ChemIONS

A new course at my school - Honors Chemistry.  It is intended for those students who will go on to take higher chem classes in high school or college.  What you you think of this draft syllabus?

Honors Chemistry

Course Syllabus

Text:

Chemistry: Matter and Changes. Butelezi, T., Dingrando, L., Hainen, N., Wistrom, C., & Zike, D., McGraw Hill. Glencoe, NY: 2008.

Instructors and contact information:

Dr. Bill McIlwee; mcilweewilliam@rockwood.k12.mo.us

Ms. Meredith Venable, Intern; venablemeredith@rockwood.k12.mo.us

Class website:

http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/eurekahs/academics/mcilwee/index.html

Textbook website:

Course Description:

            The math prerequisite for Honors Chemistry is a passing grade in Algebra I.  It should be noted that this course is very math intensive.  It is recommended that students have a ‘B’ or higher in Algebra I.

Grading:

Tests and Quizzes: 50%

Labs and Lab Activities: 40%

Daily Grades: 10%

Tests are after the completion of units.  Quizzes, after the completion of sections or chapters, are more formative in nature and design.  Students will have a two-week notice for tests and generally will have a one-week notice for quizzes.  After Unit 1, students will have the opportunity to re-take tests.  The student must have “proof of tutoring” from a Chemistry Teacher or National Honor Society member in order to re-take a test.  The re-take must be scheduled before the announced deadline and the re-take grade, higher or lower, will be the final grade for the test.

Labs and activities differ in the complexity of the design and work required by the student.  The design of a lab is to assess the student’s ability to demonstrate his or her understanding of concepts and their ability to apply this to non-pencil and paper applications.  Labs are akin to tests in the expected student time/work and possible points.  Lab activities allow the student to explore and enrich his or her understanding of skills and concepts.  Lab activities are similar to quizzes in student time/work and possible points.

Daily grades include short, in-class assignments and the assessment of homework.  Homework assignments will generally be made at the beginning of each unit.  The purposes of these assignments are to guide the student as he or she works through the unit material.  Homework will not be graded per say; however, students are fully expected to work through the assigned problems as material is presented in class.  Daily grades and quizzes will include actual or similar homework questions.

Extra Assistance:

            Any chemistry teacher is able to provide assistance during his or her Academic Lab.  These include:

Mrs. Demarest – 5^th Hour

Mrs. Haynes – 3^rd Hour (Blocked)

Dr. McIlwee – 7^th Hour (Blocked)

Mr. Ribbing – 1^st Hour

Mr. Robinson – 4^th Hour (Blocked)

            Dr. McIlwee is available in Tuesday and Thursday mornings and after school if notified in advance.  National Honor Society members are available for tutoring; sign-up in the Guidance Office.

The class and textbook websites also provide a wealth of materials designed to aid the student.

Class website: http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/eurekahs/academics/mcilwee/

Textbook website: http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/007874637x/

Timeline:

            The information below is provided for general planning purposes.  Specific dates and assignments will be available on the class website and Infinite Campus.

       I.      First Semester

a.       1^st Quarter

                                                              i.      Unit 1

1.      Chapter 1 (Introduction to Chemistry)

a.       1.2, 1.3

b.      HC common ions sheet to begin memorizing

c.       Lab safety

2.      Chapter 2 (Analyzing Data)

a.       2.2, 2.3, 2.4

b.      Lots of sigfig and dimensional analysis

c.       Physical or chemical change lab activity

3.      Chapter 3 (Matter – Properties and Changes)

a.       All, very brief

b.       Specific heat lab

4.      Embedded simple nomenclature and equations

5.      Time: 2.5 weeks

                                                            ii.      Unit 2

1.      Chapter 4 (Structure of the Atom)

a.       4.1, 4.2, 4.3

2.      Chapter 5 (Electrons in Atoms)

a.       5.1, 5.2

b.      Energy of an electron lab

c.       Flame test lab

3.      Modern atomic theory

a.       Probability lab activity

4.      Electron configurations

a.       Lots of practice

b.      Exceptions are taught

5.      Time: 3 weeks

                                                          iii.      Unit 3

1.      Chapter 6 (The Periodic Table and Periodic Law)

a.       All

2.      Formal nomenclature

a.       Electronegativity for bond types

b.      Ionic bond formation and naming (parts of Ch. 7)

c.       Covalent (and polar covalent) bond formation and naming (parts of Ch. 8)

3.      VSEPR

a.       Up to AB₂E₅

b.      Molecular model lab activities

4.      Time: 2.5 weeks

                                                          iv.      Quarter Final

1.      Time: 0.5 weeks

b.      2^nd Quarter

                                                              i.      Unit 4

1.      Chapter 9 (Chemical Reactions)

a.       All

b.      Including AP style net ionic equations

2.      Evidence of a reaction lab activity

3.      Developing solubility rules lab

4.      Time: 2.5 weeks

                                                            ii.      Unit 5

1.      Chapter 10 (The Mole)

a.       All

b.      Counting by weighing lab activity

c.       Hydrate lab (just shy of AP lab)

2.      Chapter 11 (Stoichiometry)

a.       All

b.      Excess reagent lab

c.       Limiting reagent lab

3.      Time: 3.5 weeks

                                                          iii.      Unit 6

1.      Chapter 24

a.       All

b.      Time: 1.5 weeks

                                                          iv.      Final exam

    II.      Second Semester

a.       3^rd Quarter

                                                              i.      Unit 7

1.      Chapter 12 (States of Matter)

a.       12.3, 12.4

2.      Chapter 13 (Gases)

a.       All

b.      Boyle’s law lab

c.       Graham’s law lab

d.      Gas stoichiometry lab

3.      Chapter 14 (Mixtures and Solutions)

a.       All

b.      Colligative properties lab

4.      Time: 3.5 weeks

                                                            ii.      Unit 8

1.      Chapter 15 (Energy and Chemical Change)

a.       All

b.      Endo- Exothermic lab activity

c.       Concept based

2.      Chapter 16 (Reaction Rates)

a.       All

b.      Measuring a reaction rate (just of AP lab)

c.       Concept based

3.      Time: 3.5 weeks

                                                          iii.      Unit 9

1.      Chapter 17 (Chemical Equilibrium)

a.       All

b.      Stressed equilibrium lab

2.      Time: 2 weeks

                                                          iv.      Quarter final

1.      Time 1 week

b.      4^th Quarter

                                                              i.      Unit 10

1.      Chapter 18 (Acids and Bases)

2.      All

3.      Titration Lab

4.      Time 2.5 weeks

                                                            ii.      Unit 11

1.      Chapter 19 (Redox Reactions)

a.       All

b.      Acidic environments

c.       Measuring current lab

2.      Chapter 20 (Electrochemistry)

a.       All

b.      Electroplating lab activity

3.      Time: 2.5 weeks

                                                          iii.      Unit 12

1.      Chapter 21 (Hydrocarbons)

a.       All

b.      Atomic models lab activity

2.      Chapter 22 (Substituted Hydrocarbons and Their Reactions)

a.       All

b.      Ester Lab

3.      Time: 2 weeks

                                                          iv.      Unit 13

1.      Chapter 23 (The Chemistry of Life)

a.       23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4

2.      Time: 1 week

                                                            v.      Final exam

1.      Time: 1 week