Advanced Placement Chemistry

Advanced Placement Chemistry Course Syllabus 2014-2015 Mr. Callahan scallahan@tusd.net Course Description AP Chemistry is a college level chemistry course taken and taught with the goal of challenging a college course through taking the AP Exam. Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions. The class will focus on practice with an emphasis on labs. The big concepts that will be covered are as follows: 1. The chemical elements are fundamental building materials of matter and all matter can be understood in terms of arrangements of atoms. These atoms retain their identity in chemical reactions. 2. Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them. 3. Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons. 4. Rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the molecular collisions. 5. The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter. 6. Any bond or intermolecular attraction that can be formed can be broken. These two processes are in a dynamic competition, sensitive to initial conditions and external perturbations. Class Rules 1 P a g e 1. Be punctual. Show up to class on-time. Have homework ready on-time. When the bell rings be in your seat working on the warm-up. 2. Be prepared. Have your calculator, pencil, homework and clean paper all with you. 3. Be productive. All class time is to be spent on class assignments. Lecture time is to be spent taking notes. Work time is to be spent working on assignments for this class. 4. Be polite. Everyone in the classroom is to be respectful to everyone else in the classroom at all times. 5. All school rules are in effect. Classroom Electronics Policy: Personal electronic devices (not including scientific or graphing calculators) must be off and away! Any seen out or on during class will be confiscated and given to the office. The class has computers and other equipment

provided. Phones, etc. are unnecessary and will only distract from the serious work we have to do. Tardy Policy: 1. A tardy is defined as arrival to class within the first ten (10) minutes after the tardy bell rings. Students must be in their seats when the tardy bell rings. Arrival to class 10 to 29 minutes after the tardy bell will constitute a late. Arrival to class 30 minutes or later will constitute an unexcused absence. # TARDY CONSEQUENCE(S) 1-4 1 st Tardy: Verbal warning; Tardy packet work completed by the end of period for tardies 2-4. Teacher will also call home on fourth tardy. Students who do not fulfill teacher consequence may be teacher suspended. 5 Administrative DART and parent contact 6 In-House suspension. Parents contacted by AP. 7 Home suspension. Parent contacted by AP. 8+ Home suspension. Parent contacted by AP. A student late to class by 10 minutes or more will be termed late and will receive appropriate tardy consequence. Tardy consequences will be assigned on per period basis. Academic Dishonesty: All students are expected to do their own work. Cheating and plagiarism (copying someone else s work, even homework) will not be tolerated. The consequences for academic dishonesty are a 0 score on the test or assignment, parent contact, and a possible referral. Laboratory Safety: During the course of the year, we will be doing several laboratory assignments. Because we will often be working with delicate (and breakable) equipment as well fire and electricity, it is extremely important that you keep safety in mind at all times while in the lab. See the attached Laboratory Safety Contract for specific guidelines. Students who do not adhere to proper safety procedures may be disallowed from participating in future lab activities. In addition, students will be fined for damage or breakage caused by failure to follow proper procedures. Materials and Supplies Needed: There are certain materials and supplies that you will need to bring with you to class everyday. Not having the required materials may result in your not being able to complete class activities and may adversely affect your grade. Materials which you should bring each day include: 2 P a g e

A three-ring binder containing all of the graded and ungraded work from the current unit. This binder may be used for other classes, but there should be a distinct section for your Chemistry class. A scientific calculator Blank paper (lined and unlined paper) A regular pen (black or blue ink only) or pencil A set of colored pencils or markers Textbook and Class Materials Policy At the beginning of year, you will be issued one textbook, Chemistry: the Central Science, published by Pearson, for this class from the West High School library. You should cover this textbook and keep it at home. You will not need to bring it to class unless asked to do so by Mr. Callahan. While in your care, you are responsible for this textbook and will be assessed a fine for any damage the textbook sustains during the school year. In addition, Mr. Callahan may have a class set of textbooks for use in the classroom only. You may be assigned a particular textbook from this class set for use during class. You are responsible for this textbook while you are using it and will be held responsible for any damage that occurs to the textbook while it is in your care and custody. You would get into the habit of inspecting your class set textbook at the beginning of each class period on days when the class set is used. Report any textbook damage to Mr. Callahan immediately. You will be held responsible for any damage not reported at the beginning of class. If you do not agree to this policy, please get in to the habit of bringing your textbook from home each day. During the course of the year, you will also borrow and use a variety of materials in the class. These materials include, but are not limited to, your student desk, laboratory supplies and equipment, in-class computer equipment, books, resource materials, and art supplies. You are responsible for taking proper care of these materials while they are in your care. Please inspect your student desk and all materials you borrow in class at the beginning of each class period and report any new damage to Mr. Callahan immediately. You will be held financially responsible for any damage not reported at the beginning of class. (CEC 48904) Grading Policy Semester grades are assigned based on a weighted grade system: Homework 25% Labs 20% Tests 50% (20% Final) Warm-Ups 5% The final will be a substantial portion of the Test category, 40% of the tests or 20% of the class. 3 P a g e

