Course Description
This is a course in Advanced Placement Chemistry. The coursework includes the freshman college chemistry topics as outlined by the standards presented in the document at the end of this page. The AP Chemistry curriculum has significantly changed from previous years. Those changes are again outlined in the document posted below. The biggest changes are that the course is focused on less breadth and more depth with a focus on inquiry based learning and laboratory work. I had to submit a new AP Chemistry course syllabus that reflected these changes by aligning the new standards and learning objectives so that this course would keep its AP designation. The syllabus was approved and you can view this syllabus here.
The syllabus is broken into three major units:
Unit 1 : Unit 1 – Analytical Chemistry – Stoichiometry
Mole concept, analytical techniques, Stoichiometry through atoms, compounds, solutions, acid/base, redox and Gas Laws. We take a journey through several units using stoichiometry.
Unit 2: Unit 2 – Electronic Structure of Atoms and compounds
Modern Atomic theory (photoelectric effect, lights, Bohr, Quantum mechanics), electron configuration, Periodic Table, Bonding, Intermolecular forces, and Solutions.
Unit 3: Unit 3 – Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Electrochemistry
Thermodynamics (laws 0,1,2,3), spontaneity, Gibbs Free Energy, Chemical Kinetics (Rate Law),
Chemical equilibrium solution equilibrium, acid/base equilibrium, buffers and Electrochemistry.
Book: We will use a free online book used by Rice University from a non-profit educational resource called Chemistry 2e from Openstax. If a students wants a print copy they can download it and print the pages they are using for free or OR order it from Amazon. Click here for book options.
Grading Policy – The overall class average is based on a Weighted Average from 3 Categories.
Quiz/Homework
Laboratories – please view lab requirements
Tests
10% of the AVERAGE of all Quizzes or graded Homework’s in the quarter.
30% of the AVERAGE of all the graded Labs in the quarter.
60% of the AVERAGE of all the graded Tests for the quarter.
EXAMPLE:
If a student has a quiz average of 90 : 90 x .10 (10 percent weight) = 9
and a lab average of 80 : 80 x .30 (30 percent weight) = 24
and test average of 70 : 70 x .60 (60 percent weight) = + 42
Quarter Grade (add all 3 results) = 75
Notice it is not 80, which is the middle number of the three grades, due to the fact that each grade has different weights. ( A regular average , which would get you an 80, applies the same weight for each number, which would be 33.3% ) Notice the quarter average is below 80 because the test grades have the largest weights and the test average was the lowest score. Tests are worth more and are a culmination of every quiz, lab, and activity that the student participated in. Also notice that quizzes have the least weight therefore giving students opportunity to measure their immediate knowledge without fear that their grades will be negatively impacted. I always say it is better to get things wrong on a quiz and learn from your mistakes than to get it wrong on a test. It is incomprehensible to get the same things wrong on a quiz and on a test.
Zeros are placed in Powerschool if a student is absent or does not hand in an assignment.
Students who do not hand in assignment and do not notify me ahead of time with a email will have zeros stand. When students make up a grade due to an acceptable excuse they grade of zero will be changed. Please be patient, a makeup grade is not automatically graded when you hand in into my purple crate.
Do not hand in anything to me personally as I probably will misplace it as I am always busy setting up labs, demos, helping students, and etc. Hand it into my purple crate, which is in the front of class.
If you have any problem regarding due dates, technology issues, etc, you must contact me through email: grodski@whbschools.org
Email is necessary because it is a time stamped record. I understand that this is not your only course and I will work with you on most occasions, however if you abuse this policy I will not allow any extensions.
Sincerely and Tall,
Mr. Grodski
This document is from AP Central and represents the core of the course.