2010-2011 AP CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS
Teacher: Anne Regan
E-mail: aregan@mercyhs.com
Wiki: http://annereganwiki.wikispaces.com/
School Phone: 585-288-7120 ext. 327
Course Description & Objectives
Weekly Review Sessions
AP Chemistry is an intense course of study intended to prepare students
for the Advanced Placement Exam, which will be given on May 2nd, 2011.
Since this is a college level course taught in high school, it is very demanding,
both in time and effort required. Students should be prepared to spend at least
one hour each night after school on their AP Chemistry homework, readings,
and/or lab reports. Those students who are heavily involved in after school
activities and/or jobs will have to learn to budget their time very carefully.
Time: Friday Mornings (7:15AM)
Location: Room 301
Time: Saturday Mornings (8-11)
Location: Panera on Monroe Ave.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to have developed the following:

A deep understanding of fundamental concepts in chemistry

Proficiency in chemistry laboratory procedures

Mastery in solving math-based chemistry problems

The ability to express ideas, both orally and in writing, with clarity and logic
The AP Chemistry Exam
Exams are independently graded using the scale below.
5 = extremely well qualified (A)
4 = well qualified (A-, B, B+)
3 = qualified (B-, C, C+)
2 = possibly qualified
1 = no recommendation
Students who score 3 or above are considered to have passed the exam, and will receive credit from most colleges
in the United States. Also, in most cases, students who pass will be exempt from college freshman-level
coursework in that exam’s subject area. Exam scores are sent out in July.
The AP Chemistry Exam is formatted as follows:
Section I – 50% of your score - 90 minutes – 75 multiple choice questions, NO calculator
Section II – 50% of your score
Part A – with calculator – 55 minutes
three problems total: one chemical equilibrium problem
two other problems, one of the two may be quantitative analysis of lab data
Part B – NO calculator – 40 minutes
three problems total: one is writing three balanced chemical equations from reactants
two essay questions
Texts
Textbook used for homework assignments and reading passages
Brown, LeMay, et al. Chemistry: The Central Science 9th ed., New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003.
Textbook used in the classroom
Zumdahl, Steven. Chemistry, 4th ed. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin Company, 1997.
Supplemental Materials
It is strongly recommended that students purchase a supplementary review book for this course and use it independently
and/or with a study partner throughout the year (not the week before the exam). Some suggestions are Kaplan AP
Chemistry 2011 and 5 Steps to a 5: AP Chemistry 2010-2011.
Expectations of Students
Students are expected to come to class fully prepared and on time, which includes bringing a graphing calculator,
class binder with notes and reference tables, loose leaf paper, and pens/pencils every day. On days during which
lab activities will be carried out, students are expected to bring their Lab Binders as well. Assignments must be
the student’s own work and submitted on or before the due date. Actively participating in class and asking
questions will help students be successful in this course.
Absences
If a student is absent from class, she is responsible for making up the material that was covered in class. This
can be done by contacting a classmate or by seeing me outside of regular class time.
Grading Policy
Each quarterly grade will be weighted as follows:
50%
Tests
25%
Lab Reports*
15%
10%
Quizzes
Homework*
Tests will be administered on the Friday after a unit of study is completed. Tests will
consist of former AP Exam questions and be administered to simulate the time
constraints of the AP Exam. If a student misses a test, she must arrange to make it up
before or after school within 3 days of returning to school.
Lab activities will be conducted every week. Satisfactory reports must be written and
submitted for all the lab activities performed by the student within one week of
conducting the activity. If a student is absent on the day of a lab, she must arrange with
me to make up the lab within one week of returning to school.
Quizzes will be given on Fridays during which tests are not administered.
Homework will be assigned daily. Students are expected to do all of the readings
and homework assignments.
*Late work will not be accepted.
Test Corrections
If a student does not pass a test, she is expected to attend a review session to review the test in addition to
submitting test corrections. A maximum of ¼ credit for each corrected answer will be given. In order to receive
credit, the following criteria must be met:





