Welcome to Pre-AP Chemistry!

Course Syllabus
2014-2015

Course Description
Pre-AP Chemistry is a challenging course that covers a greater depth and breadth of
content than Advanced Chemistry and successfully serves the purpose to prepare
students for AP Chemistry. This course is fascinating and enables students to apply the
chemistry learned to novel ideas and situations. The course relies heavily on ones ability
to solve and manipulate variables, and therefore, it is imperative that students enter this
course confident in their algebra skills and mathematical abilities. Course assessments
are cumulative, and each new lesson is based on knowledge and skills of the previous
assignment. It is vital to ones success in this course that students not fall behind and that
excellent study habits are implemented from the start.

This course will introduce students to the foundations of chemistry, involving matter and
its characteristics as related to structure, organization, classification and interactions.
This is a rigorous and quantitative course that allows the student to investigate, analyze
and summarize chemical reactions, molecular behaviors and uses of chemical
substances. This course will include hands-on laboratory experiments that utilize and
further students’ development of high level math skills, critical thinking skills, and
implementation of problem solving strategies while becoming competent in the use of
current computer and probeware-based technologies.

By the end of this course the student will be able to:

 Use laboratory equipment, technology and scientific procedures safely and
effectively.
 Calculate fundamental quantitative relationships.
 Understand the structure of matter and the placement of elements on the Periodic
Table, including periodic trends and particle relationships.
 Conceptualize binding forces that exist between atoms and molecules relative to
molecular geometry.
 Write chemical formulas, balance chemical equations, and predict the products of
reactions.
 Perform stoichiometric calculations using the quantities in a chemical reaction.
 Understand that the phases of matter are explained by kinetic theory and forces of
attraction between particles.
 Perform calculations and understand key concepts and relationships in kinetics
and thermodynamics as they are applied to chemistry.
 Understand basic concepts of organic chemistry and biochemistry.

By the culmination of this course, you will have obtained a thorough grounding in basic
chemical principles that will allow you to succeed and comprehend more thoroughly other
sciences while developing a true appreciation for the natural world in which we live,
enabling you to become more competitive in our highly technological world.

Grading Policy
 Assessments for this course are designed to emulate the style and grading format
of the AP Chemistry Exam. The purpose of this strategy is to build students’ test taking
skills and prepare students for successful performance on AP science exams.
Assessment items have been chosen of appropriate level of rigor for Pre-AP Chemistry
students and are formatted to empower students’ problem solving and critical thinking
skills while enabling them to demonstrate competency in fundamental chemical concepts.

According to the new Bedford County Grading Policy we will now grade on a 10 point
scale. 60% of a student’s total grade will come from summative evaluation (testing or
other end-of-unit or end-of-topic assessments), 30% will come from formative
assessments (quizzes, labs, classwork), and 10% will come from homework.

Classroom Rules & Expectations

1. Show respect to everyone (do not talk while the teacher is lecturing; treat
classmates kindly)
2. Stay seated until the bell rings, (wait for final instructions)
3. Follow directions the first time they are given
4. Come to class prepared (on time and with materials)
5. Have a winning attitude

Weekly class schedules, including homework assignments and assessment dates

can be found at the following address: http://bedfordjfhs.sharpschool.net , then use the
link to “Teacher Webpages”, link to “Science”, Link to “Marty Ponder.”

Proper Laboratory Attire

Safety in the laboratory is the #1 priority for students, teachers, and parents.
Students are required to dress appropriately for indicated lab days. To permit students to
participate in laboratory activities, students and parents are required to read and sign in
agreement the “Bedford County Science Student Safety Guidelines.” Pre-AP Chemistry
students are required to arrive to class wearing closed-toed shoes on the day of a
lab (students may leave a pair of closed-toe shoes in their lab station cabinet for
lab use). For safety reasons students not appropriately dressed for lab activities will not
be permitted to participate, which may be reflected in their grade.

Consequences for Failure to Follow School Rules

1. First offense – student will receive a warning.
2. Second offense – student will receive detention.
3. Third offense – student will be referred to administration.

