Welcome to Chemistry!
Mr. Kheriaty’s Syllabus
nkheriaty@vianney.com
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 Lab towel
o Writing Utensils and Paper
Chemistry Course Outline
Note: The pace of the course will be adjusted to meet the needs of the class. We will typically
study 8 of these units during this course.
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 / 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 AND ENERGY
Ionic and covalent bonding
Lewis dot structures
Nuclear Energy
Biofuel and other potential sources of energy
Unit 3.5: MOLECULAR GEOMETRY
Determine the 3-d shape of a molecule.
Intermolecular Forces
Ranking Evaporation Rates
Unit 4: CHEMICAL NOMENCLATURE
Reading and writing names of chemicals
Unit 5: SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENTS
Significant figures
Unit conversions
MOLES
Counting by weighing
Mole conversions
Empirical Formulas
Unit 6: CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Patterns of reactions
Predicting products
Balancing reactions
Unit 7: STOICHIOMETRY
Determining quantities of reactants and products
Limiting reactant
Percent yields
If time permits, we will continue on with: Unit 8: GASES Unit 9: SOLUTIONS
Note: I reserve the right to modify the contents of this document as I see fit during the year.
Grades
Homework ----25%
Tests -----------35%
Quiz -----------10%
Labs ----------------------15%
Final ----------------------15%
Tests draw heavily on class notes. Your note packets are your primary study source.
Labs, homework assignments, practice tests are all intended to illuminate and
compliment the content found in the notes.
Reading Quiz: The day after each test, you will have a reading quiz on the Disappearing
Spoon. You may opt out of the quiz by turning in notes on the chapter. The notes do not
need to be long, but must show clear evidence that you read the whole chapter. (A bullet
point about each of the main stories or characters in each chapter will suffice). Each quiz
is 5 or 6 multiple choice questions. The quiz will be graded all or nothing. If you get 60%
or better, you get a 10/10. If not, you get a zero.
Reading Schedule:
Unit 1 ------- Intro and Ch. 1
Unit 6 ------- Ch. 9
Unit 2 ------- Ch. 2
Unit 7 -------Ch. 10
Unit 3 ------- Ch. 3
Unit 8 ------- Ch. 16
Unit 3.5------- Ch. 4
Unit 9 ------- Ch. 18
Unit 4 ------- Ch. 5
Unit 10------- Ch. 11
Unit 5 ------- Ch. 6
Unit 11------- Ch. 13
Homework: Plan on two things each night: completing a written chemistry assignment,
then taking 15 minutes to actively study the notes from that day’s class. Homework is
graded based on completion. To earn full credit on homework, you need to write out all
of the steps for every homework problem.
“What do I do if I don’t understand a homework problem?”
If you encounter a problem on your homework that you do not understand:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read the problem carefully several times.
Write down all the given information and any formula that relates to the problem.
Write down what you are asked to find.
Look through your notes to see if we did a similar problem in class.
Make an honest attempt at the problem. Don’t be afraid to try something, start over and
try again. If you still need help, ask another student or Mr. Kheriaty.
To give you points for a homework assignment, I need to see written evidence that you
performed these steps. A blank problem is not acceptable!
Rules and Expectations
1. Late Work
 You start with two Mulligans. Mulligans can be used for:
o Forgetting your calculator, your periodic table etc.
o Forgetting to lock your lab drawer or locking it and forgetting the combo.
o Turning in an assignment one day late, with no penalty.
(Write “Mulligan” on the assignment and put it in your period’s box.)
 All other late work will not earn credit.
2. Absences:
Find out what you missed and get caught up within a day or two.
If you know you will be gone, talk to me before you are absent.
3. Tardiness:
 You are allowed one free tardy per semester. The next will have a consequence.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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. This is the primary method that I use to communicate to parents.
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.
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.