Letter grades are based on the following scale: 90-100% A 80-89.9% B 70-79.9% C 60-69.9% D 0-59.9% F A note about group projects: At various times throughout the year, you will work in groups on cooperative learning projects. These projects foster teamwork and build interpersonal skills. For these projects, group grades are assigned and each member of the group receives the same score. Homework Policy Research supports that homework is an essential part of a student s academic achievement. Homework is designed to reinforce academic skills taught and to help students become lifelong learners. You can expect homework assignments and reading in this class most nights. Your success in the class depends in large part on your dedication to completing these assignments regularly and thoughtfully. In addition, you should review course materials at home to reinforce classroom learning. Students are likely to be presented with questions about the previous night s reading to answer at the beginning of class, in the warm-up. Because Chemistry is computation intensive, a certain format will be expected for all problems. All work involving problem-solving must be turned in with goal, given and relationship clearly shown. Not doing so will make the assignment invalid and ineligible for credit. As mentioned in the student handbook, TUSD Board of Education Policy 6154 states that, per night, 9-12 students will typically average two hours of homework. 9-12 students may be given limited homework on holiday and weekends to meet course objectives and acquisitions of skills. Students in advanced classes may receive more homework, including summer reading. AP Chemistry is an advanced course and will have more homework. Make-Up and Late Work Make-up work will be accepted for a grade after excused absences only. Upon returning after an excused absence, you should check the class assignment calendar and, if needed, complete a Make-Up Work Request form. Students are allowed a one-day extension on missed work for each day they were absent, with the following exceptions: Tests and quizzes: Except in extenuating circumstances, only one make-up day will be offered per test or quiz. If a student misses a test or quiz, they should check the assignment calendar for the make-up date. A test that is not made up on this date will receive a score of 0. 4 P a g e

Labs and projects: Students who were absent on the day of a lab or group project should check with the teacher for instructions about how to make up the missed activity. There will be make-up assignments. Make-Up work will only be accepted from students who are absent due to at home suspension immediately upon student return. (WHS Student Handbook, CEC 48913) In-house suspension/detention is not considered an absence for the purposes of make-up work. Therefore, students who miss class because they were suspended to in-house suspension/detention may complete the work they missed from Mr. Callahan. Those students may turn in assignments that are due, but do not get an extension on any work. It is the student s responsibility to contact Mr. Callahan during the school day or after school to turn in work and get the day s assignments. Except in the case of an excused absence, late work will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with Mr. Callahan. An assignment not turned in on time (including extensions) will receive a score of 0. Planned Absences Whenever you know in advance that you will be absent for a school activity (field trips, sports, AP testing or any other reason), you must see Mr. Callahan ahead of time to get the assignments you will miss. You will be expected to have the assignments completed and ready to turn in upon your return. Make-up work will not be allowed post hoc for planned absences. TA Expectations A TA for the class is expected to help with limited grading, organizing, and recording. TA s are also expected to assist with cleaning and preparing labs. The attendance policy for all students applies to TA s as well. How to Contact Mr. Callahan My office hours are Wednesday 3:00-4:00 PM. I am also available for additional help or consultation most days by prior arrangement before and after school. If a parent wishes to contact me regarding their child s performance, progress or behavior in class, feel free to contact me at 830-3370 ext. 3865 or by email at scallahan@tusd.net. 5 P a g e

Laboratory Safety AP Chemistry 2014-2015 Mr. Callahan In order to make the laboratory a place of learning and discovery, it must be a safe place in which to work. Safety is everyone s responsibility. If you have any questions about safety or about laboratory procedures, be sure to ask Mr. Callahan. Electrical Safety Chemical Safety Caustic Substances 6 P a g e Never overload an electric circuit Make sure all electrical equipment is properly grounded Keep electrical cords away from areas where someone may trip on cords or where the cords can tip over laboratory equipment. Never unplug equipment by pulling on a cord. Before leaving the laboratory, be sure all electrical equipment is turned off and unplugged. Do not overpower equipment. Keep settings at those specified by the instructor. Do not short-circuit equipment. Never touch a possibly live circuit. Never taste any substance in the laboratory. Do not eat or drink from laboratory glassware. Do not eat or drink in lab. Properly label all bottles and test tubes containing chemicals. Never return unused chemicals to the original container. Alert your teacher to any chemical spills. Do not let acids and bases touch your skin or clothing. If a substance gets on your skin, rinse immediately with cool water and alert your teacher. If acids spill down the front of you, you must rinse in a full shower wash. Know where the emergency shower is! Wear your laboratory apron to protect your clothing When shaking or heating a test tube containing chemicals, always point the test tube away from yourself and others. Eye Safety Wear approved safety goggles in the laboratory when using chemicals of any kind, fire or when participating in a dissection. Know where the emergency eye wash station is in the lab. Fire Safety Know where the fire extinguishers and fire blankets are in the lab. Tie back long hair and confine loose clothing. Never reach across an open flame. Glassware Safety Check the condition of glassware before and after using it. Inform your teacher about any broken, chipped, or cracked glassware.

Air-dry glassware; do not dry by toweling. Do not use glassware that is not completely dry. Do not pick up broken glass with your bare hands. Never place glassware near edges of your work surface. Hand Safety Use tongs when heating test tubes. Never hold test tubes in your hand while heating them. Always allow heated materials, including glassware, to cool before handling them. Extreme care should be taken when handling sharp instruments such as pins and scalpels Hygienic Care Always wash your hands after lab. Keep your hands away from your face. Tie long hair back away from your face to prevent it being caught in equipment or catching on fire. Proper Waste Clean up the laboratory after you are finished. Disposal and Leave the equipment in the arrangement you found it. Cleanup Dry up any liquids. Laboratory Horseplay is not allowed. Behavior Instructions must be followed. Work only in assigned lab groups. No switching lab groups without advanced approval. Clean up the laboratory after you are finished. These lab safety rules are a part of your course syllabus. If you violate these rules, you will be subject to disciplinary procedures including, but not limited to, the loss of your laboratory privilege. Also be aware that you will be fined if equipment is broken or damaged through negligence or misconduct. 7 P a g e