A.P. CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is intended to act as an introductory course in General Chemistry in preparation for completion of the AP Chemistry Exam. The course covers the equivalent of 2 semesters of college / university Introductory Chemistry, and students who achieve a passing score on the exam may be eligible for credit in their college lecture or laboratory course, depending on individual college / university policies.
AP Chemistry is a rigorous, Algebra I based course, with an extensive laboratory component. It is intended for students who have exhibited a willingness to commit to intensive study. These students should have exhibited success in Science and Math through the completion of a 1st year introductory High School Chemistry course and a course in Algebra I, with a minimum of a “B” average. The class meets for five 60 minute periods per week, and will average a minimum of 2 hours of lab time each week.
The topics included in AP Chemistry should include, but are not limited to classification and structure of matter, atomic theory, chemical bonding and nomenclature, periodic trends, reaction types and predicting reaction products, gas laws, properties of solids, liquids and solutions, chemical and physical equilibrium, acids and bases, kinetics, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics.
The sequential and interdependent nature of the topics covered results in the integration of these topics, and a progressive increase in the level of problem solving skills required as the year progresses. This means that the topics covered at the beginning of the course form the foundation required for the development and understanding of all that is to follow. A lack of understanding of the beginning topics will result in an inability to understand and apply the more complex integrated topics that arise later in the year. For that reason, students are encouraged to actively seek out help and assistance as soon as needed.
Laboratory work is required in order to supplement and broaden the understanding of the course concepts through hands on application of the course concepts. A laboratory component is included in the AP Exam, and recent trends indicate that this course component will become even more important in terms of success on the Exam. Students will be required to maintain accurate and complete records of their lab activities as this record may be required by the college / university as a requirement for granting the lab credit associated with the course lecture.
A reliable scientific calculator is required. It does not have to be a graphing calculator.
GRADING POLICY
Since the goal of this course is test performance, exams and quizzes will make up the majority of the grade for this course. Homework is assigned in order to provide the MINIMUM amount of practice needed to be successful on the exams and quizzes. Generally speaking experience as a student and teacher has taught me that the less you know or understand, the more homework and independent study you have to do in order to have the same degree of success. Students who have difficulty with the assignments are expected to take the initiative to do additional work and to actively seek out specific help in order to get the practice they need. Homework will be discussed in class before the exam, and will be collected on the day of the exam.
FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE HOMEWORK WILL RESULT IN A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATERIAL, WHICH WILL USUALLY RESULT IN A POOR EXAM GRADE.
Grades will be weighted, according to the following categories….
Assignments (classwork / homework, etc) 10%
Lab Reports 25%
Assessments (Chapter Exams) 40%
Projects 15%
Reading 10%
EVERY ATTEMPT WILL
BE MADE TO CONFORM TO THE SCHOOL EXAM DAY SCHEDULE; HOWEVER THERE MAY BE
TIMES WHEN THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. IN THAT CASE THE CLASS AND THE SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATION WILL BE CONSULTED BEFORE THE TEST DAY IS DETERMINED. I FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT OVERLOADING STUDENTS WITH TOO MANY EXAMS ON THE SAME DAY IS
INCONSIDERATE AND UNPROFESSIONAL. I RESERVE THE SANCTITY OF MY ASSIGNED
TEST DAY AND THE TEST DAYS OF OTHERS, BUT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THOSE
TEACHERS WHO DO NOT EXHIBIT THE SAME CONCERN.
Keep in mind that my goal, as well as yours, is to provide you with every opportunity possible for success in this course. A concerted and consistent display of EFFORT AND PARTICIPATION goes a long way towards both your success, and my perception of your desire to succeed in this class.
The Following is a suggested syllabus for the year, however
the actual labs performed and the sequence of the topics covered is subject
to change
A.P. CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS
Text:
Chemistry: the Central Science
Brown,
Lab Manuals:
Laboratory Experiments for Chemistry: The Central Science
Brown,
Labs for A.P. Chemistry
Vonnegut / Flinn Scientific
Labs listed are subject to change depending on availability of materials.
Suggested Resources:
Cracking the AP Chemistry
Exam –
Barron’s how to prepare for the AP Chemistry Exam- Neil Jespersen
Vernier Chemistry with Calculators – Holmquist and Volz
Web Sites: