Course: AP Chemistry
Classroom B221
Office C125
Mr. Michael Markey
847-289-3760 ext 3411
“Taking the future bySTORM”
Course Description:
This course is designed to provide a solid, first-year college chemistry experience, both conceptually and in the laboratory. For some students, successful completion of this course may enable them to take a second-year chemistry course during their first college year or to register in courses in other fields where general chemistry is a prerequisite. For other students, the AP Chemistry course may fulfill the laboratory science requirement at their college or university, allowing them more time for other courses.
The initial part of the course will be focused on the study of principles of reactivity. The goal of this section will be to provide an introduction to the factors that lead chemical reactions to be successful in producing products. More specifically, a study of the common types of reactions, the energy involved in reactions, and the factors that affect the speed of a reaction will be performed. The other part of the course will lay the groundwork for understanding principles of bonding and molecular structure. Course content includes structure of atoms and molecules, bonding fundamentals, fundamentals of chemical reactions, Stoichiometry, thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, and electron transfer reactions.
Expectations and Benefits:
This course demands much more from every student than any class you have taken before. Material is covered very quickly and we do not stop until the AP exam in May. There is not a night when you have “no homework”. Every night there is something to be working on for this class, from general studying and working on problems to writing lab reports. You should spend about 30 minutes each night reviewing over notes and material that were covered that day. Cramming and only studying for tests will not be enough to achieve a high mark for this class.
If you can follow these guidelines, you have the potential to score high on the AP exam in May. This can give you college credit for General Chemistry. This can save you and your family thousands of dollars. You can also plan to graduate college early by earning this credit, saving even more money in the future. Finally, even if you do not take the exam or score high enough, you are gaining all the information from a first year college chemistry course. When you take this class in college, the material will be that much easier for you, hopefully earning you an A your freshman year.
Course Prerequisites: A grade of B or better in Biology 1-2, Chemistry 1-2, and Algebra 3-4 Honors. Successful completion of Physics 1-2 or Honors Physics, or concurrent enrollment in Physics 1-2 or Honors Physics. Students should also be enrolled in Honors Pre-Calculus, Calculus, or Honors Calculus. Students who do not meet the above requirements may apply for the course by contacting the Math/Science Division Chairperson.
Lab Requirements: First year college chemistry courses typically include a 3-hour laboratory session per week. Therefore students enrolled in AP Chemistry will spend a significant amount of time in the lab. Labs will challenge students to think analytically, design and carry out experiments that answer questions, collect, manipulate, and analyze data, and make conclusions based on the analysis of experimental results. Students will also be required to effectively communicate their findings by writing formal lab reports.
Class Schedule: In order for students to receive an experience similar to a college setting, AP chemistry class will be held for 1½ periods each school day. Approximately four days each week will be used for lecture and discussion (6 hours per week) and one day will be used for laboratory work (1.5 hours per week)
Textbook:Kolz John C. & Treichel, JrPaulM.Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity 4th ed.SaundersCollege Publishing
Lab Book: Experiments will be taken from an AP Chemistry Lab Book.
Required Materials:
●ThreeRingBinder with Loose Leaf Paper or Large Notebook/Folder:All notes, problem sets, quizzes, and tests will be kept in this binder.
●Scientific Calculator:Check with math teacher before purchasing.
●Safety Glasses: The school provides safety goggles.
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, copying of labs, homework, quizzes, exams, or any attempt at passing off someone else’s work as your own. This will result in a zero for the assignment. If you are caught giving your work to another student, you will also receive a zero. Lab data is the only thing that can be shared among your group. Everything else in a lab report needs to be your own. Disciplinary action through the Dean's Office is also possible.
Classroom Atmosphere: Realizing that each person has a unique and individual personality, our classroom atmosphere will be based on mutual courtesy and respect so that each student has an equal opportunity to learn. Daily attendance and participation in class and lab are necessary for the successful completion of this course. Grades are earned, not given, and the grade a student receives in the course will relate to the degree of effort put forth by the student and degree of mastery of the subject content. All rules outlined in the SEHS Student Handbook will be followed, as well as additional rules concerning safety in the Laboratory.
Suggestions for Success
Students who are responsible, participate in all activities, complete assignments in a timely manner, and follow the STORM Traits will achieve the most success in this class.
