Welcome to Chemistry 1 Honors!
Mr. Kheriaty’s Syllabus
nkheriaty@vianney.com
Textbook: MODERN CHEMISTRY, Raymond Davis, Regina Frey, Mickey Sarquis and Jerry
Sarquis, Holt, Reinhart and Winston, copyright 2006
Required Supplies: Bring these items on a daily basis:
o Graphing Calculator (Recommended TI-83 or TI-84)
o The Disappearing Spoon (Reading will be integrated throughout the semester)
o Textbook
o Lab towel
o Writing Utensils and Paper
Chemistry 1 Honors Course Outline: We will probably finish 11 of these units.
Unit 1: UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE
Strengths and limitations of science:
Where do Science and Philosophy meet?
What is Science? What is Science not? What can it do? What can it not do?
How do faith and reason interact?
The study of the changes of the materials of the universe:
What is Chemistry? Why is it relevant?
Thinking like a scientist:
How do we effectively use the scientific method?
How do we critically examine someone’s experimental design and conclusions?
Matter:
Physical properties vs. chemical properties/physical change vs. chemical change
Pure substances vs. Mixtures
Unit 2: ATOMS AND THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS
The fundamental building blocks of the universe:
Is matter infinitely divisible?
Models of the atom
Making sense of the periodic table:
Learning to read the periodic table
Periodic trends
Electron configurations
Unit 3: BONDING
Ionic and covalent bonding
Lewis dot structures
Unit 4: MOLECULAR GEOMETRY
Model, draw and name the shapes of molecules.
How does a substance’s structure determine its physical properties?
Unit 5: CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE
Reading and writing names of chemicals
Ionic and covalent Inorganic binary compounds and molecules
Organic molecules
Unit 6: SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENTS
Significant figures
Unit conversions
Unit 7: MOLES
Counting by weighing
Mole conversions
Unit 8: CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Patterns of reactions
Predicting products
Balancing reactions
Unit 9: STOICHIOMETRY
Determining quantities of reactants and products
Limiting reactant
Percent yields
Unit 10: GASES
Combined Gas Law
Ideal Gas Law
Stoichiometry with gases
Unit 11: SOLUTIONS
Solvent, solute, solution
Concentration
Dilutions
Stoichiometry with molarities
If time permits, we will continue on with:
Unit 12: OXIDATION AND REDUCTION REACTIONS (REDOX)
Unit 13: ACIDS, BASES, AND SALTS
Unit 14: NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
Note: I reserve the right to modify the contents of this document as I see fit during the year.
Grades
Homework --------------25%
Tests/Quizzes-----------40%
Labs ----------------------20%
Final ---------------------15%
As an Honors student, you are expected to complete every homework assignment.
Each homework assignment will be worth 1 point. Any problems not fully attempted will
earn a zero for that assignment.
“What if I don’t understand a homework problem?”
If you encounter a problem on your homework that you do not understand, follow
these steps.
1. Read the problem carefully and write down the information that you know,
and what you are asked to find.
2. Look through your notes to see if we did a similar problem in class.
3. If you still cannot make an attempt at the problem, come see me for help the
next morning.
To receive credit for a homework assignment, you need to demonstrate written evidence
that you performed these steps. A blank problem is not acceptable!
Rules and Expectations
1. Respect
I will treat you with respect: I will respect your right to wonder, to risk trying
something challenging, to question and to learn. Your time is valuable and I will
treat it as such. Expect my very best from me.
In return, I will require the following from you:
Respect your classmates. This includes issues such as the language you
use, insults, cheating, gossip, etc.
Respect our facility Leave your workspace better than you found it.
Respect me. This includes your attitude, honesty and work ethic.
Respect yourself. This includes doing your very best work, coming to
class ready to work.
2. Late Work
 You begin the semester with two “mulligans”. A mulligan allows you to
o turn in an assignment one day late for full credit, provided that all the work is
completed and is your own work.
o get something from your locker that you forgot.
o have your lab drawer unlocked for you.


To redeem it, simply write “Mulligan” on the assignment and put it in your period’s box.
All other late work will not earn credit.
3. Absences:
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and to
make it up. Ask for all the assignments and material missed or print them from my webpage. Obtain notes from a classmate.
o Some labs cannot be made up. Try to avoid being absent.
o If you know you will be gone, talk to me before you are absent. You have as
many days to turn in the late work as days of school missed.
o Go on-line to see what you missed.
4. Tardiness: I follow the school policy for tardiness. Please be on time.
5. Eating & Drinking:
This is a lab classroom. Countless hazardous materials have been on your lab tables. Therefore,
you cannot eat or drink in the room. (This includes gum.) Water bottles are allowed.
6. Academic Honesty:
Cheating will not be tolerated in this class. You will lose credit for any assignment, project, or
exam in which cheating took place. This includes, but is not limited to:
1. Copying homework, lab reports, or test answers.
2. Giving someone your work to copy.
3. Plagiarizing from any source.
4. “Helping” another student answer test questions.
5. Using “cheat sheets” on assessments, quizzes or tests.
Note: I encourage you to work together on assignments. However, I expect that you do
your own work. A good rule to follow is this: never write down a number from someone
else’s paper. If a classmate explains to you how to solve a problem, you must generate
the numbers on your own from your own calculator. Turning in an identical assignment
as a classmate is cheating I feel that cheating is a serious offense. Instances of cheating
will be reported to the Dean’s office and recorded in your file. I may also contact your
parents. Cheating may result in a drop of one full letter grade. Second offenses will
automatically drop your grade one full letter grade, and may disqualify you from passing
the class.
7. On-line Grades:
Parents and students can check grades online. My habit is to enter homework
assignments the same day that they are due. Most test grades are posted the day of the
test. Some tests may take longer. Lab grades may take up to a week to grade.
Parents, this is the primary way that I communicate with you. I urge both students
and parents to check grades frequently. It allows you to monitor your progress, and to
make sure that you and I are on the same page. It is a wonderful resource.
8. Teacher Web-page:
I post printable notes and worksheets at the beginning of each unit. Toward the
end of the unit, I will post the upcoming test date.
You are not alone here!
I encourage you to ask for help as soon as you need it. The course will continue to
build on itself so do not let yourself fall behind. If you are struggling with a concept, that
is OK. But you must work extra hard to gain control of that concept before the class
moves on. Procrastination will snowball into disaster. I am available and eager to help
you learn. Please be proactive in your education and ask for help. I look forward to a
great semester together!
Student:
I have read and understood this document. ____________________________(signature)
___________________________(print name)
Parent:
I have read and understood this document. ____________________________(signature)
___________________________(print name)
Please email Mr. Kheriaty at nkheriaty@vianney.com with any questions about this document.