AP Chem students have recommended material for review before

starting AP chemistry. Please see the attached AP Chem syllabus. The

first 14 weeks are mostly review of topics learned in Honors
Chemistry with the exception of Solubility Rules and Electrochemistry
which we will do together. Students are encouraged to review the
other topics listed on the syllabus over the summer. The topics are
listed on the syllabus before Thanksgiving Break.

AP Chemistry Syllabus
2015-2016
Instructor Information:
Name : Elvira Tomlin
Email: elvira.tomlin@ocps.net
Dr. Phillips High School
Rm 3-106
Tutoring times: Tuesday and Thursday 2:15PM-3:00PM
AP Chemistry Course Description:
This course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course
taken during the first year of college. Students will gain an in-depth
understanding of the fundamentals of chemical and mathematical problem
solving. A large portion of the course will involve laboratory activities that would
be comparable to a college level laboratory experience. This course will also fulfill
the college laboratory science requirement.
Texbook:
Chemistry by Zumdahl and Zumdahl, 6th edition, Houghton Mifflin, 2003.
ISBN#0-618-22156-5
Remind App: It is mandatory for you to sign up for Remind. If progress book is
down or if there are changes I will communicate with you via Remind.
Recommended Materials:
Notebook

Loose leaf paper

Graph paper
Folder
Blue or Black pens
Pencils
Erasers
Scientific or graphing calculator (Required)
graphing calculator recommended

Tests:
Tests will typically be given after one or two chapters. They will consist of
multiple choice and free response type questions that are similar to questions
that will be found on the AP chem exam.
Bellwork: You will have similar practice questions for bellwork that will be given
during the first 5-10 minutes of each class.
Homework:
Homework will be at least 5-6 hours per week. You need to do the assigned
reading before class. It is recommended that you make notes to summarize your
reading. This chemistry class will be fast-paced and intense. You will be expected
to keep up with the amount of material since much of it was already covered in
your Chemistry I Honors class in high school. Homework must be turned in at
the beginning of class each day or it is late. The AP chemistry bin is located in
the front of class. It is crucial that you do your homework so that you will know
how to do these problems when you take your test in class and the AP Chem
exam.
Laboratory Experiments: There will be at least 15 labs performed throughout the
year. There will be at least 2 group formal written lab reports and 2 individual
formal written lab reports. This will include a complete purpose, procedure, data,
calculations and conclusions with error analysis. Several labs will involve
graphing. You may consider these projects. Students will work in groups of four
and will discuss their results but all lab reports will be written individually.
Graphing will be done on a computer program or by hand NEATLY, with a ruler
and all necessary labels.
Academic Honesty:
All students are expected to be honest. If students are caught cheating, copying
or plagiarizing they will receive zeroes. It is better to turn work in late and lose
points than to copy and get a zero.

Late Work: All work is due at the beginning of class unless told otherwise. If your
work is late, 20% will be deducted each day. There is no 40% policy for AP
classes. If an assignment is missing it is a zero.
Grading Policy:
Tests
60 %
Labs
20 %
Homework 20 %
You will take a mock AP exam on the material covered in the first semester as
your midterm exam. Your final will be a mock AP exam on the cumulative
material for the year.
Semester Grades are calculated as follows:
1st 9 weeks = 40%
2nd 9 weeks = 40%
Semester/Final exam = 20%
Grading Scale: 90- 100% =A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D,
<60% = F
COURSE CALENDAR:
MAIN TOPICS
LABORATORY
EXPERIMENTS
Introduction of Chemistry:
Lab Safety and Equipment
Scientific method
Density Lab
Units of measurement
Separation of Mixtures
Significant figures
Dimensional Analysis
Classification of matter

TIME
1 week

The Atom
Evolution of Modern Atomic
Theory
Atoms and Atomic structure
Quantum Mechanics
Quantum Numbers
Periodic table
Electron configuration
Periodic Trends
Bonding
Covalent Bonding
Ionic Bonding
Nomenclature (Naming)
VSEPR/Molecular Shapes
Lewis Dot
Polarity
Resonance
Complex Ions
Inter and Intramolecular
Forces*
Stoichiometry
Moles
Molar Mass
Percent composition
Empirical formulas
Balanced Equations
Stoichiometric Calculations
Percent Yield

Isotope Lab
Chromatography

1-2
weeks

Conductivity Lab
Molecular Shape Lab
Identification of Substance
based on reactivity
* Group formal lab report

2-3
weeks

Empirical formula of Silver

Oxide
Amount of water in a
Hydrate

1-2
weeks

Solutions/Concentration
Molarity/ Molality/ Mole fraction
Dilutions
Henrys Law
Freezing Point Depression and
Boiling Point Elevation
Types of Reactions and
Solubility
Precipitation reactions and those
that produce water
Net ionic equations
Oxidation-reduction Reactions
Electrochemistry
Galvanic cells
Writing half reactions
Standard reduction potentials
Cell potential
Batteries
Electrolysis
Gases
Gas Laws
Kinetic Molecular Theory
Gas Stoichiometry
Grahams Law

Use of Volumetric
glassware/equipment lab
Standardization of solution

2 weeks

1-2
weeks

Group Lab report

classification of rxns
Formal Lab report
Precipitate Lab
Redox titration lab

Electrolysis of water
Electroplating Lab
Electrochemical Cells

2 weeks

Molar Mass of Butane

Grahams Law of Diffusion
Lab

1 week

Thanksgiving Break
Thermochemistry
Energy
Phase Diagrams
Heating Curves
Heat capacity
Heat of combustion
Heat of formation
Hesss Law
Enthalpy
Entropy
Gibbs Free energy
Calories

Specific Heat of a Metal

Enthalpy of Reaction and
Hesss Law
Entropy Lab

2 weeks

Kinetics
Reaction Rates
Reaction Order
Factors that change rate
Rate Determining step
Halflife
Activation Energy

Kinetics of a Reaction
Determination of a first
order reaction
Iodine Clock Lab

2 weeks

Winter Break
Equilibrium
The Equilibrium condition
Equilibrium constant
Equilibrium and Pressure
Solving equilibrium problems
Le Chatliers Principle
Law of Mass action
Kc vs Kp
Reaction Quotient

Determination of the
Equilibrium constant

2 weeks

Midterms
Acids and Bases
Acid-Base Theories
Conjugate Pairs
Concept of pH
Calculations of Strong acids and
Bases
Weak Acids and Bases
Polyprotic acids
Ka,Kb and Kw, Ksp
Acid Base Equilibria
Common Ion Effect
Buffers
Indicators
Henderson-Hasselbach eqn

Titration of a Strong Acid

with a Strong Base
Titration of a Weak Acid
with a Strong Base and vice
versa
Buffer Lab
Determination of the
Solubility product

4-5
weeks

Light
Electromagnetic Radiation
Atomic Spectrum
Energy
Absorbance
Frequency
Wavelength
Color
PES
Hydrocarbons
Naming
Functional Groups
Isomers
Polymers

Flame Test Lab

Beers Law
/Spectrophotometer use

Spring Break
Esters Lab

1 week

1 week

Review/practice Mock AP exam

Final- Mock AP Exam

AP Exam:
All students will take the AP Exam on Monday May 2nd ,2016
It is strongly recommended that students purchase additional resource materials
and practice additional problems while we are going over a specific topic.
Recommended resources for the new test: Any review guide is helpful, but here
are some of my favorites:
*Kaplan AP Chemistry 2015 or 2016
*Cracking the AP Chemistry Exam, 2015 or 2016 Edition by Princeton Review
*AP Chemistry Crash Course Book by Adrian Dingle (highly
recommended)