear reactions and decay processes; Applications in medicine and energy
Special Topics or Extensions (varies by course)
Basic organic chemistry concepts or functional groups; Biochemical relevance (e.g., metabolism, enzymes); Advanced applications of thermodynamics and kinetics