Attendance: Daily Attendance, contribution, and participation are necessary for the successful completion of this course. If you must miss class, you are responsible for making up the work/lab/test immediately after or prior to your absence.
Responsibility:Students are responsible for their own learning in this class and will need to put forth effort to achieve a high level of success in this course. It is the student’s responsibility to be prepared for class and labs by reading background information and practicing required skills. Organization of information and materials will help students keep up with daily assignments and activities. Students who miss class for any reason will be expected to make up all work, including activities and labs, as soon as possible.
Participation: Students are expected and encouraged to actively participate in class. Students should work to the best of their ability to master the content of each lesson. This includes, but is not limited to, reading the text, asking questions, sharing your thoughts and ideas about topics discussed in class, listening, observing, taking notes, and collaborating with a group/partner during lab periods.
Assignments and Make Up Work:Homework is given frequently. All homework assignments will not be collected and graded. Random assignments will be collected and you will not know which ones or how many. They will be due when they are asked and not a moment later. Late work is not accepted. Most other assignments will have their answers posted on my website for you to check your accuracy and understanding. Failure to make up an assignment, activity or lab will result in a grade of zero for that assignment. Lab work is extremely difficult to make up due to set up of chemicals and equipment. Arrangements for make-up labs should be discussed with your teacher. Coaches and sponsors are very willing to work with classroom teaches to make sure academic work is complete in order for students to maintain their grades and remain eligible for sports and activities.
Extra Help is Available:Before and After School and during my free periods. See me to schedule a time.
Grades
Grade Scale:
90-100 A
80-90B
70-80C
60-70D
0-60E
Overall Semester Grade: Overall grade is a combination ofdaily work, quizzes, labs, and exams.
Daily Work:5% of 9 weeks grade
●There will be 10-15 practice problems assigned per chapter. Problem sets are due before chapter quizzes are taken.
Quizzes:25% of 9 weeks grade
●There will be a quiz after every chapter.
●If for some very extreme reason you must miss a quiz, you are responsible for arranging a make-up quiz.
Labs:30% of 9 weeks grade
●Students are expected to follow all safety guidelines as outlined in the Flinn Safety Contract.
●Students are expected to keep their lab area clean and return all equipment to correct storage locations.
●Students are required to write formal lab reports for each experiment.
Exams:40% of 9 weeks grade
●There will be three or four exams plus a final exam each semester.
●Exams will cover multiple chapters and include multiple parts. If you must miss the exam for some extreme reason, you must make arrangements to take it early.
AP Exam:Students are encouraged, but not required, to take the AP Chemistry Exam in May. Review books and practice exams will be available to helpstudents prepare for the AP Exam. The cost of this exam is approximately $86.00.
Labs
Labs support, convey, and cement the chemical principles presented in lectures and demonstrations. They also provide students with an opportunity to learn new physical skills, foster good collaborative relationships, and improve problem solving techniques while learning how chemisty really works. The laboratory investigations are inquiry based, student-centered, and a primary vechicle for learning the fundamental concepts and principles of chemistry. Students have the copy of each lab in their lab book and must complete a pre-lab assignment before participating in the lab. Students will work in groups, but each student must keep an accurate list of data and each student must write his or her own lab report. Only collected data may be shared among a group. Because colleges often require students to present their laboratory materials from AP courses before granting college credit for laboratory, students are expected to retain their laboratory notebooks, reports, and other materials. Students will submit a formal lab report for each lab which should reflect the purpose of the lab, give a brief introduction, any pertinent background information, summarize the procedure, report and analyze the results, and provide an error analysis. The conclusion should contain well written paragraphs and be grammatically correct. Approximately one day per week will be devoted to lab work.
All U-46 students and their parents/guardians must sign the Flinn Safety Contract prior to participating in lab. If at any time a student violates any of the rules in the safety agreement he or she will be asked to leave the lab area and will forfeit his or her grade for that lab.
Students in AP chemistry will be using expensive equipment. Students are expected to treat all items with extreme care. Students are also responsible for the condition of the lab area. All glassware should be washed and equipment and supplies should be returned to proper storage locations. Counter tops should be cleaned and goggles returned to the goggle cabinet.