COURSE SYLLABUS

2014-2015
For this year's chemistry program, we will focus on at least three main activities :
1) Concepts and content (understanding ideas in chemistry and learning chemistry material)
2) Prolem solving in chemistry
!) "#perimental wor$%
Supplies
&e#too$ : "nsure it is with you each day for class% 'e will tal$ aout material from it and we
will use it for practice prolems%
(heets : )ou will receive handout and homewor$ sheets over the year which will guide you
through your studies and aid you on your practice prolems%
*otes : "nsure to have paper to do notes and prolems% &his can e a noteoo$ with lined
paper or a inder with sheets in it% &he inder and sheets are recommended as they
are good for organi+ing wor$ and it is good for students to e familiar with using
them in higher grades of the school%
,ther tools : -lac$.lue pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator with logarithms%
Course Outline
&he course will include the following topics :
Atomic Theory and Structure
Composition of atoms (nucleus, electrons, and how we $now they e#ist, isotopes)%
/odels of the atom : &homson, 0utherford, -ohr, and 1uantum /echanical models%
Scientific measurement (including significant figures)
2ow to do calculations and show results with an accuracy that is appropriate%
*aming of chemical compounds, formulas of chemical compounds%
&he systematic way of naming chemical compounds% 2ow to give the formula of a chemical compound
when you $now its name and how to give the name when you $now its formula%
Chemical 3uantities (moles etc%), including prolem solving in chemistry
Calculations of amounts e%g% the numer of atoms in 12g of caron, the amount of one compound that will
react with a certain amount of another compound%
Periodic Table and Periodicity
2ow the elements are arranged in a periodic tale (using atomic numer), how the place of an element in the tale gives
information aout the electron structure of the element and aout the chemical properties of the element%
Physical Properties of Solids, Liquids, and Gases
2ow atoms and molecules are arranged and the forces etween them% &he physical properties of solids, li3uids, and
gases% 2ow temperature, pressure, and volume of a gas affect one another%
Bonding
2ow the electronic configuration of atoms affect the way they interact (e%g% ionic and covalent onds)% Formation of
molecules y the sharing of electrons etween atoms%
hemical reactions and thermochemistry
0eactions are a result of interactions etween atoms, molecules or ions% "vidence for chemical reactions% &he
involvement of heat in reactions e%g% e#othermic and endothermic reactions%
Acids and Bases, !"idation and #eduction #eactions
'hat is an acid and what is a ase 4 &he transfer of hydrogen ions in acid.ase reactions% 'hat is o#idation and what is
reduction 4 &he transfer of electrons in o#idation.reduction reactions%
!rganic hemistry
&he origins of synthetic polymers such as nylon%
Experimental wor
5aoratory activities are an essential part of the chemistry course% )ou will use various types of
chemical e3uipment (unsen urners, test tues, tongs, etc%)% )ou will ma$e oservations, ta$e
measurements, and do la reports%
A!a"emi! an" Assessment #oli!ies
)our grade is an assessment of your learning and academic performance%
678 of your grade will come from tests
298 of your grade will come from graded homewor$
198 of your grade will come from your participation in class, your notes.noteoo$, and your
preparedness for class (98 each)%
(ample prolems and practice prolems are an important part of your learning and they enale you
to ac3uire and practice s$ills% &hey will not e graded and will not figure into your final grade, ut
they will help your grade improve (e%g% enaling you to do etter in tests)%
/ost or all assessments will e graded according to the scale in the student:parent handoo$% ;
riefer version of this is elow :
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Stan"ar" $s% A"$an!e"
An the standard course, we will address many of the same topics as in the advanced course%
2owever, we will go at a slower pace to allow students to understand the material etter% 'e may
cover material in less depth and comple#ity or we may cover less topics than the advanced class%
Online &ra"e'oo
;ll students and parents should have access codes to "ngrade% Af you do not, please contact% Brades
will e put on "ngrade, so you or your parents can see where you have done well or adly% &his will
help you to see where you need to improve% Af you want advice on how to improve in any area of
your wor$, please tell me%