Course Information: Honors Chemistry

 

Table of Contents (FAQ)

  1. What is chemistry all about?
  2. Why should I study chemistry?
  3. What is expected of me in class?
  4. I heard chemistry is hard, how do I succeed in chemistry?
  5. How and when can I get help from Mr. Runyon?
  6. How will I be graded?
  7. What about homework?
  8. What about extra credit?
  9. What if I am absent or tardy?
  10. What materials do I need?
  11. Will I be safe in the laboratory?
  12. What if I break things in the lab?

What is Chemistry all about ?

Welcome to Chemistry! In this course you will learn about the basic structure of matter, how and why matter changes and how energy is involved in those changes. You will come to understand many of the things that go on around us, the rusting of your car, acid rain, the depletion of the ozone layer, the melting of snow and ice by salt, the changes that allow a refrigerator to keep your food cold and much more. Chemistry will also serve as a basis for further study in science and will help you tremendously if you choose a career in science.
 

Text: Addison-Wesley Chemistry, 5th edition, 2002, Wilbraham, Staley, Matta, Waterman.

Text: Addison-Wesley Chemistry, 5th edition, 2002, Wilbraham, Staley, Matta, Waterman.

 

Why should I study chemistry?

We live in a world that is made up of chemicals. If we want to have a greater control and understanding of our lives we need to know chemistry. Unfortunately in our society and culture chemistry has some negative connotations. One negative connotation of chemistry is that chemistry is dirty, it causes pollution and cancer. Chemistry does not do these things. Chemistry is the study of matter. It gives us knowledge of how chemicals behave. The problems listed above are problems caused by either ignorance of chemistry or the misuse of chemistry ( If you are a "greenie" and like to rail against pollution and use of insecticides and so on I challenge you to get a degree in chemistry and become part of the solution). If we know, understand and use chemistry properly these things can be avoided or at least reduced. Without chemistry we wouldn't have the fertilizers or insecticides* ( chemistry is constantly producing newer, less environmentally harmful insecticides) to provide food for the growing populations of the world. We wouldn't have the synthetic fibers to clothe people. We wouldn't have the additives to food to preserve it and provide nutrition ("all natural" food is a possibility for some people, but not for all). We wouldn't have the plastics that make so many of the products we use daily. We also wouldn't have many of the medicines which provide, preserve and restore health. The list could go on. 

Another negative connotation is that chemistry is only for geeky nerdy types. This is not true. Chemistry, like all areas of study can be mastered by anyone willing to put in the effort. The study of chemistry will prepare you for life. The problem solving skills, patterns of thinking, and math skills will be very helpful in all areas of life. The information you learn will help you evaluate decisions concerning your health or the environment. 

One more reason you should study chemistry is that you may decide to make a career in chemistry. Chemistry is a demanding field, but has many opportunities. Environmental chemists are needed to work out in the field to collect data and to provide the answers to environmental problems. Pharmaceutical chemists are needed to develop more effective drugs with fewer side effects. Agricultural chemists are needed to develop better fertilizers and insecticides that have fewer environmental problems. Industrial chemists are needed to develop cleaner and better ways to provide the products that make our lives better. Or how about chemical oceanography? There are many, many possibilities in chemistry

Concerning salaries for chemists the latest ACS (American Chemical Society) survey of its membership determined that the median base salary for all chemist respondents this year was $68,000 as of March 1, 1999 and the outlook is for continued growth in salaries (5%/yr) due to increasing competition.

The study of chemistry will also develop many skills that are transferable to other areas of study. These include :

* If you think that we don't need insecticides you better be willing to write off a higher proportion of the world's population to starvation, pay more for food, eat a smaller variety of foods and eat foods having more insect damage and more insects or insect parts in them.

 

What is expected of me in class?

  1. Respect - I expect you to respect me as I respect you and to respect your class mates at all times (whether they earn it or not) and to respect the physical materials of the class (do not write on desks, abuse equipment etc.).

  2. Be on task - I expect you to be working from bell to bell. If you finish early you can study, read ahead in the text, start homework etc..

  3. Try - The understanding of chemistry is an attainable goal for every capable student - with effort. The effort that you put in will determine your success to a large degree. 

  4. Be safe - Follow the prescribed safety procedures, written lab instructions and use common sense at all times. 

  5. Hall Passes

    • Hall passes are not given out when the teacher is addressing the class.

    • Only one student is permitted to leave class at a time.

    • Students are limited to six hall passes per semester.

    • Any unused hall passes will be converted to extra credit at the end of the semester.

    • Hall pass privileges will be suspended if a student is caught or suspected of misusing the privilege

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How do I succeed in chemistry?

Chemistry can be hard at times, but at these times you need to do the things necessary to understand what is being covered. The absolute worst thing you can do is blow it off and hope that the next part of the class will be easier. Chemistry is a subject that builds upon itself. Most new topics depend on the content of the previous topics. If you allow yourself to get behind chemistry will be extremely difficult for you. On the positive side the more you understand the present topic, the easier the next topic will be.

The key for my class is the objective sheets. They list the individual items that I will hold you accountable for on the tests and quizzes. If you do your job as a student you will study the objectives day by day. That way you will learn them thoroughly and a little at a time. If you wait until the night before the test or quiz you may be very overwhelmed. You should never find yourself studying the night before a test or quiz - you should be reviewing at this point. Here is a list of items you may find helpful in order of importance.