Materials Needed
Students at this level are capable of deciding how best to organize themselves for
the lecture and lab portions of the course. The following are supplies that each student
will need:
  Graphing calculator (recommended) or scientific calculator – many or our
assignments will have specific directions for the TI – 84 Plus silver edition
calculator. Other calculators will work but life will be easier if everyone is on the
same page. I will have some to these calculators available for in class use.
 Flash Drive
 Graph Paper
 Three-ring binder, most of our materials will be in-class handouts

Classroom Supplies
(Items which may be donated for class use; choose a couple of items from the list to
donate. I will email parents later in the year if we run low on any of these items)
 Paper Towels
 Distilled Water
 Tissues
 Liquid hand soap and/or waterless hand cleaner (especially during flu season)

Communication
Please feel free to contact me if you ever have questions or concerns. I
recommend email because I read and reply to email throughout each day. We may then
be able to identify a time when we can speak by phone or in person as needed.
Email: [email protected]
 Pre-AP Chemistry Course Timeline
Units SOL Topics Activities/Labs
1 – Getting Started CH 1a- Guidelines Observations lab
(5-6 days) c, h, i, Safety Foundation Lessons IV, VI, and VIII
3a, c The Nature of Chemistry (Graphing Skills)
Basic Formula Writing/Nomenclature,
polyatomic ions, elements (continuous
expansion)
Graphing Skills (Paper, calculator, and
computer)
2 – Math and CH 1d- Significant Figures Foundation Lesson II: Numbers in
Measurement g, i Scientific Notation Science
(10-12 days) Metric Units Foundation Lesson III: Literal Equations
Density 1. Making a Semimicropycnometer
Temperature Conversions 2. Dimensional Analysis
Dimensional Analysis Densities of Unknown Metals
Accuracy and Precision
3 – Matter and Energy CH 2h, Classifying Matter Physical/Chemical Change Lab
(10 days) 3e, 5e Properties and Changes of Matter Endothermic/Exothermic Rxns Lab
Conservation Laws 3. Chromatography
Potential Energy Diagrams
(Exothermic/Endothermic)
Energy/Specific Heat Calculations
4 – Atomic Structure CH 2a- Atomic Theory and Atomic Structure 4. Matter Waves
and Nuclear Chemistry c, g, i, History, Models, Modern Atomic Structure Flame Test Lab
(12-14 days) 3c Isotopes 5. Electron Configuration, Orbital
Average Atomic Mass Notation, and Quantum Numbers
Quantum Mechanical Model 6. Laser Light
Orbital Notation 8. Isotopic Pennies
Electron Configurations (using Periodic Table) 9. Red Hot Half-Life
Emission and Absorption Spectrum
Lewis Dot Structures (atoms/ions)
Quantum Numbers (values and assigning)
Predicting Oxidation States
Exceptions to Electron Configurations
Nuclear Chemistry and Relevant Chemical
Applications
 Pre-AP Chemistry Course Timeline
Types of Nuclear Decay
Writing and Balancing Nuclear Equations
Nuclear Stability
Half Life-Calculations
Fission/Fusion
5 – Periodic Properties CH 2d-g Relationship B/w Electron Config. and Periodic 7. Why Do They Call It a Periodic
(8 days) Table Table?
Effective Nuclear Charge
Shielding Effect
Periodic Trends
Atomic Radii
Ionic Radii
First Ionization Energy (emphasis on
deviations)
Ionization Energies
Electron Affinity
Electronegativity
Oxidation States
Chemical Families
6 – Bonding and CH 3c, Binding Forces – Ionic, Covalent, Metallic, 10. Bonds – Chemical Bonds
Molecular Geometry d Polarity 11. Don’t Flip Your Lid
(12 days) Polarity of Bonds/Electronegativity 12. Molecular Geometry
Bonding Models – Lewis Structure, VB Theory,
VSEPR
7– CH 3a Ionic 13. Chemical Nomenclature
Nomenclature/Formula Binary Molecular
Writing Simple Organics (Alkane, Alkene, Alkyne,
(8 days) alcohols)
Acids
Complex Ions
8 – Chemical CH 3b, Balancing Equations 14. Net Ionic Equations
Equations c, e Types of Reactions Activity Series of Metals Lab
