A. P. Chemistry (‘13-‘14)
Room: C343
Mr. Niro
SOUTHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
Text: Brown, Theodore E., H. Eugene LeMay, and Bruce E. Bursten. Chemistry: The
Central Science. 11th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall
Day/Period: ABCDEF, Period 3
Lab: A, Period 4
Advanced Placement Chemistry is a rigorous course designed to prepare students for the
AP Chemistry test given by the College Board in May. This curriculum covers all of the
material from a first-year college chemistry course. Because of this, the course will move
at a fast pace and include a great deal of material. Students should expect to spend a
considerable amount of time studying outside of class.
Fall Semester
Unit
Duration
Topics
Textbook
1
2
2 week
2 week
3
3 weeks
4
5
2 weeks
3 weeks
6
7
3 weeks
3 weeks
Solution Stoichiometry/Titration
Formulas and Names
Advanced Stoichiometry
Thermochemistry
Thermodynamics
Chemical Kinetics
Gases
Gas Equilibrium
Aqueous Equilibrium: Solubility, Acids & Bases
Redox and Electrochemistry
MID-YEAR EXAM (Units 1-7)
4.1-3, 4.6
2.8
3.3-3.7
5
19
14
10
15
16, 17
4.4, 20
Spring Semester
Unit
Duration
8
2 weeks
9
3 weeks
10
3 weeks
11
1 week
12
13
14
2 weeks
1 week
4 weeks
Topics
Chemical Bonding
Molecular Shape
Liquids and Solids
Atomic Theory
Periodicity
Nuclear Chemistry
Chemical Equations
Coordination Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
AP EXAM – Monday May 6th – MORNING
Protein Modeling using PyMol
Selected Experiments
Special Topics in Chemistry (Presentations)
END-OF-YEAR EXAM (Units 1-19)
Textbook
8
9
11
2.1-2.4, 6
7
21
3.1-3.2, 4.4
24
25
Laboratory
Laboratory work is an integral part of a college-level chemistry course. All of the
experiments listed below are hands-on labs that illustrate the principles taught in lectures,
discussions, readings, and homework and provide students with the opportunity to explore
some of the calculations and determinations essential to a deep understanding of chemistry.
All experiments will be performed in rotating, collaborative groups (usually pairs) and
frequently groups will be called upon to communicate their findings to the class.
This class meets daily for 45 minutes, with an extra double-period once every six day
cycle. Labs will be performed every cycle on the double-period with another period a cycle
set aside for discussion about background for the experiment and relevant calculations.
Some experiments will require two lab cycles (4-6 periods) to complete all of chemical
manipulations and data analysis. These experiments are notated specifically in the table
below.
The majority of the experiments for this class come from Laboratory Experiments for
Advanced Placement Chemistry (2nd edition) by Sally Ann Vonderbrink, Ph.D.
Unit
Experiment
1
Determination of the Empirical Formula for an Ionic Compound
Determination of the Percentage of NaHCO3 in a Mixture with NaCl
2
Decomposition of a Metal Carbonate (Gravimetric Analysis)
Determination of an Activity Series
3
Analysis of Electrochemical Cells
Electrolysis and Electroplating of Copper
Analysis of a Commercial Bleach by Redox Titration (2 cycles)
4
Analysis of the Spectral Lines of Hydrogen
Analysis of an Alum
5
Qualitative Analysis for Anions and Cations (2 cycles)
6
Synthesis, Isolation, and Purification of an Ester (2 cycles)
7
Specific Heat of a Metal
Determination of a Heat of Neutralization by Calorimetry
8
Kinetics of the Iodine Clock Reaction
Determination of the Molar Volume of a Gas
9
Determination of Molar Mass by Vapor Density
10 Determination of Keq for FeSCN2+ using Visible Light Spectroscopy
11 Liquid Chromatography
12 Determination of Molar Mass by Freezing-Point Depression
13 Titration of a Weak Monoprotic Acid with a Standardized Strong Base (2 cycles)
Selecting Indicators and Determining Titration Curves for Acid-Base Reactions
Preparation and Analysis of a Buffer Solution
14 Preparation and Analysis of Tetraamminecopper(II) Sulfate Monohydrate (2 cycles)
15 Preparation of Aspirin
Copper Cycle Lab
Ice Cream Lab
Tie-Dye Lab
Laboratory Notebook
The laboratory notebook will serve as a permanent record of all work in the laboratory –
measurements, calculations, and conclusions about the experiment. The notebook will be
checked and graded on a regular basis for both completeness and content. It provides a
place for students to organize their results in order to generate a clear, concise, and
complete laboratory report. Some colleges expect to see evidence that students have
completed challenging laboratory experiments and expect to see the notebook before
granting college credit for AP Chemistry.
