AP Chemistry Syllabus
2013/2014 School Year
Ms. Kelly
mkelly@tjca.org
Description: AP Chemistry is designed to be a college level course on general
chemistry. This course expands on topics learned in general
chemistry/Honors Chemistry and focuses more on intensive laboratory
activities. Some laboratory activities are “inquiry-based” labs which allow
students to design and use their own procedure to solve a problem. Students
are expected to study independently outside of class and take a more active
role in their learning as seen in a college course. The curriculum is framed
around six Big Ideas of Chemistry, which encompass the chemical concepts
addressed in this course.
Class Materials:
 2 Mead composition notebooks (not spiral bound)
 1 3-ring binder or 1 notebook (class notes)
 Scientific calculator (TI-83 or TI-84)
Textbook:
Hill, J.W., Petrucci, R.H., McCreary, T.W., & Perry, S.S. (2005). General
Chemistry (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
OPTIONAL: Dingle, A., & Wood, D.C. (2014). AP Chemistry Crash Course
(2nd ed.). Piscataway, NJ: Research & Education Association, Inc.
Course Big Ideas:
Big Idea 1: Study of Matter
Big Idea 2: Chemical Bonding
Big Idea 3: Chemical Reactions
Big Idea 4: Kinetics
Big Idea 5: Thermodynamics
Big Idea 6: Chemical Equilibrium
(“AP Chemistry Course Details.” https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-chemistry/coursedetails.)
Grading:
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A = 93-100, B = 92-85, C = 84-77, D = 76-70, F = 69 and < 69
Tests – 50%
Lab Reports —30%
Homework/Classwork—10%
Quizzes/DORs—10%
NOTE: All grades will be updated each Monday online. If the grades are
unable to be updated on a Monday, they will be updated ASAP. Tests
and lab reports take more time to complete and these updates will be
communicated to you in class.
Homework: Expect to have homework every day. Homework will be
taken up randomly but you are expected to complete each assignment
for success in this course.
Daily Oral Review (DOR): You will be expected to complete a brief
warm-up question at the start of the class period on previous material.
You CAN use your notes and ask for help from the instructor to
complete this activity. These assignments will be graded on a weekly
basis and you will not be required to make-up these activities in the
event of an absence (write ABSENT in your notebook).
Lab Reports/Quizzes/Tests: No late assignments accepted! If you are
absent, the due date is the next day you return to class. You must plan to
make-up a test or quiz the day you return to class. NO notes or outside
help may be used on quizzes and tests unless stated by the teacher.
Laboratory Component: You will be expected to write lab reports for
the majority of laboratory activities completed in this course. These
reports are to be written based on the format given to you. You MUST
read and sign the lab safety contract BEFORE participating in lab!!
Safety guidelines and teacher instructions MUST be followed at ALL
times during in the lab. NO EXCEPTIONS! **If a student has to sit out of a
laboratory experiment due to behavior after a warning, 10 points will be
taken off the lab report grade or 5 points will be taken off a lab postassignment.
Course Schedule: This schedule is tentative and is subject to change as we
progress through the academic year. Test, quiz, and lab dates are subject to
change as we progress through the material. Lab topics are subject to change
as well.
1st Semester (August 21, 2014—November 17, 2014)
 August 21-22: Summer Assignment (quiz grade), lab safety, basic
math review, lab techniques
 August 25th: Lab Safety and Equipment Quiz—(incorporated
into Test I)
 August 25-29th: Atomic Theory
 September 2nd: Atomic Theory Test
 September 2-12th: Electron Configuration, Periodic Properties,
Quantum
 September 4th: Determining a Solution’s Concentration Lab—
Vernier
 September 11th: Inquiry Lab #1—Beer’s Law
 September 16th: Periodic Trends Test
 September 15-26th: Chemical Formulas/Stoichiometry
 September 18th: Determination of the Percent Water Lab—
Vernier
 September 25th: Inquiry Lab #7—Green Chemistry
 September 30th: Chemical Formulas/Stoichiometry Test
 October: Chemical Bonding, Hybridization
 October 2nd: Liquid Chromatography Lab--Vernier
 October 9th: Paper Chromatography Lab, Introduction into Inquiry
#5
 October 23rd: Inquiry #5 Lab—Molecular Separation
 October 31: Chemical Bonding Test
 November 3-14th: Reaction Predictions
 November 6th: Standardizing a solution of NaOH Lab--Vernier
 November 13th: Redox Titration Lab
 November 19th: Reaction Predictions Test
2nd Semester (November 18, 2014—February 27, 2015)
 November 18-21st: Thermodynamics
 November 20th: Determining the Mole Ratios in Chemical Reaction
Lab--Vernier
 December 1-18th: Thermodynamics
 December 4th: Determining the Enthalpy of a Chemical Reaction
Lab—Vernier
 December 11th: Inquiry #12 Lab—Design your own handwarmer
 December 18th: Thermodynamics Test
 January 5-23rd: Kinetics/Equilibrium Basics
 January 8th: Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide Lab—Vernier
 January 15th: Rate and Order of a Chemical Reaction Lab--Vernier
 January 22nd: Inquiry #11 Lab
 January 27th: Kinetics Test
 January 26-30th: Gases and Equilibrium
 January 29th: Exploring the Properties of Gases Lab—Vernier
 February 2-6th: Finish Gases and Equilibrium
 February 5th: Molar Volume of a Gas Lab—Vernier
 February 10th: Gases Test
 February 9-27th: Acid/Base Chemistry
 February 12th: Acid-Base Titration—Vernier
 February 19th: Inquiry #4 Lab—How much acid is in common
drinks?
 February 26th: Determining the Ka of a Weak Acid Lab—Vernier
3rd Semester (March 2nd—May 29, 2015)
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March 2-5th: Finish Acid/Base Chemistry
March 5th: Buffers Lab—Vernier
March 10th: Acid/Base Test
March 9-27th: Electrochemistry
 March 12th: Inquiry #15—What household materials have
buffering capability?
 March 19th: Role-Play of Voltaic Cells, Lemon Battery, Start on
Salt-Water Cars
 March 26th: Electroplating Lab—Vernier, Finish Salt-Water Cars
 March 27th: Electrochemistry Test
 March 30-April 6th: Spring Break
 April 7-May 1st: Ksp and AP Chemistry Exam Review
 April 9th: Determining the Ksp of calcium hydroxide lab-Vernier
 April 16th: Determination of a Chemical Formula Lab--Vernier
 April 23rd: Conductimetric Titration and Gravimetric
Determination of a Precipitate Lab—Vernier
 May 4, 2015: AP Chemistry Exam!!
 May 5-28th: Organic Chemistry Introduction, Biochemistry,
Additional Labs
 May 7th: Make a Polymer
 May 14th: Research and Formation of Volcanoes Lab
 May 21st: Finish, Prep, and Activate Volcanoes Lab
Syllabus Review: Please fill out, detach, and turn in this portion of the
syllabus.
Student Name: _________________________________________
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Daytime Phone Number of Parent: ___________________________
Parent E-mail: ____________________________________________
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