(6 days) Identifying and Predicting Products of Chemical Types of Chemical Reactions Lab
Rxns. 15. The Eight Solution Problem
Use of Solubility Rules
Net Ionic Equations
 Pre-AP Chemistry Course Timeline
9 – Stoichiometry CH 4b Composition Stoichiometry 16. Stoichiometry
(20 days) Molar Mass Calcs., Mole Conversions, Empirical Formula/Hydrate Lab
Percent 17. Simple vs. True
Composition, Empirical/Molecular Formula 18. Limiting Reactant
Calcs.
Reaction Stoichiometry
Mass-Mass Calcs., Mass-Volume Calcs.,
Volume-
Volume Calcs., Percent Yield, Limiting
Reactant,
Thermochemical Calcs.
10 – Intermolecular CH 3d, Intermolecular Forces Molar Volume of a Gas Lab
Forces and Gas Laws 4a-d, 5a Relationship to States of Matter Other Gas Labs: Boyle’s, Graham’s
(14 days) K-M Theory, Gas Laws (7) 19. Charles’s Law
Qualitative/Quantitative 20. Airbags
Derivations from Gas Laws and Gas
Stoichiometry
11 – Liquids and Solids CH 5b-d Phase Changes and Phase Change Diagrams Heat of Fusion of Ice Lab
(4 days) Change of State Calculations 21. Heating Curves and Phase Diagrams
Equilibrium Vapor Pressure
Solids
Amorphous, Crystalline Solids
Analyzing Heating Curves
12 – Solutions CH 4e, Properties of water 22. Conductivity of Ionic Solutions
(14 days) g, 5f Aqueous Solutions and Dissolving Process Effect of Temperature on Solubility
Electrolytes/Non-electrolytes Performance Assessment: It’s Not Easy
Solution vs. Colloid vs. Suspension Being Green
Solubility Graphs 23. Colligative Properties
Concentration Calculations (6) Freezing Point Depression Lab and
Colligative Properties Molecular Weight
Determination of Molar Mass Using Colligative
Props.
13 – Equilibrium & CH 4f, g General Equilibrium 27. General Chemical Equilibrium
Acids and Bases Calculating Law of Mass Action: Kc and Kp 28. Disturbing Equilibrium
(10 days) LeChatelier’s Principle 29. Acid-Base Equilibrium
RICE Tables 30. How Weak is Your Acid?
 Pre-AP Chemistry Course Timeline
Properties of Acids/Bases and Theories 31. What Do You Mean It Is Soluble After
Identify Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs All?
Strength of Acids and Bases 32. Neutral or Not?
Ionization of Water 33. Titrations-Titrations
Calculation of pH, pOH for strong/weak,
Buffers
Ka and Kb Calculations/Ksp Calculations
Titration Curves and Calculations
Salt Hydrolysis Reactions
14 – Thermodynamics CH 5e Calculate and Interpret the Value of ΔH 34. Thermodynamics
(4 days) Std. Values, Hess’s Law, Calorimetry, Bond 35. How Hot is a Candle?
Energy 36. Hess’s Law
Predict the sign of Entropy Change in a
Chemical Rxn
Calculate and Interpret ΔS from Standard
Values
Gibb’s Free Energy
15 – Kinetics CH 3f Rates of Reactions 24. Chemical Reaction Rates I
(5 days) Determining Rate Law from Data 25. Chemical Reaction Rates II
Graphical Determination of Reaction Orders 26. The Iodine Clock Reaction
Mechanisms and Order of a Reaction
Factors that Affect Rate
Activation Energy and the Role of a Catalyst
16 – Redox Reactions CH 2g, Assigning Oxidation Numbers 37. OIL RIG
and Intro. to 3e Balancing Redox Reaction Equations In 38. It’s Electrifying!
Electrochemistry Acid/Base 39. Deposition
(4 days) Electrochemistry
Voltaic and Electrochemical Cells
17 – Organic (CH 6) Draw and Name Organic Compounds Synthesis of an Organic Compound
Chemistry Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes, Alkadienes, (soap,
(8 days) Cyclic polymers, esters)
Aliphatic, Aromatics, Halocarbons, Alcohols, 40. Long, Long Chains
Ethers, Aldehydes, Ketones, Amines, 41. Biochemistry
Carboxylic 42. Protein Properties
Acids, Esters
Isomers
 Pre-AP Chemistry Course Timeline
Draw/Recognize/Name Structural,
Geometric,
Optical Isomers
Recognize the Importance of Biological
Molecules

18 – Qualitative CH 1a-i Run a Qualitative Scheme and Identify an Identification of an Unknown Substance
Analysis Unknown
(8 days)