AP Chemistry
Syllabus 2009
Three sections of AP Chemistry are offered this academic year. Each section of AP
Chemistry meets for one period each day. Classes which meet during a period which does
not rotate meet 3 hours and 45 minutes weekly. Students meeting during a rotating
period meet 4 hours weekly. Non-rotating classes meet for 45 minutes each day.
Rotating classes meet for periods of 66, 62, 40, and twice weekly 35 minute periods
during each week depending on the day of the week.
AP Chemistry is a second year chemistry course. Students must take a full year of high
school chemistry with labs (our textbook is Chang Chemistry) or one semester of college
chemistry at the University of Delaware or Delaware Technical and Community College
with labs.
Students completed a series of college level chemistry laboratories prior to receiving
credit for AP chemistry.
Students are also expected to have a sound prior knowledge of
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Classification of matter
Properties of matter
Units of measurement
Uncertainty and measurement
Dimensional analysis
Significant Figures
Atomic Theory of Matter
Inorganic Nomenclature
The Mole Concept
Stoichiometry
Gas Laws
Students will continue to explore topics from previous courses in greater depth and add
new topics. At the end of this course students should be able to discuss the chemical
principals involved and solve problems in the structure of matter including atomic theory,
atomic structure and chemical bonding; states of matter including gases, liquids, solids
and solutions; colligative properties; descriptive chemistry and the prediction of products
in chemical reactions; relationships among elements in the periodic table; reaction types,
stoichiometry, equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics; and electrochemistry and
nuclear chemistry. Students should be proficient in hands on laboratory techniques, data
collection and the preparation of laboratory reports. Prior college board AP Chemistry
free response exams are used as practice tests and actual tests whenever possible.
Teaching and Learning
1. Learning by doing, learning through collaborative effort in group settings, and
application of knowledge in solving problems are the cornerstones of this course.
2. At the beginning of each new chapter students are given a homework packet for
the entire chapter. The packets divide chapters into sections based on topics and
assign 10 – 15 exercises per section. Sections of the packet are assigned daily. A
substantial portion of class time is allotted to collaborative group work.
3. Direct instruction is provided for new and/or difficult topics. In addition, lecture
notes, handouts. Practice problems and tests are available online. One-on-one
instruction with the teacher is provided during class as well as before and after
school.
4. Assessmentfor and of learning is provided by practice quizzes, group quizzes and
pop quizzes as well as major tests including multiple choice and free response
tests. Throughout the year descriptive chemistry exams are given during which
students predict products and write net ionic equations. Questions for these are
drawn from the last 20 years of college board AP lab simulation questions. The
midterm is a 90 question multiple choice test whose questions are drawn from
prior released college board AP chemistry exams. There is no final exam.
Required Text
Brown, Theodore L., LeMay H. E., Bursten, B. E., Burdge, J. R., Chemistry The Central
Science, 9th Edition, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13066997-0.
Schedule 2006 - 2007
Date
Previous Course
Previous Course
Previous Course
Previous Course
Throughout
Throughout
Throughout
Chapter
#Days
2 Atoms Molecules and Ions
3 Stoichiometry: Calculations with Chemical
Formulas and Equations
4 Aqueous Reactions and Solution
Stoichiometry
10 Gases
4 Solubility Rules
Descriptive Organic Chemistry: Alkanes,
alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic compounds;
structure and nomenclature. Organic
functional groups: alcohols, aldehydes,
ketones, esters, ethers, carboxylic acids,
amines, amides; structure and nomenclature.
Reactions: addition, substitution,
condensation.
Chemical Reactions
Major Test
Previous Course
Previous Course
6 Electronic Structure of Atoms
7 Periodic Properties of the Elements
8 Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
9 Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories
[C1]
9/9/09
9/24
10/
11 Intermolecular Forces, Liquids, Solids
Chemical Reactions [C4]
Chemical Reactions [C4]
13 Properties of Solutions (Colligative)
Marking Period Exam Ch 1-13
10/
14 Chemical Kinetics
Chemical Reactions Quiz
10/
11/
11/
12/
12/
1/
2/
3/
15 Chemical Equilibrium
16 Acid-Base Equilibrium
17 Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibrium
19 Chemical Thermodynamics
Chemical Reactions
20 Electrochemistry
21 Nuclear Chemistry
10 Gas Laws
4/-5/
Review, Chemical Reactions, Lab Techniques
AP Chemistry Labs
Laboratory work is an integral part of chemistry. All students are required to have prior
laboratory experience as part of previous chemistry couurses Students learn physical
manipulations, processes and procedures such as chromatography, gravimetric analysis,
titration, colorimetry, spectroscopy, calorimetry, use of electrochemical cells, and
manipulation and collection of gases. Data collection is done using both traditional noncomputer techniques as well as via Logger Pro and computer based collection and
analysis methods.
Students learn new physical skills, collaborate in group work, make observations, collect,
analyze and manipulate data, and communicate results orally and via written laboratory
reports.
Laboratoratory experiments have been collected over the past eight years and come from
a variety of sources including the internet, workshops, other teachers, as well as the
following college level lab manuals:
Beran, J. A., Laboratory Manual for Principles of General Chemistry, 6th Edition. New
York: John Wiley & Sons.
Holmquist, D. D., Volz, D. L., Chemistry with Computers, 2nd Edition. Beaverton, OR:
Vernier Software and Technology.
Carmichael, L. N., Haines, D. F., Smoot, R. C. Laboratory Chemistry, Columbus, OH:
Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company.
Laboratory
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Experiment (Experiments average 2-3 periods)
Laboratory Safety
Chromatography and Rf Lab
Qualitative Analysis Lab
Determination of Percent Composition of a Mixture based
on Identification of the Limiting Reagent
Calorimetry and Hess’ Law Lab
Intermolecular Forces Lab (CBL)
Beer’s Law Lab
Determination of Percentage water in a Hydrate
Determination of Molar Mass of a Volatile Liquid by the
Dumas Method
Determination of the molar volume of a gas
Preparation and use of Anthocyanin extract as an indicator
Standardization of NaOH (aq) using KHP
Determination of the Concentration of a Primary Standard
Titration Curves –Determination of Ka
Determination of Concentration using KMnO4 in an
Oxidation Reduction Titration
Electrolysis Reactions
Single and Double Replacement Reactions
Boyle’s Law CBL
Molecular Models Lab
Periodic Properties
Use of Indicators
Formation of Coordination Compounds
Supersaturated Solutions
Effect of Surface area on Rate of a Reaction
Exo and Endothermic Reactions
Teacher Led Demo
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Student conducted
Teacher Led Demo
Teacher Led Demo
Teacher Led Demo
Teacher Led Demo