Define all vocabulary words in question
Write a proof for the correct answer (state what law/theory/concept applies)
Explain why the initial answer was chosen and why it is incorrect
Show any mathematical calculations which help derive the correct answer
Submitted within one week after the exam is passed back
Lab Binder
Because colleges may request to see evidence of student participation in laboratory activities, each student is
required to keep a lab binder as documentation of laboratory experiences. Students will hand in individual lab
reports, get them back, and then update their Lab Binders accordingly. These will be checked periodically to
make sure that students are maintaining their Lab Binders. The Lab Binder should be compiled as
follows:
1. Table of Contents
2. Laboratory Safety Guidelines
3. Lab Handouts & Formal Lab Reports (see Lab Binder handouts for format)
Name: _________________________________
AP Chemistry 2010-2011
Lab Binder
.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
I. Common Laboratory Equipment
2-3
II. Laboratory Safety
4-5
III. Lab Report Format
6
IV. Lab Reports
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Common Laboratory Equipment
watch glass
mortar and
pestle
crucible and cover
evaporating dish
pneumatic trough
beaker
safety goggles
Florence flask
wide-mouth
collecting bottle
plastic wash
bottle
dropper pipet
funnel
Erlenmeyer
flask
rubber stoppers
glass rod w/ nichrome wire
(for flame testing)
ring stand
test tube holder
clay triangle
rubber tubing
crucible tongs
metal spatula
ceramic
square
test tube brush
triangular file
Beaker: glass or plastic; common
sizestongs
are 50-mL, 100-mL, 250-mL, 400crucible
mL; glass beakers may be heated.
Buret: glass; common sizes are 25-mL and 50-mL; used to measure
volumes of solutions during titrations.
Ceramic square: used under hot apparatus or glassware.
Clamps: the following types of clams may be fastened to support
apparatus: buret/test-tube clamp, clamp holder, double buret clamp, ring
clamp, 3-pronged clamp.
Clay triangle: wire frame with porcelain supports; used to support a
crucible.
Condenser: glass; used in distillation procedures.
Crucible and cover: porcelain; used to heat small amounts of solid
substances at high temperatures.
Crucible tongs: iron or nickel, used to pick up and hold small items.
Dropper pipet: glass tip with rubber bulb; used to transfer small volumes
of liquid.
Erlenmeyer flask: glass, common sizes are 100-mL and 250-mL; may be
heated, used in titrations.
wire gauze
Bunsen burner
tripod
Evaporating dish: porcelain; used to contain small volumes of liquid being
evaporated.
Florence flask: glass, common sizes are 125-mL, 250-mL, 500-mL; used in
making and storing solutions.
Forceps: metal; used to hold or pick up small objects.
Funnel: glass or plastic, common size holds 12.5-cm diameter filter paper;
used during filtrations.
Gas burner: metal; connected to a gas supply with rubber tubing; used to heat
chemicals (dry or in solution) in beakers, test tubes, or crucibles.
Gas collecting tube: glass, marked in mL intervals; used to measure gas
volumes.
Glass rod with nichrome wire: used in flame tests.
Graduated cylinder: glass or plastic, common sizes are 10-mL, 50-mL, 100mL; used to measure approximate volumes; must not be heated.
Graduated pipet: glass, common sizes are 10-mL, 25-mL; used to measure
solution volumes; less accurate than a volumetric pipet.
Common Laboratory Equipment
test tube rack
test tubes
stirring
rod
Buret/test tube clamp
volumetric
pipet
graduated
cylinder
clamp holder
thermometer
pinch clamp
3-prong clamp
forceps
condenser
rubber
policeman
gas
collecting
tube
pipet bulb
graduated
pipet
double buret clamp
ring clamp
Mortar and pestle: porcelain, may be used to grind crystals and lumpy
chemicals to a powder
Pipet bulb: rubber, used in filling a pipet with a solution
Plastic wash bottle: flexible plastic, squeeze sides to dispense water
Platform balance: also known as a triple beam balance
Pneumatic trough: galvanized container with shelf, used in experiments
where a gas is collected
Ringstand: metal rod fixed upright in a heavy metal base; has many
uses as a support
Rubber stoppers: several sizes
Rubber tubing: used to connect apparatus so as to transfer liquids or
gases
Safety goggles: plastic; must be worn at all times while working in the
laboratory
Screw clamp, pinch clamp: metal, used to block off rubber tubing
Spatula, scoopula: metal, used to transfer solid chemicals; the scoopula
has a larger capacity
screw clamp
platform balance (triple beam)
Stirring rod and rubber policeman: glass with rubber sleeve; used to
stir, assist in pouring liquids, and for removing precipitates from a
container
Test tube brush: bristles with wire handle, used to scrub small
diameter glassware
Test tube holder: spring metal, used to hold test tubes or glass tubing
Test tube rack: wood or plastic, holds test tubes in a vertical position
Test tubes: glass, common sizes – small (13x100mm), medium
(20x150mm), large (25x200mm), may be heated
Thermometer: volatile liquid in glass; common range is -10˚C to
110˚C
Volumetric pipet: glass, common sizes are 10mL, 25mL; used to
measure solution volumes accurately, must not be heated
Watch glass: glass, used to cover an evaporating dish or beaker
Wide-mouth bottle: glass, used with pneumatic trough
Wire gauze: used to spread the heat of a burner flame
Laboratory Safety Rules
Before you enter the lab:
1. Wear appropriate clothing. No shorts, open-toed shoes, loose clothing. Clothing can get damaged
or stained.
2. Do not wear contact lenses. Chemicals can get trapped between the contact and the eye.
3. Tie back long hair because it is a fire hazard.
4. Do not wear valuable jewelry. It can corrode and chemicals can get trapped between jewelry and
skin.
5. Be familiar with lab safety equipment and procedures for that day’s experiment.
6. Leave all food and drink outside of the lab room, including gum.
Once you enter the lab:
1. Put on safety glasses and lab apron.
2. Keep a neat work area. Keep books and calculators out of the way.
3. Horseplay will not be tolerated. You will be excused from the laboratory and will receive a grade of
