Renaissance High School Chemistry Mr. Aaron
Classroom 205 / Chemistry Lab 206 Phone: 208-350-4380
Email:[email protected] 2011-2012
Course Description
Renaissance Chemistry will develop students’ personal skills of cooperation, perseverance, and responsibility necessary for effective scientific investigation and problem solving. Students will develop the skills necessary to carry out scientific investigations with precision and safety. Students will learn to think critically and relate the principles of chemistry to their lives and the global community. Participation in all activities will determine the overall grade in the class.
What’s Chemistry all about?
Chemistry is the study of the properties and interaction of matter. We will learn about elements, compounds, mixtures, chemical reactions, and much, much more. You’ve studied some chemistry already in 8th grade, but this year we will go into more detail. Another difference between this class
and your experience with chemistry is that math and measurement will play a much bigger part in this course.
How is Renaissance H.S. Chemistry Different?
This course is designed to prepare students for college-level chemistry. High attention will be given to scientific measurements and calculations, naming and writing formulas and balancing equations. Lab activities will be numerous and students will utilize Vernier probe ware to gather and analyze data.
Course Text/ Reading
Our textbook will be the Prentice Hall Chemistry book. I will assign class work from our textbook. Our classroom will have a class set of Chemistry textbooks. A limited number of textbooks are available to students for checkout from the library.
Materials
You will need to bring the following materials to class every day:
Calculator (bring one EVERY DAY!)
3 ring binder, at least 1.5”, used exclusively for Chemistry
Dividers
Composition or spiral notebook
Paper
Pens & pencils
These materials may be useful to you during the year:
USB drive/flash drive
Colored pencils or markers
Scissors/glue/tape
Index cards
Course Syllabus This syllabus is meant to give you a general idea of what topics we will cover and a general idea of when we will cover them. We may not cover all of these concepts and/or we may cover concepts not listed here. The timeline is only approximate.
Math & Measurement
Metric system, measurement/accuracy/precision, metric conversions, scientific notation, significant digits, dimensional analysis, mole concept and Avogadro’s constant
Matter Physical and Chemical properties, states of matter,
elements/compounds/mixtures, Element names and symbols
Atomic Structure History of the atom, sub-atomic particles, protons/neutrons/electrons, atomic mass, atomic number, isotopes & average atomic mass, atomic mass units, nuclear reactions, alpha particles/beta particles/gamma rays, transmutation & radioactive decay
Electron Structure
History of quantum mechanical model, orbits and orbitals (s,p,d,f), electron configuration, quantum numbers, uncertainty, orbital diagrams
Periodic Table History of the table, trends in the table, electronegativity, electron affinity, ionization energy, ionic radii, atomic radii, families and groups, electron configuration and the periodic table
Chemical Bonding
Types of bonding, ionic bonding, covalent bonding, metallic bonding, octet rule, oxidation numbers, predicting ionic compound formulas, ionic nomenclature, writing covalent formulas, covalent nomenclature, names & formulas for acids and bases
Chemical Reactions
Balancing chemical reactions, different types of reactions, predicting single replacement product formulas, predicting double replacement product formulas, predicting combustion products
The Mole What’s a mole? Molar masses, adding molar masses, mole conversions, % composition, empirical formulas vs. molecular formulas
Stoichiometry Using balanced equations, mole conversions, mass conversions, mole-particle conversions, gas stoichiometry, limiting reagent reactions, % yield, Cu lab
Thermochemistry Forms of energy, heat energy vs. temperature, Q = mcDT, heat of physical change, heats of reaction, endothermic vs. exothermic processes, stoichiometric thermal calculations
Geometry Lewis dot diagrams for elements, Lewis dot diagrams for molecules, shapes of molecules, polarity, hybrid oribitals
Liquids and Solids
Intermolecular forces, intramolecular forces, hydrogen bonding, crystalline form, liquids, surface tension, change of state, phase change diagrams
Gases Kinetic molecular theory, gas laws, Boyles Law, Gay Leusacs, Charles Law, Dalton’s Law, Combined, Partial pressures, Avogadro, ideal gases, gas stoichiometry
Solutions Molarity, molality, dilutions, solution stoichiometry, colligative properties, conductivity, wet cells
Qualitative Lab Qualitative methods of investigation, finding unknowns in solution, using a flow chart, activity of metals and nonmetals
Acids/Bases Hydrogen ion concentration, calculating pH, acid/base titration, m1v1 = m2v2, titration lab activity
Organic Types of organic compounds, naming organic compounds, organic compound structures
Students’ grades will be determined by the following categories:
Assignments 25%
Lab Work 25%
Notebook 10%
Exam 30%
Final Exam (EOC) 10%
Assignments – Throughout the course, students will be given assignments in order to learn and refine skills that will culminate in written lab reports. Additional assignments will be given to familiarize students with content and concepts within the course. These assignments may require class time, time outside of class, or both.
