Prep- Chemistry Syllabus
2014-2015
Instructors
Mrs. Sonia
Rodriguez
Ms. Ardelia
Ford
Room
N126
N226
Phone
281-920-8000 x
6109
Email
Tutorials
Mr. Lawrence
Spence
Mrs. Lauren
Hacker
N129
S116
N126
281-920-8000 x
6105
281-920-8000 x
6163
281-920-8000 x
6178
281-920-8000 x
6104
srodrig6
@houstonisd.org
aford2
@houstonisd.org
SHALL8@
houstonisd.org
lspence
Mondays during
Lunch and
Tuesdays before
school
Tuesdays and
Thursdays during
Lunch
Wednesday before
school
Friday during lunch
lhacker
@houstonisd.org
Tuesdays and
Thursdays during
2nd half of Lunch
Required Supplies
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
A 3-ring binder
Paper
Pencils/Pens
Scientific Calculator (ex. TI-34II, TI-30Xa, etc.)
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).



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).
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.
Ms. Shevarda
Hall
@houstonisd.org
Tuesdays after
school and
Wednesdays
during the 1st half
of lunch
In addition, retakes will be given only to those
students who have emailed a retake request to the
instructor on time by designated date and time (as
informed by the instructor during class and as posted
in the classroom).
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 check Gradespeed and to ask for
your missing assignments 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. You will need to
make arrangements with me for make-up labs. If you
have been absent several days prior to a quiz or
exam, it is YOUR responsibility to come see me about
a new test or quiz date/time on the day of your
return.
Do you have tutorials? Feel free to visit any
Chemistry Teacher for help. Chemistry Tutorial
schedules are available online.
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.
Westside’s discipline management system will be
implemented as necessary.
What is the best way to contact Mrs.
Rodriguez? Email is the BEST way to reach me and
get a quick reply.
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
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
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
VII. Solutions
A. Properties of water
B. Solubility rules
C. Electrolytes
D. Factors affecting solubility
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
VIII.
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)
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