Chemistry in the Community is
an inquiry based learning approach to the understanding of chemical principles.
The fundamental processes of nature are considered on both a macroscopic and a
submicroscopic (atomic) level. Units are organized according to common science
and technology problems or issues. Through hands-on experiments, class debates,
research and design projects, and concept exploration, students investigate the
following topics: WATER - Exploring Solutions: MATERIALS - Structures and Uses;
AIR - Chemistry and the Atmosphere; INDUSTRY – Applying Chemical Reactions.
Text: Chemistry in the Community by American Chemical Society, published by W. H. Freeman and Company
Note Book: Each
student must have a ringed loose-leaf binder for your notes, handouts,
homework, and labs. Alternatively, a
6-part folder may be used if properly organized.
Lab Manual/Workbook: Bring your lab manual or workbook on lab days or
when instructed.
Homework Every Night
You will have “homework”
every night. Sometimes you will be asked to “read and define” certain sections
of the text in your notebook, and sometimes you will be asked to simply read.
Before labs, you will have a pre-lab assignment. After labs, you will be asked to turn in lab
reports. Even on those nights when you are not asked to write something, you
will have chemistry homework: review your notes, reread difficult concepts,
study and think about chemistry. If you want to succeed, you have homework
every night.
Written Assignments (Collected Lab Reports and
Projects)
1. Lab reports are due two class days
after the lab is completed in class.
Under extenuating circumstances, extensions will be granted. If a lab is late up to one letter-grade will
be subtracted for each day of lateness.
2. If you are absent on the
day an assignment is due, you are to submit it on the day you return to school.
After that day, the same penalty associated with lateness will apply.
3. Homework that is not collected will not
receive any credit after we go over the homework in class.
Labs: Labs are an important part of class. In order to finish the lab during the class
period, you must be prepared. Therefore,
a pre-lab is assigned prior to the lab.
During the lab, each lab team should complete their own work. Lab groups will not exceed 3 students. When submitting the lab report, list your lab
partners. Also list anyone who helped
you with data or questions.
If you are absent during the performance of a lab, you
are responsible to get the data from another student and copy it into your lab
notebook. Please document this person as a source. Alternatively, you may set
up a time with me to perform the lab yourself.
Grade
Sheet –____ quarter
It is your responsibility to
record your grades either on this page in your notebook or in you planner. If
you do a good job with this, you should have no problem at all calculating your
letter grade at any time during the quarter.
Tests and Quizzes 50%
Labs, Homework, Projects,
Notebook 50%
(Note: Disruptive behavior that continues after
being asked to stop, will result in a loss of points)
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Test/Major Quiz |
HW |
Pop quiz |
Labs |
Project |
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NOTE: You start each quarter with 100 points (50
entered prior to progress reports and 50 entered at the end of the
quarter). If nightly homework is not
accomplished, 5 points are subtracted.
Points may also be subtracted for disruptive behavior.
To calculate grade:
Average all tests and quizzes
together
Average all other items
together
Find the average of these two
averages
|
Letter Grade Equivalents |
|
|
³ 93 |
A |
|
89 – 92 |
B+ |
|
85 – 88 |
B |
|
81 – 84 |
C+ |
|
77 – 80 |
C |
|
73 – 76 |
D+ |
|
70 – 72 |
D |
|
£ 69 |
F |
The final grade will be calculated
from a few unit tests and a class project.
Tentative Course Outline: Each unit will be approximately one quarter.
S Section A. Source and Uses of Water (1 cycles)
SS Evaluate direct and indirect uses of water.
SS Identify water purification techniques
SS Identify available water supply and distribution
S Section B. Water and its Contaminants (2 cycles)
SS Differentiate between homogeneous and heterogeneous
mixtures
SS Identify atoms, elements, and compounds
SS Differentiate between physical and chemical
properties
SS Recognize chemical symbols, formulas, and equations
SS Understand ionic compounds
S Section C. Investigating Causes
of Contamination (2 cycles)
SS Describe solutions qualitatively (super/un/saturated)
and quantitatively (by concentration)
SS Identify heavy-metal ions (useful but toxic)
SSCharacterize water solutions as acidic, basic, or
chemically neutral
SS Associate the solubility of molecular substances with
the relative strength of attractive forces
SS Water: international solvent
SS Forces in solution
SS Factors affecting solubility
S Section D.
