Advanced Placement Chemistry
2011-2012
PREREQUISITES:
Mandatory: Prior credit for Chemistry I and Algebra II
Recommended: Physics and Pre-Calculus (prior credit preferred)
RATIONALE: This course is designed to be equivalent to a two-semester general
chemistry course usually taken the first college year. Topics covered are outlined in the
College
Board
AP
course
description
guide
for
this
course
at
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/descriptions/index.html and include:
atomic structure, bonding theory, instrumentation, thermodynamics, acid-base theory,
equilibrium, kinetics, electrochemistry, organic chemistry, and descriptive chemistry.
Extensive laboratory experiences are an essential and required component of this course.
Students completing this course should be prepared to take the national exam offered each
Spring for potential college credit.
COURSE MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Lecture:
Text: Chemistry by Zumdahl (5/e)
Laboratory:
Laboratory Notebook (NCR-type) (provided)
Grading and Assessment:
Tests and Lab Reports
Homework
Lab Prep and Recitation
60%
30%
10%
Semester Exam
20% All students will take a Fall semester exam.
80% of the semester grade
Students may be exempt from the Spring exam if they are passing the 9-weeks, the semester, and
the course, AND take the AP Chemistry exam (Monday, May 7, 2012).
Tests and Laboratory
1. Unit tests will consist of multiple choice and/or free-response questions.
2. Unit tests may be retaken/corrected for a maximum score of 70.
Dates for
retaking/correcting a test are given when the test is returned (usually 2-3 days are
available).
3. All labs require hands-on work in the laboratory. Laboratories average about 2-3 class
periods of time per week. Students will collaborate in small groups (see Lab Prep
section). Laboratory work involves collection, processing, and manipulation of data
taken from physical observations.
4. All laboratory work will be recorded in the provided laboratory notebook as a report to
convey procedures, observations, relevant calculations, and conclusions using specified
guidelines. While the lab work is done as a group, laboratory reports are written by the
individual and, especially in the Results and Conclusions sections, must show evidence
of individual thought and effort.
5. Laboratory reports must be handwritten in black ink in the provided laboratory
notebook. No “scratch” paper and/or loose paper are allowed.
6. A “pre-lab” (see Lab Prep section) is assigned for each lab. This section consists of an
problem/objective, materials, procedure, and data tables. Students will not be allowed to
proceed with the lab unless the pre-lab is completed first. The procedure and format for
laboratory reports are specified in the “Laboratory Report” format handout. If there are
errors in formatting, the report will be returned for correcting. A penalty of 10pts/return
will be assessed.
7. When submitting lab reports, only the yellow sheets (the copy) from the lab notebook are
removed, stapled and submitted.
8. Late reports will be assessed a penalty of 20 pts/day.
9. The laboratory notebook is the property of the La Vernia High School. If the notebook is
requested by a college/university to determine laboratory credit, please notify the
Instructor and arrangements will be made.
Homework
1. Homework assignments may be handouts or problems from the textbook. Work must be
shown for calculations to receive credit.
2. Homework is graded based on completion and/or accuracy. Students will be given credit
for partial work turned on the due date. As we do go over the solutions and answers in
class, no late work will be accepted.
Lab Prep and Recitation
1. Pre-lab (intro, materials, procedure, and any data tables), set-up, clean-up of the
laboratory area, and participation in the lab activity will be evaluated separately from
the lab report.
2. Students will not be allowed to proceed with the lab unless the pre-lab is completed first.
A late penalty (25 pts) will be incurred if the pre-lab is not complete by the beginning of
the lab period but is completed during the period before the student begins the lab work.
Students not completing the pre-lab are choosing to work alone—not in a group—on the
assigned lab.
3. At least once per grading cycle, small groups or individuals will be assigned an advanced
problem from the current unit to present to the class. Students will be graded on their
completeness and clarity (per rubric) in presenting the solution of the problem to the
class.
Visual aids must be employed (marker board, poster board, Powerpoint
presentation) to help in the explanation of the problem.
1st Semester ‘11-12 Tentative Course and Lab Schedule-AP Chemistry
(Text: Zumdahl)
Chapter(s)-Topic(s)
Week of
08/22-08/31
1,2-Chemistry Fundamentals
TEST (Ch 1-2)
08/31
09/05-09-12
09/12
09/19
09/19-10/03
Lab: Determination of the Molar Mass of Gases and Volatile
Liquids
3-Stoichiometry
Lab-Analytical Gravimetric Analysis of a Metal Carbonate
TEST (Ch 3)
09/12
Lab-Determination of the Empirical Formula of Silver Oxide
10/05
CH4 and AP Chemical Reactions-handouts
09/26
Lab-Analysis of Aluminum Potassium Sulfate
10/03
Lab-Determination the Stoichiometry of Chemical Reactions
10/17
Lab: Separation and Qualitative Determination of Cations and
Anions
TEST (Ch 4 and handouts) (END OF 1st Quarter)
10/24
5-Gases
10/24
Lab-Determining the Molar Volume of a Gas
TEST (Ch12)
10/31-11/07
11/07
7-Atoms, Molecules, Ions
11/14
Lab-Separation by chromatography (15)
TEST (Ch 5-6)
12/05
10-Liquids and Solids
12/05
Lab-Triple point of dry ice (handout)
11/28
12/05
11-Solutions
Lab: Molar Mass by Freezing Point Depression
TEST (Ch13,14)
12/16-12-26
11/07
8,9-Bonding
TEST (Ch 7-9)
12/16
10/31
Lab: Enthalpy of Reaction, Hess’s Law and Calorimetry
11/14
12/12-01/02
10/17
6- Thermochemistry
TEST (Ch15)
11/28
09/02
21-Nuclear Chemistry (Take-home)
Semester Exams (END of 2nd Quarter and 1st Semester))
01/02
01/02/2012
on 01/06
2nd Semester 2010 Tentative Course and Lab Schedule-AP Chemistry
Week of
Chapter(s)-Topic(s)
Due
25-Coordination Compounds
01/27
Lab: Synthesis and Analysis of a Coordination Compound
02/03
TEST (Ch25)
27,28-Organic Chemistry and Polymer Chemistry (TBA)
02/08
Lab: Synthesis, Isolation, and Purification of an Ester
02/15
TEST (Ch27,28)
16-Kinetics
02/23
Lab-Study of the Kinetics of a Reaction
02/22
TEST (Ch16)
10-Acids, Bases, Salts
03/12
Lab: pH and Buffers
03/08
Lab: Selecting Indicators for Acid-Base Titrations
03/23
17-Equilibrium
03/25
Lab: Exploring LeChatelier’s Principle—Gaseous Equilibriums
03/30
Test (Ch10,17)
18,19,20-Ionic Equilibria
04/14
Lab: Determination of Ka of a Weak Acid
04/05
Lab: Determination of Keq for FeSCN2+
04/19
TEST (Ch18,19,20)
21-Electrochemistry (handouts)
04/23
Lab: Oxidation-Reduction Titrations
04/26
Lab: Electrochemical Cells and Activity Series
05/03
TEST (Ch21)
Review for AP Exam!
AP Chemistry Exam!!!
Lab-Growing crystals in gels (handout)
Lab: Anodizing Titanium (handout)