IB Chemistry SL Syllabus

2007-2008

Instructor
Ms. Beverly Lynch ( e-mail )
Classroom: B219     Office: D201

Textbook: Chemistry: The Central Science by Brown, LeMay, et al. Prentice-Hall, 2003.

Class Materials – The following must be brought to class daily: 3-ring binder, with loose leaf paper, and a calculator with the ability to do logarithms and exponents.

Goal – The goal of Chemistry is to instill in the student a curiosity about matter and its interactions; to initiate a lifetime of using an organized, evidence based approach to solving problems; and to recognize the central significance of chemistry to the understanding of all other sciences and its applications to every day lives and real world situations. The students will be evaluated with the Standardized IB Exams at the end of the school year, so must retain all concepts for this comprehensive exam.

Enduring Understandings – Chemistry is significant in its relationship to other disciplines and the world. Behavior and properties of materials are organized, classified, and predicted utilizing periodic trends. Mathematical relationships are interpreted and manipulated to model the real world. Experimental investigations are designed, analyzed, interpreted, applied, and communicated through the laboratory process.

Content – Chemistry, the study of matter and its interactions, uses an organized approach to solving problems and has central significance to the understanding of all other sciences. The content of the IB Chemistry curriculum is focused to challenge the reasoning and analytical skills of responsible and academically motivated students. Students will also apply their knowledge of chemistry to current events, such as hazardous materials, environmental issues, and development of synthetic materials.

Laboratory/ Safety and Expectations – Safety in the laboratory and classroom is the highest priority in this course. Failure to comply with safe procedures (including the wearing of goggles), will result in the student being removed from the lab and receiving a zero for the lab. Students will be required to wear goggles, closed-toed shoes and lab aprons for experiments involving chemicals. There will be a $10/semester materials fee. Missed labs due to excused absences should be made up with a week, and must be arranged with the teacher.

Grades – The scores you earn on tests, lab reports, quizzes and homework will determine your final grade. Each assignment is weighted and will contribute to your final grade as follows:

• Formative assessments, including labs, quizzes, class work and homework will be weighted 60%.
• Summative assessments, consisting of unit tests, will be weighted 40%.
• The final exam will be worth 25% of the semester grade.

All homework, and projects will be assigned a due date and deadline. The deadline for those assignments is one day later. Work turned in after the due date, but before the deadline, even later that day, will be assigned a 10% reduction in credit. After that deadline, no credit will be given.

However, given that lab reports usually have a longer writeup, and are given a week to complete, the due date and deadline for lab reports will be the same date. As a result, no late lab reports will be accepted. They are due at the beginning of class on the day they are assigned.

To determine final grades:     89.5% and above is an A
                                              79.5% and above is a B
                                              69.5% and above is a C
                                              59.5% and above is a D
                                              Note: There will be no extra credit

Major tests are scheduled well in advance. You are expected to take each evaluation on time. An unexcused absence on the day of the evaluation will result in a zero score. If you have an excused absence of only one day, you can expect to take the evaluation on the day you return to school. Questions regarding grades can be discussed during lunch or after school.

To demonstrate mastery, quizzes can be reassessed. To be eligible for a reassessment, a new homework assignment related to the material must be successfully completed. Reassessments will be scheduled after school or during lunch.

Absences – If you are absent from school when an assignment is due, you are to submit it on the first day that you return. An exception is made for multiple day absences. It is your responsibility to find out what material was covered in your absence. Worksheets are normally set aside for absent students.

Academic Dishonesty – Getting help with or working together on homework and labs is acceptable, but copying someone’s work is not. Cheating on exams and quizzes will not be tolerated and will result in all active parties involved receiving a zero for the evaluation. Please review school policy on plagiarism and other academic dishonesty issues.

Need Help???? – I am here to give as much support and direction as possible to help you succeed. I will do my best to help in anyway I can. I encourage you to feel free to ask for any type of assistance.

Syllabus Topics for International Baccalaureate Chemistry

Topic 1   – Stoichiometry

Topic 2   – Atomic Theory

Topic 3   – Periodicity

Topic 4   – Bonding

Topic 5   – States of Matter

Topic 6   – Energetics

Topic 7   – Kinetics

Topic 8   – Equilibrium

Topic 9   – Acids and Bases

Topic 10 – Oxidation and Reduction

Topic 11 – Organic Chemistry

Option F – Fuels and Energy

Option D – Environmental Chemistry