Water Purification and Treatment (1 cycle)
SS Water treatment vs. the water cycle
SS Chemical treatment
methods
Unit 2 Materials:
Structure and Uses
RSection A. Why We Use What We Do
(2 units)
RR Distinguish between chemical and physical changes in
matter
RR Classify elements as metals, nonmetals or metalloids
RR Understand the Periodic Table and the info it
provides including
RRR Physical and chemical properties of on element
RRR Atomic masses and atomic numbers.
RRR Period and groups (families) of elements.
RRR Number and arrangement of the electrons
RSection B. Earth’s Mineral
Resources (1 cycle)
RR Describe the three major parts of Earth.
RR Understand Mining and separating metals
RR Describe the process of oxidation-reduction.
R Section C. Conservation (2 cycles)
RR State the Law of Conservation of Matter
RR Apply the law by balancing chemical equations.
RR Moles and molar mass
RR Percent mass
RR Renewable and nonrenewable resources
RR Methods of
conservation
R Section D. Materials; Designing for Properties (1cycle)
RR Electron arrangement and properties
RR Element vs. alloy properties
RR Conductivity
RR Coatings and
properties
Unit 3: Petroleum,
Breaking and Making Bonds
Q Section A Petroleum (1 cycle)
QQ Chemical makeup of petroleum.
QQ Petroleum refining and products
QQ Covalent vs. hydrogen bonding
QQ Electron-dot structures for carbon containing
molecules
QQ Molecular structure and naming convention for
hydrocarbons
QQ Isomers
Q Section B Energy (2 cycles)
QQ Endothermic and exothermic
reactions.
QQ Energy conversions in an
automobile.
QQ Heat of combustion and specific heat
QQ Describe trends in the heat of combustion of the alkanes
QQ Balanced equations for combustion reactions
QQ Octane number
Q Section C Building Molecules (1 cycle)
QQ Saturated and unsaturated
hydrocarbons.
QQ Functional groups (alcohols, ethers, acids and
esters)
QQ Describe polymerization and give one example of
addition and condensation reactions.
Q Section D Alternatives to Petroleum (1 cycle)
QQ Major sources of energy
QQ Alternative sources of fuels
Section A. Gases in the
Atmosphere (1.5 cycles)
•
Composition and layers of the atmosphere
•
Pressure, temperature, volume units; and conversions
•
Gas Laws
Section B. Radiation and
Climate (1.5 cycles)
•
Recognize key parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and wave characteristics
•
Protection offered by earth’s atmosphere protects
Section C. Acids in the
Atmosphere (2 cycles)
•
Characteristics of acids and bases
• pH definition and scale
•
Buffers and neutralization
Section D. Sources,
Effects, and Solutions (time permitting)
• Primary and secondary
sources of air pollution, their chemical impact and solutions
Classroom Rules
1. Respect yourself, your
classmates, your teachers, and your school.
2. Live with an attitude of
effort and success.
3. Do your part to create a
quiet and productive classroom environment.
****If you choose to
ignore these expectations, the following will happen:
1st offense: verbal warning
2nd offense: room cleaning
3rd offense: detention
Any further problems will result in a
disciplinary referral to the dean of students.
Classroom Procedures
1. Be in your seat and ready
to start class when the bell rings. Have all required materials ready to use.
2. Please do not enter class
with food, drinks, or gum.
3. If you tear paper out of a
notebook, remove all ragged edges with scissors and your name is on your paper.
4. If you need to leave the
room to use the restroom, use it prior to the start of class.
5. When working as a class,
raise your hand if you have something to say. When working in groups, you may
talk quietly with your group.
