IB Chemistry 2
MPHS Course Syllabus
Instructor:
Phone:
Email:
Website:
Office hours:
Mr. Noyes Harrigan
980-343-5800
noyes.harrigan@cms.k12.nc.us
http://noyesharrigan.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/
TH 2:20 - 3:20, Room CB-4
Topics by Semester*
Fall 2011
Spring 2012
Topic 0: Chem Review
Topic 4/14: Bonding
Topic 1/11: Quantitative Chemistry
Topic 5/15: Energetics
Topic 2/12: Atomic Structure
Group IV project
Topic 3/13: Periodicity
Option C: Environmental Chemistry
*The complete version of the IB Chemistry syllabus which contains all of the learning objectives for each unit can be found online at
http://ibchem.com/IB/ibsyllabus-2009.htm.
Welcome to International Baccalaureate Chemistry. IB Chemistry 2 is the first year of a two-year course
designed to teach college-level chemistry concepts and scientific inquiry skills. Students will complete 60 hours
of laboratory work in the course, which culminates with the IB Exam in May of the next academic year. All
students will be assessed at the IB Higher Level, which requires students “to study topics in greater depth, to
study additional topics, and to study extension material of a more demanding nature” than the IB Standard
Level.
This course relies heavily on material learned in honors-level chemistry, so you should study your old notes,
tests, quizzes, and labs that go along with each unit. At the beginning of a unit an outline will be provided with
a schedule of suggested reading, homework assignments and labs. Pay special attention to lab dates as proper
attire is required. Homework will frequently involve online problems sets and lab write-ups.
Materials
Textbooks:
1. Chemistry (Zumdahl, 6th ed.)
2. Chemistry (Green & Damji, 3rd ed.) accompanied by student CD-ROM.
Required:
1. Notebook for class notes and 3-ring binder (section) for handouts.
2. Hard-cover, composition (marble) notebook to use as a lab notebook.
3. Scientific calculator
4. Separate 3-ring binder (at least 2” wide) in which to store your graded lab reports. You
do not need to buy this. I have plenty of these available.
5. IB Chemistry Data Booklet (similar to your Reference Tables from EOC Chem). I will
give you a copy of this. If you misplace yours or would like to have larger print, print
one from the wiki.
6. Looseleaf paper
7. Pens and pencils (I don’t lend them.)
Recommended:
1. Computer with internet access (Web-based assignments will be given and it is required that lab reports are
typed. If you don’t have access at home, plan ahead to use the school computers.)
2. USB flash drive (to transfer data and files from school computers for home use)
3. Chemistry for the IB Diploma: Study Guide (2nd ed.) Geoffrey Neuss, Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780199151424 (A review book written for IB students briefly covering the entire syllabus).
Grading
MPHS Grade:
Your average for each marking period (MP) is calculated with the following weights:
Exams = 50%, Lab reports = 25%, Class/HW assignments = 15%, Quizzes = 10%
Semester 1 grade
Semester 2 grade
FINAL course grade
40% MP 1
40% MP 2
20% MIDTERM exam
50% MP 3
50% MP 4
37.5% semester 1 grade, 37.5% semester 2 grade, 25% FINAL EXAM
Grades will be posted online and can be viewed on the “Parent Assistant” program at https://parents.cms.k12.nc.us/aal_pa/.
IB Grade
At the end of the two-year course, you are given an IB score from 1-7, with 1 being very poor and 7 being
excellent. It is this score which determines whether colleges will give you credit. Your score is derived from
your IB Exam grade (76%) and your Internal Assessment grade (24%). Internal Assessment refers to the grades
you get on the labs you perform over the two years.
Tests
IB style tests will be given in order to prepare you for the wording, pacing, and grading of the IB exam. Tests
will be given in two parts or papers: Paper 1 will be multiple choice and no calculator, nor data book (equation
sheet) will be allowed. Paper 2 will consist of short answer questions in which a calculator and data booklet will
be allowed. A time limit will be imposed.




Paper 1:
Multiple choice only.
Sig figs do not count
No calculator, no Data Booklet
Measures comprehension of conceptual
information.




Paper 2:
Short answer/problems/essay
Sig figs count
Data Booklet and calculator allowed
Measures ability to explain, apply, calculate,
and evaluate.
Online HW
You should be working on the problems sets a little each night and NOT waiting to last minute to complete
the entire problem set. The site we use (Quest/UTexas) generates different problems for each students and
grades on accuracy. If you neglect to submit an online assignment by the submission deadline, you will receive
a zero. The lowest of your scores for each semester will be dropped. I strongly suggest that you print out the
assignment and work on it whenever you have some time. Poor internet access the night before the due date
will not be accepted as a valid excuse since the assignment will be posted almost a week in advance. If you do
not have dependable internet access at home, please speak with me privately.
Practical (laboratory) work
A safety contract will be handed out that clearly outlines the expected behavior in the lab. It must be signed by
both you and a parent and returned before you can begin working in the lab. All students must wear shoes that
completely cover the foot on lab days. Over the course of two years, you will be assessed on your ability to
follow instructions, perform techniques, and work safely in the lab. This score is known as your Manipulative
skills grade.
The laboratory activities are designed to develop your ability to:
 plan and conduct well-controlled experiments (Design Lab)
2

