AP Chemistry Course Description & Syllabus (2013-14)

Advanced Placement Chemistry

Course Description and Syllabus

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Chemistry 1. Successful completion of geometry and algebra 2 and continued study of math.

Course Description: Advanced Placement Chemistry (H40520) 1.5 credits

This yearlong course is designed to provide a solid first-year college chemistry experience, conceptually and in the laboratory. During the first semester we will meet for 84 minutes every day. During the second semester we will have an 84-minute class every other day.

The course will move quickly. Most topics will be covered in 13-14 school days. (See Syllabus.) The primarily source of content delivery will be online tutorials (See Important Note below). Practice, practice, practice is key to success. The instruction will be supplemented with the text Chemistry: The Central Science by Brown, LeMay and Bursten, 11th edition, which is designed to prepare students for the AP Chemistry exam. While reading the text sections is not required, I strongly encourage it because it will enhance and deepen your understanding of the material. I will provide a recommended schedule of reading and problems on a monthly basis. There will be an exam at the end of each topic using previous AP Chemistry exam questions. We will use the two weeks before the AP Exam to review. After the exam we will study additional aspects of materials science and do related experiments.

At least once every two weeks you will do a laboratory experiment. (See Syllabus.) Each experiment averages two 84-minute class periods for a total of 50 hours of laboratory time. Unless otherwise noted, the source of each lab experiment is either Laboratory Experiments (Chemistry: The Central Science by Brown, LeMay and Bursten, 11th edition) or René McCormick (Adapted from Advanced Chemistry with Vernier & Laboratory Experiments for Advanced Placement Chemistry by Sally Ann Vonderbrink, PhD.)

Experiments are chosen to illustrate and reinforce chapter material, develop problem-solving and critical thinking, and give the broadest possible experience in lab technique and skills. Working in partners, you will collect, process, and manipulate data taken from quantitative and qualitative observations. You will then develop and formally report your conclusions in your lab notebook. The lab report will consist of purpose, procedure, data, data and error analysis, and conclusion. I will collect your lab notebook on a regular basis to check your understanding and give you feedback. You are strongly encouraged to keep your lab notebook as evidence of learning and experience if your college requests it.

IMPORTANT: Students will be expected to access http://apchemistrynmsi.wikispaces.com/ daily to prepare for class. These streaming video lectures, available 24/7, and accompanying notes were produced by the prodigious and amazing chemist, René McCormick. With Dr. McCormick's generous instructional resources at your disposal, there is NO excuse not to learn this material!!

NEW NOTE: June 13, 2012: AP Chemistry Students enrolled for 2012-2013, this is the web site to access your summer assignments.

http://apchemistrynmsi.wikispaces.com/AP+Chemistry+Class+Lecture+Notes+AND+instructional+videos

Syllabus is attached below. This document also doubles as your daily lesson & activity planner.