page contents

AP Chemistry Syllabus

Instructor: Mr. Karari Hanks
Room: #10 (Basement)
Phone: 323-2237 ext. 1279
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Conference Period: 5th Period

I. Purpose
AP Chemistry is a course designed to provide students with a learning experience equivalent to that of a one-year general chemistry college course.  Students should complete a first year course in high school chemistry and a second-year algebra course before taking AP Chemistry.  This course differs from first-year high school chemistry in the kind of textbook(s) used, the range and depth of topics covered, the emphasis on chemical calculations and the mathematical formulation of principles.  The nature and variety of laboratory work done is extensive.  A minimum of 25% of the course will be devoted to laboratory and hands-on/minds-on activities.  The time and effort required of students is extensive.  The course meets five days each week for two semesters.

 

II. Textbook - Brown, LeMay, Bursten.  Chemistry – The Central Science 11th ed. (2009)

 

III. Chapter Outlines – Chapter outlines will be posted online on my website.  It is the responsibility of the students to print out the outline if they choose.

 

IV.  Course Content

AP Chemistry is built around six big ideas and seven science practices.

  • Big Idea 1: 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.
  • Big Idea 2: Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them.
  • Big Idea 3: Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons.
  • Big Idea 4: Rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the molecular collisions.
  • Big Idea 5: The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter.
  • Big Idea 6: 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.

 

The science practices for AP Chemistry are designed to get the students to think and act like scientists.

The science practices are:

  • Science Practice 1: The student can use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve scientific problems.
  • Science Practice 2: The student can use mathematics appropriately.
  • Science Practice 3: The student can engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within the context of the AP course.
  • Science Practice 4: The student can plan and implement data collection strategies in relation to a particular scientific question.
  • Science Practice 5: The student can perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence.
  • Science Practice 6: The student can work with scientific explanations and theories.
  • Science Practice 7: The student is able to connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts, and representations in and across domains.

 

V. Evaluation and Grading
     A. Tests will be given at the end of a unit and will be in an AP Test format consisting of multiple choice and essay questions.  The first semester final exam will count as a formal assessment and NO ONE WILL BE EXEMPT.  Formal assessments will be announced ahead of time.

      B. Labs will be given throughout the semester to further develop concepts and allow the students to visually see the topics we are discussing.  Lab reports will be completed throughout the semester.  Lab reports must follow the correct formatting guidelines (see Lab Report Handout).

      C. Homework assignments will be given on a regular basis.  The purpose of the work will be further practice and/or preparation for previous lessons.  Students will be allowed to work on daily assignments in collaborative groups and are expected to have them completed on the assigned due date.  We will go over any difficulties in class together. Larger homework assignments will be graded for correctness and are due at the beginning of class the day that they are due.

      D. Lab Safety – Each student will be instructed in laboratory safety and reminded of rules and procedures.  Students can be seriously injured if safety procedures are not followed.  Any student who does not comply with safety regulations or conducts himself/herself inappropriately during lab may receive a zero for that lab.  Students may also receive a discipline referral to the administration for inappropriate lab behavior.Tests will be given at the end of each Unit.

      E. Late Assignments are NOT accepted! – Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period!
      F.  Grading Scale
               A: 90-100
               B: 80-89
               C: 70-79
               D: 60-69
               F: 59 and below
    The Student's average is calculated by the following:
            Total Points Earned      X 100%
            Total Points Possible

 

VI. Attendance and Makeup Work

  1. Attendance is required and attendance will be taken each day at the beginning of class.
  • Zooming students need to be logged into the class Zoom on time.
  • Zooming students should make sure their camera and microphone are working BEFORE class begins.
  • Zooming students need to type their name (First and Last) in the Chat Box of the Zoom.
  •  Zooming students need to have their camera ON with them in the picture for ALL of the instruction of class time.
  • If Zooming students do not want others seeing their room that they are in, they can use a Virtual Background (Click here to see how to do this).
    • If the student is absent the day before a test and they come back to school the next day, and we have not covered any new material, the student is responsible for taking the test.
    • If a student is absent the day of the test, they will have until the end of the day (that they return to school) to take the test.  If the test is not made up that day, they will receive a zero for the test.   
  1. Makeup tests will be given for excused absences only and will not be made up during class time.  It is the student's responsibility to see me upon returning from the absence to schedule a time to makeup the test or quiz.  The student will have a maximum number of school days, equal to the number of school days missed, to make up the test (for example if a student misses a Thursday and Friday, they have Monday and Tuesday to make up the test). 
  1. If a student was present when an assignment was assigned and is absent the day it is due, the assignment will be due the day the student gets back from their absence.  The assignment will be scored a zero if the work is not made up.  
  2. All other makeup assignments will have a set due date from when the student returns and will be scored a zero if the work is not made up. 

 

VII. Academic Dishonesty

A.   Any act of academic dishonesty will receive a 0 on the assignment and the student will forfeit the right to any extra credit or bonus opportunities for the Nine Weeks.

B.    A report will be made to the student’s parents and to any Honor Societies the student belongs to.

C.   A second offense will result in a disciplinary referral that may result in a suspension.

 

VIII. Materials

  1. Textbook
  2. 1½" – 2" Ring Binder with Paper & Dividers
  3. Scientific Calculator (TI –30X IIS is the recommended calculator for this class)
  4. Pens and/or Pencils