collect data and calculate experimental values with the correct uncertainty (Data Collection &
Processing Lab)
 evaluate the sources of error in an experiment and make suggestions for improvement (Conclusion &
Evaluation Lab)
You must hand in a typed lab report for the majority of the experiments. The format of the report varies
depending upon what skills are being assessed. IB lab work is always graded on a scale from 0-6. The
relationship between the IB score and your MPHS grade is shown below. At the end of the course, your two
best scores in each of the three categories above are used for your internal assessment score.
Relationship between IB and WCHS grade for Labs
IB Lab grade
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
not submitted
WCHS grade
97-100
93-96
86-92
77-85
70-76
65
50
0
Letter grade
A+
A-/A
B
C
D
F
F
F
Group 4 project
The Group 4 Project (G4P) is an interdisciplinary project on a common theme carried out by students of all
IB sciences taught in our school (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, & Environmental). While working on your
project and presenting the product, your motivation, your ability to work in a team, and your capacity for selfreflection will be assessed. This is known as your Personal skills grade.
Internal Assessment
Since I grade your lab work, it is considered
internally assessed (within the school). Your Internal
Assessment (IA) grade is worth 24% of your final IB
Score. Check out the box (right) to see how the IA
grade is calculated. The exam you take in May of
next year is externally assessed (outside of the
school), since it is graded by the IBO. It is worth
76% of your IB Score.
Internal Assessment Breakdown
Design Labs (2 best scores)
12 pts
Data Collection & Processing (2 best
scores)
12 pts
Conclusions & Evaluation (2 best scores)
12 pts
Manipulative Skills
6 pts
Personal Skills
Although your lab work is internally assessed, it is externally moderated. This means that I send copies of your
6 pts
lab reports to the IBO, who will have a moderator (i.e. anTotal
IB teacher
different
school) check the score
(24%from
of a1-7
score)
that I assigned. The consequences of this for you are as follows.
= 48 pts


First, you must keep in mind when writing your reports that your audience is not just your teacher. You
are writing to someone who is unfamiliar with our class, the experiment, and your abilities.
Second, you must keep, store, and organize ALL of your lab reports in a binder kept in class so that they
can be sent to the IBO.
Conduct
Behavior in class:
1. Students must attend EVERY class.
2. Students should behave respectfully toward their fellow classmates and the instructor.
3. It is never permissible to eat, drink, or sleep in class. Water is permitted, except during labs.
4. Participation is expected and class work should not be considered optional. Collaborate with others.
3
5. Computers are to be used only for assigned science class work.
6. All rules in the CMS handbook will be enforced (e.g. attendance, cheating, dress codes, electronic devices,
tardiness, etc.). Students who are late to class without a note will be locked out. Electronic devices will be
confiscated without a warning.
The consequences for misconduct are as follows:
First infraction:
Verbal reminder
Second time:
Detention after school
Third time:
Discipline referral
Fourth time:
Removal from class, & discipline referral
Detention or removal from class & discipline referral
SEVERE:
Detention will be served with Mr. Harrigan immediately after school in room CB-4 and will involve cleaning or
other work around the classroom.
Honesty
Students are expected to abide by the MPHS Honor Code,
which prohibits cheating and plagiarism.
 Cheating is using unauthorized assistance, aids, or other
materials in order to RECEIVE or GIVE assistance.
 Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words, products or
ideas for personal advantage, without proper
acknowledgement of the original work with the intention of
passing it off as one’s own work.
Students involved in either offense will receive consequences.
Integrity
Questions you should ask yourself…

Am I misrepresenting what I know
and am able to do?

Have I obtained useful
information that helped me do
better on graded work that other
students did not have access to?

After taking an assessment have
I shared information that gives
another student an unfair
advantage that I did not have
before taking the quiz/test?
Restroom use
Only one person may leave the classroom at a time, and not in the first or last 10 minutes of the block. Take the
hall pass when you go, and return quickly. Please wait for a break in the presentation to get up.
Absences:
1. Get work in advance for planned absences.
2. Find out what you missed from a friend, by coming to see me the next day even when I don’t see you, or by
sending an email. Folders at front of classroom will contain handouts you need.
3. Do whatever make-up work is necessary (especially the textbook reading) before you come back to class
so that you don’t fall behind.
4. # of days absent = # of extra days you have to hand in a missed assignment
5. Schedule a time to make-up quizzes, tests, or labs. You must make these up within one week or you will
lose the opportunity for feedback on labs and any retake opportunities.
Late work:
If a student submits an assignment late and was present in class on the day the assignment was due, a late
penalty will be assessed. 10% of the score will be deducted for each day late. No late assignments will be
accepted after the quarter ends. Online homework problems may NOT be turned in late.
I have read the Chemistry syllabus and am aware of the class policies and procedures.
______________________________________
Student signature
_________________________________________
Parent signature
4