Prep- Chemistry Syllabus
2014-2015
Instructors
Mr. Thomas
Dohoney
Ms. Ardelia Ford
Mrs. Lauren Hacker
Mrs. Sonia
Rodriguez
Mr. Lawrence
Spence
Room
S217
N226
N217
N126
S116
Phone
281-920-8000 x
6163
281-920-8000 x
6105
281-920-8000 x
6104
281-920-8000 x
6109
281-920-8000 x
6178
Email
tdohoney
@houstonisd.org
aford2
@houstonisd.org
lhacker
@houstonisd.org
Tutorials
Monday –
Thursday after
school
Tuesdays and
Thursdays during
Lunch
Tuesdays and
Thursdays during
2nd half of Lunch
srodrig6
@houstonisd.org
Mondays during
Lunch and
Tuesdays before
school
lspence
@houstonisd.org
Tuesdays after
school and
Wednesdays
during the 1st half
of lunch
Required Supplies
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A large 3 ring binder with dividers
Notebook Paper or a large spiral
Pencils/Pens
Scientific Calculator (Graphing calculators
are not required, but are permitted for this
course. Walmart has calculators less than
$10 that will work just fine. Students will
NOT be allowed to use their cell phones as
calculators or borrow calculators from
another student during quizzes/tests.)
Textbook
HMH Texas Modern Chemistry
Website: www.hmdscience.com
Test Days
Science classes hold exams and tests on Mondays or
Wednesday/Thursday block days.
Grades
Major Grades (70%): Tests, selected labs,
projects, and other assignments as designated
Minor Grades (30%): Daily grades, quizzes,
homework, selected labs, etc.
Retake Policy
Please refer to The Westside Way: Student/Parent
Handbook 2014-2015 (Section II: Grades).
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Retakes are to be given approximately one
week after the original test grade has been
posted on Gradespeed
If a student scores higher on his/her retake,
the retake grade will replace the original test
grade (capped at 80 for prep).
If a student scores lower on his/her retake,
the average of the original test and the
retake will be recorded as the final average
for that assignment.
Course Policies Q&A
How important is attendance to success in
Chemistry? Many of the topics taught in chemistry
build upon each other, so it is important that all
students attend class regularly. It is your
responsibility to pick up your absent form and discuss
it with me at the end of class if you are absent.
What if I’m absent the day of a lab, quiz, test,
or due date? You will take the quiz or test on the
day you return. Also, you will turn in any
assignment that was due on the day you return. It is
YOUR responsibility to turn in your missing
assignments the day you return; I will not remind
you. You will need to make arrangements with me
at the end of class for make-up labs. If you have
been absent several days prior to a quiz or exam, it is
YOUR responsibility to ATTEND TUTORIALS to
discuss a new quiz/test date with me.
What if I don’t finish my work on time? Prep
Chemistry students are allowed to turn in late work.
Late work will be accepted up until the day graded
papers are returned for a particular assignment. The
only exceptions that may apply will be for students
with accommodations and/or modifications.
Do you have tutorials? Feel free to visit any
Chemistry Teacher for help. Chemistry Tutorial
schedules are available online and will be posted in
each chemistry teachers’ classroom.
What do you expect in terms of student
conduct? Students are expected to follow
laboratory safety rules, HISD’s code of student
conduct, and any conduct rules established in class.
What is the best way to contact Ms. Ford? Email
is the BEST way to reach me and get a quick
response.
I. Safety and Scientific Measurement
A. Lab safety
B. Materials Safety Data Sheets
C. Scientific measurements
D. Dimensional analysis
E. Density
F. Accuracy and precision
II. Structure of Matter
A. Physical and chemical changes and properties
B. Extensive and intensive properties
C. Solids, liquids and gases
D. Classification of matter
III. Atomic and Nuclear Chemistry
A. Modern atomic theory
B. Electromagnetic spectrum
C. Planck’s equation
D. Average atomic mass
E. Electron configurations
F. Alpha, beta and gamma radiation
G. Radioactive decay
H. Fission and fusion reactions
IV. The Periodic Table
A. History
B. Chemical families
C. Periodic trends
V. Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry
A. Naming ionic compounds
B. Writing chemical formulas
C. Lewis structure
D. Metallic bonding and properties
E. Molecular geometry (VSEPR)
VI. Chemical Reactions & Stoichiometry
A. Mole
B. Percent composition
C. Empirical and Molecular formulas
D. Law of conservation of mass
E. Balance chemical equations
F. Limiting reagents and percent yield
VII. Solutions
A. Properties of water
B. Solubility rules
C. Electrolytes
D. Factors affecting solubility
VIII.
IX.
Acids and Bases
A. Properties of acids and bases
B. Neutralization reactions
C. Precipitation reactions
D. Redox reactions
E. pH and pOH
F. Strong and weak acids and bases
Gases
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Boyle’s Law
Charles’ Law
Avogadro’s Law
Dalton’s Law of partial pressures
Ideal Gas Law
Stoichiometric calculation involving gases
Kinetic Molecular Theory
X. Thermochemistry
A. Forms of energy
B. Heat transfer
C. Thermochemical equations
D. Endothermic and exothermic reactions
E. Specific heat calculations
F. Calorimetry