1. Study the objectives daily (a real student does more than just the homework).
2. Do not let yourself get behind. As soon as you start struggling get the help you need to get back on top of the content. Do understand that there will be some confusion at times. This is normal when learning things that are new.
3. Do your own homework. Working in groups or with a friend may help you get done faster, but they will not be able to help you on a test. DO NOT COPY. Copying undermines your whole purpose of being at school and shows a real lack of personal integrity.
4. When you do your homework, classwork or take notes, keep your mind active. Try to understand the content. Don't be just a warm body that mimics the activities of a student. 
5. Take time to read the textbook, preferably before class and after class. This will prepare you for the content that will be covered in class and help understand what was covered in class.
6. Stay positive. Your attitude is so important for your success in chemistry and in life in general. If you approach chemistry with enthusiasm and curiosity you will find it so much easier and interesting than if you approach it with disdain.
7. Make use of the website. The website has notes, interactive quizzes and links to other sites (many are interactive) that are arranged according to the objectives that you need to know. If you do not have access to the internet at home you can access the website before and after school in the computer labs.
8. Study with a partner. When we know something we will be able to communicate and/or demonstrate it to someone else (isn't this the essence of tests - students communicating and demonstrating content and acquired skills back to the teacher). Quite often you may think you know something clearly but when the test comes you cannot put the ideas together clearly enough to do well. Studying with a partner and communicating the information back and forth will alert you to the content you do not fully understand.
9. When taking the test, start with the parts that you are most comfortable with and then do the hard parts. This will build confidence as you take the test and possibly remind you of material that will help you on the harder parts of the test.
10. Always check your work on tests.
11. Keep organized - chemistry is challenging enough without having the additional struggles of being able to find what you need.

How and when can I get help from Mr. Runyon

I am usually available before school from 7:00 to 8:00 and after school from 3:15 to 3:45. I am often (but not always) in my classroom during lunch.

Appointments should be made one day in advance for before school and after school hours to allow preparation and the avoiding of previous commitments.

I can be reached by e-mail at the following addresses: [email protected] or [email protected]

 

How will I be graded ?

Grading: Your grade will be based on attitude, effort, and achievement. Achievement will be measured on the following:

1. Homework (5 pts. ea.)
2. Labs (15-50 points per lab)
3. Projects (1 per 9 wks. - 100 pts).
4. Quizzes (5-10 points each)
5. Tests (100 points each)

Your final grade will be based on the percentage of points that you earn as compared to the total number of points possible. The bulk of your grade will be from the tests and quizzes.

Quizzes and tests: Quizzes on any or all objectives covered may be announced or not. Tests will always be announced. Tests with failing grades may be taken again either before or after school up to one week after the original test. These retakes will be averaged in with the first test so it is always to your advantage to do well the first time, but I do want to give you the opportunity to improve your grade and the motivation to relearn the content.

What about homework ?

Homework is a necessary and vital part of the learning process. Homework:

a. Reinforces skills and materials learned in class
b. Prepares you for upcoming class topics
c. Teaches you to work independently
d. Aids in the evaluation of your progress.

Homework will be checked by the teacher for completeness and correctness (I will mark it with a check plus (5 pts), check(4 pts), check minus(3 pts) or NA (not acceptable). Papers receiving an "NA" may be redone and passed in, but you will not receive full credit. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions before the homework is collected (homework is part of the learning process). and will not be used as a measurement of the learned product - how much students have learned - measured on tests, quizzes, labs, papers and projects). 

What about extra credit?

Extra credit will generally not be available. The planned curriculum contains what has been determined as the most important materials and skills that the you should acquire and you need to spend their energy and effort on these assigned materials from the curriculum. Any extra credit opportunities will be announced in class.

What if I am absent or tardy?

Absences: It is your responsibility to get missed notes and assignments. Work missed due to an absence is due the day after you return to class unless the absence period has been extensive. If you are absent on the day that a test or quiz has been scheduled you are expected to take the test or quiz on the day that you return. You are expected to get assignments in on time (late assignments are not accepted). I also recommend that you exchange your phone number with a classmate to get missed assignments.

Tardies: It is your responsibility to get to class on time. Tardiness slows the rest of the class and delays learning. A student may have up to three tardies in a semester without any consequences. On the fourth tardy (and on each subsequent tardy) a tardy assignment must be done by the student and turned in the next day.

What materials do I need?

Laboratory Safety

How safe you will be is to a large degree determined by your own conduct. If you read and follow the written lab procedures, follow the prescribed safety rules and use common sense there should be no serious danger. There will always be some danger since we will work with glassware that may break and open flames and hot objects. I will always provide you with the necessary safety equipment, alert you to dangerous chemicals which may be used and specific safety precautions for each lab activity. 

I will expect each student to read and know the lab safety rules and to contract with the school to abide by these rules. You can find a copy of the contract/rules here. Refusal to follow the safety rules will result in: 1) loss of credit for the lab; 2) a writing assignment for the student; 3) restriction from doing the next lab; and 4) an office referral and phone call home if the situation is serious enough.

Rules for breakage in the laboratory

Some breakage is to be expected during the course of the year. You will handle a lot of glassware and accidents will happen. If you break materials while following the correct procedures and using the correct equipment you will not be expected to pay for that equipment. If you break or destroy materials while fooling around or using incorrect procedure or equipment you will be expected to pay for that equipment. (You will be assigned the reading of the lab procedure ahead of time to acquaint yourself with the proper procedure and equipment).

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