Garrard County High School—Science Department
AP Chemistry
Description
Advanced Placement Chemistry is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course
that is usually taken during the first year of college. This course is both challenging and
rigorous. Students in this course should attain a depth of understanding of the fundamentals and
a reasonable competence in dealing with chemical problems in preparation for the AP exam in
May. This course should promote the development of the students’ abilities to think critically
and analytically. Throughout this course students will be to express their ideas clearly and
logically both orally and in writing. Excellent mathematical skills will be developed helping to
clarify concepts learned in class. The theoretical aspects of chemistry are also emphasized.
Instructional techniques include lecture, discussion, laboratory investigations (both traditional
and with labquests), videos, and inquiry based problem solving and experimentation.
Course Outline
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.
Materials and Requirements
Text: Chemistry, Chang, McGraw Hill, NY, NY.
Lab Manual: AP Chemistry Guided Inquiry Experiments, College Board
Graphing calculator TI 83 or higher. This will be supplied to you if you do not have one. You will
be responsible for this calculator, so please take care of it.
Jerolaman 2014-2015
Garrard County High School—Science Department
All students must be prepared for class daily. That includes having a three-ring binder with
dividers, both lined paper and graph paper, and writing utensils.
Lab
Laboratory safety rules must be followed at all times. Failure to follow the rules will result in
removal from lab and zero credit for the lab(s) missed. Students will be required to complete a
report for each lab experiment. These need to include an abstract, introduction, brief procedure,
observations/data, analysis/calculations, and a discussion/conclusion. A lab format will be given to
you. All reports are to be kept in a section of the three-ring binder specifically for lab experiments.
Grading
Each student’s grade will be determined using the following criteria:
Tests
50%
Labs
25%
Quizzes
15%
Homework/Class participation
10%
There will be a final exam at the end of the first two trimesters. All students who take the AP exam
will be exempt from the final exam for the third trimester. Their final exam grade for the third
trimester will be equal to their third trimester average at the time of the AP exam. If a student
elects not to take the AP exam, he/she will take a final exam for the third trimester.
Contact Information
You may email me at: judy.jerolaman@garrard.kyschools.us with any questions or concerns.
Jerolaman 2014-2015