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Chemistry Syllabus 2010-2011

Dear parents and precious students,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to   Chemistry class. I am looking forward to an enjoyable and most fruitful year in the study of Chemicals. My experience has shown that Chemistry is not the most popular science in many schools today. However, I firmly believe that the attitude towards Chemistry simply depends on how it is taught and not on its content per-se. It is my goal to make Chemistry accessible to students through examples familiar to students. As I often say to my students, you can’t get away from Chemistry. It is in and all around us. In this class, we  will learn to explore the nature and properties of matter through a variety of ways: Lectures, class demonstrations, labs, videos and hands on experiences. I am hoping to establish good relationships with my students and by doing so, help them become not only critical thinkers but also changers of our world.

 Class Rules, Behavior and Expectations

•  In addition to the student handbook’s general rules, I will expect the following from students in my classroom:
• There will be no eating or drinking in the room
• Cell phones are not allowed in the room.
• When the second bell rings before you reach your seat, it will be considered as unexcused tardy.
• Students are free  to do anything that doesn’t cause a problem  for anyone else (including the teacher)
• If you cause a problem, I will ask you to solve it.
• If you can’t solve the problem, or choose not to, I will do something
• What I will do will depend on special person, and the special situation
• Always, raise your hand to ask a question
• The consequences will depend on the choices the student will have made: I happen to believe that there are no bad students, but good students who made bad choices. It is students’ privilege and responsibility to make good choices.
• It is my goal to treat my students with respect so they will know how to treat me and others. In most of the circumstances, there will be a first warning, a one-on-one talk with the student and a contact to the parents before consequences are applied.
• Since we will support the rules and guidelines as given in the school handbook and the State Education Code, I would encourage all my students to  read and regularly review the Student /parent hand book

 Assessment and Grading

•  Homeworks, Class preparedness,  mini-quizzes  and labs shall be assigned one weight.   Remember, items must be brought to class and available when the bell rings –homework, book, pencil and other needed materials. Again, if work is incomplete or items missing, points will be taken off from the preparedness grade.
• Tests - will be valued at 4 weights
• Projects - as assigned
• Class participation  has great  potentials to boost your grades 
• Cumulative final – usually 6 weights.
• A project may be given in lieu of a final written exam. In that case, it will be presented by students in class and will have the same weights as the final exam
• Students will be told their current cumulative grades generally at the end of every chapter.  Please communicate with your child regarding their progress.
• I am typically available during office hours !  Please encourage your child to get help as soon as possible if needed!  Parents may contact me by e-mail at faustinu@villagechristian.org or at the High School office; 818-768-5540.

 The overall grade will break down as follow:

100%-90% = A

89%-80% = B

79%-70% = C

69%-60%= D

59%-0% = F

 Class Preparedness  

•  Students are required to have to following material
• One 3 Ring Binder (1 inch) with  Dividers
• A Calculator 
• Color pencils
• A pencil with an eraser
• Note: Text must be covered  and kept in good condition at all times . Books are assessed at the end of the year. Students will be charged $62 for any missing text book or pay between 1-30$ depending on the book’s damages.

Special  Lab Safety Rules

•  No goofing around in the lab
• Report any accident  or injury, no matter  how minor, to the instructor immediately
• Avoid interference in the experiments of other lab groups. This includes any unwanted  or unasked  for “help.: Keep your hands on yourself
• Carefully read ALL the directions for the experiment before starting to do anything. NEVER conduct any unauthorized  experiments on your own
• Wear your lab apron at all times while you are in the lab area.
• Safety goggles must be worn whenever the instructor tells you that the experiment requires  their use.
• Girls with long hair will need to wear it up or tie  it back  during lab activities.
• Clothes with long, puffy, or loose sleeves should be avoided on lab days.
• Think ahead. Be aware of what is going on around  you in lab. Listen to what the instructor says when he addresses the class during lab.

Chemistry Schedule  

Text : Chemistry, Visualizing matter; by  Holt, Rinehart & Winston. NY,  2000 (new Edition)

 Week 1:  The science of Chemistry. General Introduction

 1. 1 What is Chemistry?

1. 2 Describing matter

1.3 How is Matter Classified ?

 Week  2. Matter and Energy

 2.1 Energy

2.2 Studying Matter and Energy

2.3 Measurements and Calculations in Chemistry

 Week 3. Atoms & Moles

3.1  Substances are  made of Atoms

3.2 Structure of Atoms

3.4 Electron  Configuration

3.4 Counting Atoms

 Week 4:  The Periodic table

  4.1 How are Elements Organized ?

 4.2 Tour of the Periodic Table

 4.3 Trends  in the Periodic table

 4.4 Where did the elements come From ?

Week 5:  Ions and Ionic  Compunds

 5.1 Simple Ions

5.2 Ionic Bonding and Salts

5.3 Names and Formulas of Ionic compounds

Week 6:  Covalent Compounds

6.1 Covalent Bonds

6.2 Drawing and Naming Molecules

6.3 Molecular Shapes

Week 7: The Mole and Chemical Composition  

7.1 Avogadro's number  and Molar Conversion

7.2 Relative Atomic Mass and Chemical Formulas

7.3 Formulas and Percentage Composition

Week 8-9:  Chemical Equations  and Reactions

8.1 Describing Chemical Reactions

8.2 Balancing  Chemical Equations

8.3 Classifying Chemical Reactions

8.4 Writing Net Ionic Equations

Week 10-11:  Stoichiometry

9.1 Calculating  Quantities in Reactions

9.2 Limiting Reactants and Percentage Yield

9.3 What happens during a change of state?

9.4 Stoichiometry and Cars

Week 12 :  Causes of Changes

10.1  Energy Transfer

10.2 Using Enthalpy

10.3 Changes in Enthalpy During Chemical Reactions

10.4 Order and Spontaneity

 Week 13:  States of Matter and Intermolecular Forces

 11.1 States and State Changes

11.2 Intermolecular Forces

11.3  Energy of  State Changes

11.4 Phase Equilibrium

 Week 14: Gases

 2.1 Characteristics of Gases

12.2 Gas Laws

12.3 Molecular Composition of Gases

 Week 15: Solutions

13.1 What is a Solution?

13.2 Concentration and Molarity

13.3 Solubility and the Dissolving Process

13.4 Physical  Prperties of Solutions

 Week 16: Chemical Equilibrium

 14.1 Reversible Reactions and Equilibrium

14.2 Systems at Equilibrium

14.3 Equilibrium Systems and Stress

 Week 17: Acids and Bases

 15.1 What are Acids and Bases ?

15.2 Acidity, Basicity, and PH

15.3 Neutralization Na Titrations

15.4  Equilibria  of Week Acids  and Bases

 Week 18: Reaction Rates

 19.1 What Affects the Rate of a  Reaction ?

19.2 How Can Reaction Rates be Explained?

 Week 19-20: Final Project presentations