AP Chemistry Summer Work

I. Review the College board’s AP chemistry Website.

A. Print out a copy of:

1.the periodic table you will use.

2. Formula and equations sheets (2)

II. Print out the state standards for first year chemistry.

You will be expected to know this material.

III. Print out

Syllabus

A. Print out and read the syllabus.

1. Highlight or make notes on a couple of important items.

C.Find college chemistry classes on-line (preferably using Brown & LeMay)

1. Print out the notes for chapter 1- 4 from at least 2 sources.

a)Write a brief comparison of the chapter notes – include which you think are a better source of information for you.

2. Print out: How much do I have to study

IV. Open the summer assignment page.

  1. On a daily or weekly basis do the assigned problems (8 sets) and memory work.
  2. Cook and clean up 6 dinners (each different) for you and your family – using a cookbook.
  3. Take a picture of the meal
  4. Briefly write: what the meal was, date, have a parent signature for each (These skills will help you perform in the lab.)

a)If you can buy your own book for the summer the end of June is the time to do it.

In June college students sell their unwanted books you can get them cheap ($5 - $15.) in late August the cheap books are gone and you may pay list price = $160.00 - $300 w CD!

Student solutions ! This is very helpful.

AP CHEMISTRY FIRST DAY TEST

AP Chemistry is a difficult course. It is not all about memorization; however, having these items memorized is essential for success in learning the concepts covered in the course. Make flashcards, have your friends and family quiz you, take the lists with you on vacation, or do whatever it takes to get this information firmly planted in your head. Do not wait until the night before school begins. (These were all learned in your first chemistry course, and most were memorized in that course also.) The first day test will cover six areas of memorization:

Items that must be memorized:

1.Polyatomic Ions (including name, symbol and charge)

2.Variable Valences for Transition Metals

3.Rules for Naming Acids

4.Rules for Naming Ionic Compounds

5.Solubility Rules

6.Determining Oxidation Numbers

Problem sets that must be completed and turned in on the first day:

These are problem types and concepts that were covered in detail in your first chemistry course. In order for us to go through the approx 900 pages of text we need to be able to speed through this first year material.

1.Scientific notation ( 2 per week)

2.Significant figures (2 per week)

3.Conversions (2-3 per week)

4.The mole concept (2-3 per week)

5.Balancing equations (3-4 per week)

6.Empirical Formulas (1 per week)

7.Percent composition (1 per week)

8.Stoichiometry (2 per week)

You will be doing 15 – 20 problems a week, most of them you will breeze through (Many will be exactly what you have done previously.). During the school year you will be doing 5 – 10 new difficult problems per day.

Assignment/Strategy: In order to review and retain your previously learned material do approximately 2 problems from each set per week. If you do this on a regular basis you will find that it will take you from ½ hour to 1 hour per week. If done all at the end, when you have forgotten your chemistry, you will struggle.Keep these on separate pages to be handed in as separate assignments. Show all of your work in a logical easy to follow manner.

If this seems like too much work for the summer, please review your determination to succeed in the course. Advanced Placement Chemistry is a college level course. You will need to be dedicated and work very hard if you are to be successful. All the research shows that this is truly a course where your hours of study is directly correlated to your grade on “THE EXAM”

As we all learned from Bob the Builder:

Can we do it?

Yes, WeCan!!

Recommended Study Schedule: from successful students. Five hours a week will NOT be enough!

Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday
Begin Weekly Reading and homework.
1 hour review of earlier material
(1-4 hrs) / Review daily notes and memorize it.
Complete homework questions
(1-2hrs) / Review daily notes and memorize it.
Complete HW.
(1-2hrs) / Finish Lab Report Write-up.
Review notes
(1-3hrs) / Finish Lab Report Write-up.
Review notes
(1-3hrs) / Take a break.
Review notes.
(0.5hr) / Speed Read next week’s Chapter. Do practice problems from the book.
1 hour review of earlier material
(1-3hrs)