A NOTE ABOUT HOMEWORK: Students will be expected to spend 30 minutes a day outside of class working on Chemistry. It should be noted however that formal homework (to be collected for a grade) will NOT be assigned every night.
Homework should ALWAYS include the following tasks in the following order of importance and priority:
1. Studying and reviewing for a test or quiz. (Flash Cards) 2. Completing assigned homework if given.
3. Reviewing, rereading, adding to, and rewriting your class notes. 4. Reading or rereading the section of the text we are covering. 5. Pre-reading sections of the text we are going to cover.
6. Reviewing sections of the text we have already covered knowing there will be a quiz or test soon.
Lab Reports – Students will demonstrate their ability to design experiments, conduct experiments while collecting and analyzing data, draw conclusions from experiments conducted and reflect on the experimental process through written lab reports. In addition to submitting one major lab report per semester, students may also submit partial lab reports periodically.
Notebook – “Notebook” refers to the Chemistry binder and the lab notebook, in the form of a composition or spiral notebook. Each student must bring these items to class every day, or this grade will drop. Students must keep science assignments organized and complete daily work in the binder. If you are absent for a day, you need to make up missed work in your binder/notebook. The binder and notebook will be assessed at least once per quarter through an unannounced “Notebook Quiz”.
Exams – Tests and quizzes should be studied for and taken seriously.
Late Work and Missed Work Policies Making up missed work, tests and quizzes
Make up work is to be done on your own time except for tests and quizzes. Missed labs may not be made up due to the number of students and courses being taught in this room, in addition to the fast pace of the course. It is strongly advised that you miss as few days as possible.
If you were absent on the day an assignment to be collected (i.e., with a due date) was
assigned, the assignment will be due the class period following the official due date.
If you were present on the day an assignment to be collected (i.e., with a due date) was assigned, but were absent on a day in between the day the assignment was issued and the due date, the assignment will be due on the official due date.
If you were absent the day a test or quiz was given, you must make up the test or quiz within two class days of the absence. You are responsible for making arrangements with Mr. Aaron to take the test or quiz either during Lunch Detention or after school during AAP.
Late Work
Late work will not be accepted throughout a quarter or semester:
Assigned work is due on the date set by Mr. Aaron. For an assignment to receive full credit, it must be received by the due date.
Late work will be accepted for partial credit until the end of the unit. The length of the units are determined by Mr. Aaron, and the date signifying the end of the unit will be posted at least one week before the unit ends. Assignments will not be accepted after the end of the unit, and students will receive a zero for any assignments not submitted by the end of the unit.
Expectations
The Successful Chemistry Student will:
Be in class every day.
Take pride in his/her work.
Have a good working relationship with others in the class.
Be open with the teacher about difficulties he/she is having learning the material or things in the classroom which are impeding his/her learning.
Be consistent in his/her daily work.
Prepare carefully for exams.
Look for things in Science that interest him/her or connect to his/her life.
Be honest.
Notes to Parents/Guardians
I know that you want your child to succeed. I want to give you the information you need to maximize his/her success.
The two most important things you can do to help your child succeed are 1) make sure he/she is in class every day, and 2) stay aware and involved in what we are currently working on, studying and preparing for.
Please feel free to contact me with concerns or questions throughout the year via email or phone. I will get back to you as soon as possible.
SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY!!
I have read and understand the expectations for Chemistry at Renaissance High School for the 2011-2012 school year.
Student name: PRINTED legibly
Student signature / Date
