AP Chemistry

Brief Description of Course:

AP Chemistry is designed to offer the rigor and challenge of a first year college chemistry course. I have three overall goals:

1)      To provide college-level chemistry instruction: My role is to lecture on new topics, provide models for assigned practice problems, and help organize chemistry concepts into a format to aid understanding of chemistry.

2)      To provide college-level laboratory experience: Students are to keep a detailed lab journal to collect, organize, manipulate, and analyze data. They will use the data to draw conclusions and evaluate error. Lab groups will share data and ideas for error analysis.

3)      To prepare students for the AP exam in such a way that they will have the best possible chance for success. To do this students will be required to work through approximately 15-20 text book problems per week, complete the corresponding short answer problems from previous AP exams, and complete assigned problems in the Chemical Equations Handbook. Students will be expected to share their methods for solving assigned home work problems with the class.

Underlying these three goals my hope is to inspire a deep and long lasting appreciation for chemistry and have fun while doing so. To this end, each student will be expected to participate.

Policies:

  • Each student is expected to sit for the AP Chemistry Exam in May. If cost is prohibitive, please see AP Coordinator.
  • CRISP: To be exempt from the Final Exam: Earn a final average of 80% or better; complete homework assignments and lab write-ups; and maintain good attendance (and be on time!).
  • Grading:

Habits of work…… 10%

Formative assessment…..30%

Summative assessment%…60%

Course Materials:

Each student is expected to bring to class each day a scientific calculator and a three ring binder exclusive to AP chemistry. Other items such as text book, lab notebook, and other supplementary materials necessary for a lesson will be determined on a class by class basis.

Textbook and Other Course Materials:

Brown, Theodore H. Eugene, LeMay. Chemistry: The Central Science. Prentice-Hall 2009

Hague, G.R. and Smith, Jane, D. The Ultimate Chemical Equations Handbook. 2001. Flinn Scientific, Inc. Batavia, Il.

Schwarcz, Joe. Radar, Hula Hoops and Playful Pigs. 2001. WH Freeman and Co.

Binder with compiled released AP Chemistry Exams 1999-2011

Demmin, P and Hostage, D.  Multiple Choice and Free Response Questions in Preparation for the AP Chemistry Examination. 2005. D&S Marketing Systems.

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