Tomball Independent School District
Tomball Memorial High School
AP Chemistry Course Syllabus
AP Chemistry Exam
Monday May 1st, 2016 (Morning) 8:00 am
Test StructureMultiple Choice
60 questions-90 minutes
worth 50% of overall score
Formula Sheet(for entire test)
No Calculator
No recall questions
More reading in some questions
4 choices instead of 5
some “set” questions involving several questions for the same prompt
Free Response Section
worth 50% of overall score
formula sheet
90 minutes
no reduction potential table (values included in questions when needed)
3 long and 4 short questions
-short questions should be able to answer in about 5 minutes
Questions will be of these types:
-planning a lab procedure
-interpreting lab data
-atomic/molecular level representations
-making connections
-calculations
AP Chemistry Topics
Big Idea 1: structure of Matter
The chemical elements are fundamental building materials of matter, and all matter can be understood in terms of arrangements of atoms. These atoms retain their identity in chemical reactions.
Major topics include:
● Law of definite composition
● Mass-mole-particle-volume conversions
● Electron arrangement
● Fundamentals and uses of spectroscopy
● Periodicity
● Atomic models
● Conservation of mass
● Gravimetric analysis and titration experiments
Big Idea 2: Properties of Matter
Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them.
Major Topics Include:
● Relation of physical states to properties
● kinetic molecular theory of gases
● Gas laws
● Solutions
● Lewis diagrams
● Molecular shapes, hybridization and polarity
● Intermolecular forces
● Relationship of bonding type and intermolecular forces to properties
Big Idea 3: Chemical Reactions
Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons.
Major Topics Include:
● Writing Chemical Equations
● Stoichiometry
● Bronsted-Lowry acid-base theory
● Redox reactions and oxidation numbers
● Physical and chemical changes
● Calculations involving voltaic and electrolytic processes
Big Idea 4: Kinetics
Rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the molecular collisions.
Major Topics Include:
● Factors affecting rates of reactions
● Rate laws
● Energy profiles
● Catalysts
● Reaction mechanisms
Big Idea 5: Thermodynamics
The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter.
Major Topics Include:
● Relationship of kinetic energy and temperature
● Energy transfer
● Energy of phase changes
● Enthalpy changes in chemical reactions
● Calorimetry experiments and calculations
● Bond energy
● Energy involved in overcoming intermolecular forces
● Entropy
● Free energy and thermodynamic favorability of reactions
Big Idea 6: Equilibrium
Any bond or intermolecular attraction that can be formed can be broken. These two processes are in a dynamic competition, sensitive to initial conditions and external perturbations.
Major Topics Include
● Concept of chemical equilibrium
● Calculations of equilibrium constants(K) and reaction quotients(Q)
● LeChatelier’s principle
● Weak and strong acids and bases
● pH calculations
● Titrations experiments and curves
● Buffer systems
● Solubility equilibria
● Relationship of free energy change to equilibrium constants
Textbook:
Chemistry, 9th Edition
Steven and Susan Zumdahl
Brook/Cole/Cengage Learning
2014
Course Materials:
100 page Carbon Copy Lab Notebook
Calculator(the one you plan on using for the AP test)
Class Notebook: A standard, 3-ring class notebook is required of every student. This notebook should be used for taking notes from lecture, problem solving sessions, class discussions, and reading assignments. Homework assignments done in this notebook must be detachable, since they are frequently collected and graded. Also, any handouts should be kept in this binder.
Course Requirements:
The final examination and all chapter tests are required for the completion of the course. In addition, all labs must be performed with a lab report submitted to summarize the results.
Grading:
In accordance with district policies semester grades will be divided into 2 categories with the following weighted values:
70% Major Assignments (tests and labs)
30% Daily Assignments (quizzes, homework, and classwork)
Make-up/Late Work:
Make-up work due to legal absence must be handed in upon your return to school. Specific class materials covered should be obtained from me or a classmate, and it is your responsibility to see me about make-up work. Late homework assignments will NOT be accepted after the due date.
Teaching Methods:
Outside reading and reference work are an integral part of this course.
Students will be assigned specific problems as homework/class work based upon reading assignments from the textbook. In-class, group discussion will provide a deeper understanding of integrated concepts involved. We will expand upon the concepts with additional, probative questions during this time. Therefore, it is imperative that ALL problem assignments be prepared by each student before coming to class in order to be active participants. Students in the class will be evaluated based upon their level of participation. Three randomly selected homework problems will be collected and checked for accuracy on the day they are due. Each student will hand in all unit problems on the day of the unit test.
Cooperative group work will be used to plan and design experiments to solve specific scientific problems. The class notebooks, calculator, and all other materials related to the assignments are to be brought to class daily, unless directed to do otherwise.