Laboratory Report
Formal lab reports including background, safety procedures, experimental procedure and
materials, graphs and tables of data, calculations, and conclusions will be required for each
experiment. Frequently, class data will be pooled and computer data analysis will be
required. The computer in my classroom is available most days before and after school.
Grading
Grades will be based on homework, AP problems, labs (reports and notebook), and tests. I
grade on a total point system – the accumulated score divided by the possible number of
points. If students retain all of theirs papers, they should be able to estimate their grade at
any time. Tests will be infrequent, long, and difficult. Students should not rely on short
term memory – work for understanding of the principles underlying the problems.
Course Components
Calculator
This class requires extensive mathematical computation and a scientific or graphing
calculator is an absolute necessity, although I sometimes make in-class assignments
“calculator-free.” Any student who has a problem buying a calculator may see me at the
beginning of the school year and an arrangement will be made to borrow one from the
math department.
Homework
Homework will be assigned regularly out of the textbook and checked for completeness.
To earn full credit it is not necessary that each problem be correct, but rather that an honest
and diligent effort was made to complete the problem. To this end, all calculations, work
and diagrams should be shown. The more relevant work provided, the more likely the
assignment will earn full credit. Advanced chemical calculations involve multi-step
problem solving skills and experience with a variety of problem types is essential in order
to develop these skills. Practice with concepts and problem solving outside of class is
essential for success in this course.
AP Problems
Regularly, problems from earlier AP chemistry exams will be assigned and students will
present these problems in class (usually on Friday’s). These problems will be on relevant
class topics and the solutions will be graded.
Tests
Tests on each unit (see the course schedule, above) will be prepared using a mixture of
multiple-choice, short-answers, and problems. Some of these questions will be similar to
AP exam questions from previous years. The tests will be challenging and are intended to
reach beyond the knowledge and skills of most students to higher-order thinking and
problem solving.
Reference Materials
Reference materials for the project can be found in the classroom. The back cabinets
contain a variety of high school and college level general, organic, physical, analytical, and
chemical engineering textbooks. Also, it houses issues of the Journal of Chemical
Education dating as far back as the 1960’s.
Absences/Make ups
If you are absent from class it is your responsibility to find out what happened in class and
to make up any missing work. Please refer to the Student Handbook for general school
policies.
Extra Help
Since I am a coach, many days I will not be available after school. Nearly every day I will
be available in my classroom (C343) before school, though. Some days after school and
during my free periods I will also be available. There will be a sign-up sheet for extra help
posted weekly in my classroom. If these times are not good for you, please come and talk
to me and I will do my best to make arrangements that fit both our schedules. I will do the
best I can to help you succeed in this course.
Richard Niro, Chemistry Instructor
rniro@southingtonschools.org
My Webpage
I regularly update my webpage with basic classroom materials and a list of assignments. Also,
there is an extra credit “Chemistry Question of The Week” posted.
http://www.southingtonschools.org/page.cfm?p=633
Or, you can go to www.southingtonschools.org, click on “Contact Faculty and Staff” on the top of
the page and then search the Staff Directory at Southington High School (Science Department) for
me.