6. You may consult classmates
when doing your homework. However, each person must turn-in his own work and
document the assistance.
7. If you are tardy, please
bring a note.
8. Come to class everyday
with all of the required materials. (book, pen and pencil, binder, and when requested, a
calculator)
Testing Procedures
1. There will be no talking
during quizzes and tests.
2. Keep your paper in the center
of your desk at all times and keep your eyes on your paper.
3. When finished, turn over
your paper; always have additional materials to work on afterwards.
4. When absent, you must
make-up any missed quizzes or tests on the day you return. Note: Generally speaking, make-up tests are
more difficult and may be given orally, because you have had an extra day to
prepare. Additionally, students might
sometimes be permitted to use notes during a regular test, while students
taking the test late might not be afforded that same privilege.
*****Failure to follow the
above testing procedures will result in an automatic grade of “zero.”
Safety
You
are protected by Chapter 24, Delaware Right To Know
Law, Hazardous Chemical Information Act. This law, as applied to our students,
insures that you will receive information regarding your rights, and specific
safety instructions regarding any chemical used in the laboratory. This will be
an ongoing integral part of your science course.
It
is your right to request to see safety information on record pertaining to the
handling, use, and dangers involving the use of these chemicals. This
information will be located in a large binder located in the lab prep room
between the two chemistry labs. Specific
rules of conduct are attached. Please
read, sign, and return it.
Laboratory Safety Agreement Form
1. I agree to perform
laboratory work only when the teacher is present.
2. Before starting any
laboratory I will read, the procedure, and read all safety guidelines.
3. I will be familiar with
the use of all safety equipment in the lab, including the safety shower,
eyewash, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, fire blanket, exits, and Material
Safety Data Sheets.
4. I agree to wear use the
safety equipment recommended in the lab directions including goggles.
5. My lab bench will be clear
of all unnecessary material such as books and clothing before starting.
6. I agree to check all
labels twice to make sure I am using the correct substance, the correct
concentration of solutions, and I will read all chemical formulas before
starting work.
7. When transferring
laboratory chemicals from a common bottle or jar, I will not return any excess
material to its original container because it will contaminate the reagents.
8. I will avoid all rough,
unnecessary movements and inappropriate conversations during lab.
9. I will never taste
laboratory materials. I will never bring gum, food, or drinks to the
laboratory. I will not put fingers, pens or paper in my mouth while in the
laboratory.
10. If I am instructed to
smell something, I will do so by fanning the vapor toward my nose. I will never
place an open test tube directly under my nose, my neighbor’s nose or directly
in a Bunsen burner flame.
11. I will report any
laboratory accident, however small, immediately to my teacher.
12. I will view a test tube
from the side and carefully hold any hot glassware with the appropriate holder.
13. In the case of a chemical
spill on my skin or clothing, I will rinse the affected area with plenty of
water. If my eyes are affected, I will rinse in the eyewash for 10 to 15
minutes, then see the nurse.
14. For a minor skin burn, I
will place under cold, running water, and see the nurse for treatment.
15. When discarding used
materials, I will follow the instructions listed in the lab manual or MSDS.
16. All equipment, chemicals,
aprons, protective goggles, and glassware will be cleaned and returned to their
original location after all lab activity.
17. Before leaving the
laboratory, I will make sure the gas and water lines are shut off, and my
laboratory bench is cleaned and dried.
18. I will wash my hands
before leaving the lab.
19. If I am unclear or
confused about the proper safety procedures, I will ask my teacher for
instructions.
20. I understand that
exhibiting misconduct, disregarding safety in the laboratory, or mishandling
any equipment will result in my expulsion from the lab and further disciplinary
action.
By signing below, the student
and parent or guardian indicates that they have read and have agreed to follow
these rules as well as the course policies.
The student is expected to follow these rules as well as any additional
printed or verbal softly Instructions given by the teacher.
Student
Signature _____________________________________
Parent
Signature ______________________________________
Parent
Email ___________________________ Phone
________________________