Why Take AP Chemistry?

How will it help me?

Many college majors require chemistry as a freshman course, such as Engineering, Mathematics, and all sciences such as Biology, Marine Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Astrophysics, Cybernetics, Plant Biotechnology, Neuroscience, Physics, Geology, and careers in Psychology, Pharmacy, Medicine, and Nursing. Most importantly, it will increase your understanding of the way the natural world works, increase your ability to think critically, give you MUCH experience in performing in-depth, hands-on lab work, and the use of computer technology for labs and projects, all in an atmosphere designed to get you EXCITED about science! Secondly, it will give you an extra “honors” unit on your G.P.A., look good on your transcripts, AND ultimately earn you first year college chemistry lecture and lab credit for passing the Chemistry AP exam. Since most colleges require that you take one semester of a physical science in college, regardless of your major, passing this course will get you out of 3 hours of lecture, and 6 hours of lab per week for one semester of college. Like any AP course, it will also save you $40-$600 a unit (depending on where you go) which can translate to major savings on college fees later on. Finally, AP Chemistry is an elective science where you get the experience of conducting team or individual projects on topics of your choice related to chemistry which you really enjoy. See also “Advantages of Taking AP Chem” – last page.

What are the prerequisites, and how scary is it to take?

AP Chemistry requires one year of Chemistry 1/2 with a grade of “B+” or better and strong motivation. Students should have a firm grasp of chemistry fundamentals which are reviewed as a part of the Summer Assignment. Students are required to have had, or currently be enrolled in Algebra 2AB. The most important ingredient for success in this class is effort and determination. I have had students with varying backgrounds such as no prior chemistry experience, or having had chemistry in another country, and many of those students have done well. I am available for individual or group tutoring every day at Lunch in my classroom, and often other students are available to help with tutoring if needed.

What will I learn?

LOTS!!! AP Chemistry is the equivalent of a college freshman chemistry course covering: Stoichiometry, Reactions, Gases, Thermochemistry, Structure & Bonding, Liquids, Solids, Solutions, Kinetics, Equilibrium, Acids & Bases, Thermodynamics, Electrochemistry, Organic Chemistry and Nuclear Chemistry. Generally, we study chemistry topics, where the material and labs have more depth and detail, along with some new and different areas of study than that seen in Chemistry 1/2.

What will we do?

The AP Chemistry course has been designed to include a maximum of laboratory experiences, incorporating 10-15 college-level labs using college level lab equipment. Some of the equipment includes Pasco Interfaces with probes to test temperature, pressure, pH, colorimetry, etc. which connect to a class set of laptops to graphically present data to the students. The lab notebook will be made and kept like that in a college course, and can be used to give college lab course credit. Some of the labs include: Empirical Formula of a Compound, Redox Titration, Enthalpy of Neutralization, Molecular Mass by Freezing Point Depression, Molar Mass of a Gas at STP, Kinetics Lab, Production of a Coordination Compound, Acid/Base Titration, Determination of an Equilibrium Constant, and an Electrochemical Series.

The textook has an online website for students and includes an interactive CD ROM, which has graphic animations, video clips, and a review of material related to each chapter. There is also an excellent Study Guide which reviews the main concepts with many examples of problems with practice questions. A Student’s Solution manual is provided for at home help in problem solving. I also provide Baron’s AP Chemistry Exam Review book, along with other review materials.

I have an AP Chemistry website, and in order to help with note-taking and accommodate the fast pace of the course, my notes are online to download before each chapter. These go along with PowerPoint presentations, which are conducted in a true multimedia fashion - mixing computer simulations online, laserdisc images, slide-shows, videos/DVDs, and cool chemical demonstrations. **I love to do live demonstrations for students and use lots of visuals and hands-on materials.

Check out my website for a lot more info and video clips!

What is the Summer Assignment & how heavy is the course work?

The summer assignment is to review some Chem 1/2 basics by reading the first two chapters and doing some associated problems for homework credit in September. If necessary it may be done at the beginning of the semester. It is a review of units of measurement, significant figures, dimensional analysis, density, temperature, chemical nomenclature (naming and writing formulas), and memorization of solubility rules for salts, and acid-base rules. Due to the expanding number of AP courses available, and the large number of them that many students take, I try to keep the workload on my students at a reasonable level during the year. I DON’T BELIEVE IN BUSY WORK! Generally, and as done by most AP Chem teachers, the homework requires about an hour per school night, depending on the student. Homework consists mainly of one practice question for each type problem. Other homework would include AP exam review questions and college-level laboratory reports. Tests use previous AP Chem Exam questions to best prepare students for the AP Chem exam in May. Announced quizzes and tests accompany each major unit - I try to be flexible about moving tests and due dates for completing assignments to accomodate packed “testing days” from other classes. As any AP Chem student can tell you, the course IS work, but we also have FUN!

What about after the AP exam?

This period of time is when we can do some fun labs, projects, and other interesting demonstrations. The students have the opportunity to do one required and one optional extra credit project which may involve lab work, PowerPoint production, or other student chosen options.

HOW DO I GET IN THE CLASS/ WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?

All students who had Chemistry with a B+ or better can sign up for the class with their counselor. You will need come by my room, and pick up the summer assignment before June 15th. For questions, please come see me in room E354 at snack or lunch. I would be glad to meet you and answer any questions you may have about the course. Better yet, ask a current AP student as well, or one of last year’s graduates. If you have the desire, drive, and prerequisites, I’d love to see you in my course next year!

Mrs. Taylorson (Mrs. T) - AP Chemistry Teacher

Room E354, Phone ext. 1354

Website: www.firetruckforfun.com/chem

Advantages Of Taking AP Chemistry:

Advanced Placement Chemistry is more than just a course in first-year college general chemistry.  Whether or not your AP exam score qualifies you for college credit, there are many advantages of taking Advanced Placement Chemistry.  It is an opportunity, while you’re still in high school, to prepare for college by challenging yourself with rigorous college-level work. Your classmates will often be some of the best and brightest students at your school and the peer group you study with will enhance your own abilities as a student.  It is likely that your teacher will be among the best at your school and he or she will have invaluable knowledge and insight.  Besides acquiring advanced knowledge of chemistry, the science central to all other scientific disciplines, you will also develop your skills in analytical thinking, abstract reasoning, problem solving and effective communication.  You will enhance your study skills, both as an individual and within a group, and you will increase your own ability to learn how to learn.  A second year of chemistry in high school will give you a decided competitive advantage over your future college classmates who have not taken Advanced Placement classes in high school.  Advanced Placement Chemistry can serve as a measure of survival insurance for that upcoming pivotal year in life: the first year of college.  

Students who take AP Chemistry can see themselves in one or more of the following groups:

1. AP students:  Those students who will take and pass the AP exam and receive college credit and the corresponding advanced placement.

2. CE students (Competitive Edge):  Those students who might opt to re-take chemistry in college knowing that they will have a decided competitive advantage over college classmates who have not had AP Chemistry in high school.

3. SI students (Survival Insurance):  Those students who think they might not do well in college chemistry with a background of only one year of high school chemistry, especially those with a science or math major in college.

Students who take this course should have enjoyed their first year chemistry course and be hard-working, motivated young people who can learn and grow into successful students in AP Chemistry.