zero for the experiment.
4. Be aware. Look for lab techniques that are unsafe and let fellow students know. If it looks like
something is going to fall or catch fire, try to prevent it. Most accidents can be avoided.
5. Wash hands after handling chemicals.
6. Work in the hood when using chemicals with strong odors or strongly fuming materials. NEVER
inhale odors. If you are instructed to smell, use the wafting method.
7. Use a low speaking voice. Do not make loud, distracting noises.
8. When you assemble an experimental set-up, make sure it is secure.
9. All chemicals should be clearly labeled. If you store a chemical in a container, make sure it
contains:
a. Name of individual who made the solution.
b. Date it was made.
c. What it is and the concentration (molarity)
* If there is no label, do not use it and report this to the instructor.
10. Disposal of chemicals:
Follow instructions for disposal of chemicals. If instructed to dispose of chemicals in the sink, make
sure there is nothing clogging the sink.
Before you leave the lab:
1. Clean your work area. You should always clean the table with a wet paper towel.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water.
Laboratory Safety Rules
NEVER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Put any glassware in your mouth.
Insert glass tubing into anything without hand protection and lubrication.
Heat glassware without instruction to do so.
Put hot glassware on your work bench without a ceramic block.
Touch equipment if you have not been instructed to do so.
Heat anything in a closed container.
Use chipped or cracked glassware. If heated, it can burst.
When there are accidents:
1. Report fires, accidents, or injuries to the instructor immediately.
2. Clean up mess at once.
- You can clean up your spills.
- Instructor will clean up broken glass.
- Fill out broken glass form.
3. The best treatment for burns or chemical spillage is to immediately flush area with cool water.
4. If you get something in your eyes, use the eye wash station. If someone else in the lab is blinded,
guide them to the eye wash station and help them flush out their eyes.
5. If there is extensive chemical spillage on skin or clothing, use the safety shower.
6. If you develop any symptoms, report them to the instructor. If you have asthma or any allergies that
may be troublesome, let your instructor know.
7. FIRES:
- Know where extinguishers are and how to use them
- If extensive, leave the area.
- If clothing catches on fire, do any of the following:
1. Get under safety shower
2. Wrap victim in fire blanket
3. Roll on floor to extinguish fire
Be Careful with:
1. Acetone, ether, iso-octane, benzene, or any alcohol around open flames. (Why? These are volatile
organic compounds which can easily catch fire.)
2. Heating per–, –ic, and –ate salts.
3. Diluting acids (AAAW!) – Always Add Acid to Water while stirring. (The dissociation of
strong acids is an exothermic process, so a lot of heat can be released when concentrated acids
are diluted. If you add water to acid, you form an extremely concentrated solution of acid
initially. So much heat is released that the solution may boil very violently, splashing
concentrated acid out of the container! If you add acid to water, the solution that forms is very
dilute and the small amount of heat released is not enough to vaporize and spatter it.)
4. Spills with KOH or NaOH – clean up immediately and do not get on skin. (Bases can cause
chemical burns on skin.)
5. Chlorine, fluorine, bromine, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulfide gases – use a hood. (Toxic gases)
6. C-N linkages (cyanides, cyanates, nitrites, cyano-) – use a hood.
Formal Lab Report Format
If possible, lab reports are to be typed so that students have an electronic copy of their work and printed
out for inclusion in the Lab Binder. These may be double-sided to save paper.
If typing is not an option, students should hand-write the reports on composition notebook paper. If
hand-written, use only one side of the paper.
The following sections should be included in every lab report:
Title (centered)
Date (centered)
Name (centered)
I. Objective(s): In your own words, describe the purpose of the lab. Use complete sentences.
II. Concept(s):
What concepts (theories, laws, etc.) are being illustrated in the lab? Use complete
sentences.
III. Pre-Lab
Questions:
Often, there will be questions to answer before carrying out the lab activity. When this
is the case, the answers to the questions should be numbered and answered in complete
sentences.
IV. Procedure:
The procedure will generally be given to you and you may write “see lab handout”.
If the procedure is not given to you, make sure to be as detailed as possible and number
the steps.
V. Data:
Usually, a data table will be provided in the lab handout and you can record your data
directly in the lab handout and write “see lab handout”.
Sometimes, you will be expected to construct your own data table. If the latter is the
case, include data that is qualitative (observations) and/or quantitative (measurements)
in this section.
Measurements must include proper units and significant figures.
Graphs and data tables may either be hand-written or computer-generated.
VI. Analysis:
Analysis questions will be included in each lab. These must be numbered and answered
in complete sentences. Any calculations MUST be shown. Calculations should be handwritten.
VII. Discussion
&
Conclusion
This section should include a recap of what concepts, theories, and/or laws were
illustrated in the lab activity. It should also include an explanation of your results and
include sources of error – what went wrong and WHY? Reflect on what you learned
from this lab activity. Use complete sentences.
Place any lab handouts before the corresponding lab report. All pages in the lab handout and report should be
numbered. Place the page number at the center and bottom of the page and circle it. The first page of the very
first lab report handout should be numbered as page 7. All subsequent pages are to be one higher than the
previous page.