What's going on in class 12/10-12/21

Winter Break is just around the corner!

IB Chemistry
We are wrapping in Thermochemistry right now with a test Tuesday 12/11.  It will be an IB-style test which means quiet, on your own, no notes, generously curved at the end.

Then, we'll do a quick review of Kinetics (aka Reaction Rates) with yep- another IA!  I know that's exciting news.  This one you will do a full-on complete IA from start to finish.  You will have 2 days in class to collect data and refine your procedure, but the rest will need to be done outside of class- due Thursday 12/20.

Finally, we'll start a short unit on Equilibrium, Acids & Bases before the break and will finish it afterwards.  You will have homework over the holiday- stay tuned.  Also stay tuned for midterm information.  It will be a real, but cut down IB exam with multiple choice and essay taken in 90 minutes.

This is a real push time- one of two this year.  Hang in there, do your best, and be your smart self.

 

 

Chemistry

Bonding review this week with a test Thursday 12/13.  Then, we will move on to a short unit on The Mole.



What's going on in class 11/17-12/5

Check this out:

I found a series of videos which are really helpful study tips.  It is a series of 5 made by Stamford University.  If you only watch one, watch the 4th one: Test Study Videos

I highly recommend them.  

IB Chemistry

Thanksgiving Homework= Crossword Only... BUT we will be doing an official Design Lab when you return from the break, so prep yourself for that by reviewing your notes on Design.

     After the break you will sink your teeth into THERMOCHEMISTRY!  This is one of my favorite units because I like the math, hopefully you're with me.  This is the engineers unit.  You will be learning about processes/reactions that take in and give off heat.  You'll learn how to calculate heat changes in reactions using calorimetry, Hess's law, and specific heat.  And.. of course we get to create some reactions which give off heat, like Thermite.  It's a short one (sadly), so before Christmas we will also do a short unit on Kinetics (aka Reaction rates) which is mostly review, but gives us lots of opportunities to design more experiments.
     At Christmas, I will give you a taste of what a real IB Chemistry exam looks like.  You might be surprised how much you know already.

Parents:

• Right now, ask your students what they now know about how batteries and electrolysis work.  They should be able to describe the basic setup of a battery, explain why batteries are made with lithium and not another metal, and describe how rechargeable batteries work.
• After the break, ask them about the terms exothermic and endothermic plus about the difference between heat and temperature.  They should be able to tell you why COLD doesn't exist.

Chemistry

Thanksgiving Homework= Simple/Complex Ionics worksheet in the packet.

When you get back, we'll continue our work with ionic names and formulas.  There's a quiz Tuesday 11/27 which is really just a check in to be sure you're all getting it.  If this is boringly easy for you, bear with me.  It's so so so so important that every single student is able to write formulas before we can move on.  I promise to challenge you more in the next couple weeks.
     Then, we'll move on to covalent compounds, Lewis dot structures, and molecule shapes (VSEPR theory).

Parents:

• Ask your students about fluorine vs. fluoride.  Plus, they can probably describe the chemical structure of some of the ingredients on the back of the shampoo bottle.
• If you haven't heard about their (or other students') periodic table project, they all did some amazing and very humorous work.  I'm sure they'd love to talk about it.
• In the coming weeks, they will be learning about drawing molecules and polarity.  You can ask them (1) why we use peanut butter to get gum out of our hair instead of water (2) why a pool full of pure water would actually be an ideal place (kind of) to ride out a lightning storm.

What's going on in class 10/22-11/1

IB Chemistry

Lewis Dot Tutorial that I mentioned in class: http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=GCH6404
We are wrapping up our last review unit- Atomic Structure, Periodicity, and Bonding.  You'll have a group test Thursday 10/25 in class.  Plus, they will have a homework calendar due that day.  This week, we are doing a lab to determine the % silver in sterling silver (an alloy of silver and copper).  You will dissolve the sterling in acid, precipitate the silver as silver chloride, filter the solid out, and then dry and weigh the solid.  It's pretty cool sciencey stuff.  We will vote in class whether or not to count this as a Conclusion/Evaluation IA... you're choice completely.

Next up: Redox.
Starting next week, review will be over and you'll be learning all new stuff.  Yay!  The pace will slow a little bit, but the content will get more difficult.  Redox will last about 3 weeks.

Chemistry

We are diving into the Periodic Table.  This week is all about isotopes and electrons.  By the end of the week, you'll be able to use the Aufbau diagram to write a complete electron configuration which describes the location of all of the electrons in an atom- Quantum Chemistry!  You'll also be able to explain why the periodic table isn't a rectangle.  It's impressive stuff.  There will be an electron configuration quiz Friday 10/26.
Next week we will focus on the Periodic Table and learn about the patterns on the table for reactivity, melting point, atomic size, electronegativity (whoa! big word...), and ionization energy.  Part of this section will be a project- "The Periodic Table of..." where you will make a table of something that interests you.  It's a lot of fun, so stay tuned for details.

This unit will wrap up Nov 7-8, just before parent conferences.

What's going on in class? 10/1- 10/15

IB Chemistry

Big things going on:
- Your first IA is due Monday 10/8
- Group 4 Project: lunch meeting Thursday 10/4, Field trip Tuesday 10/9, project due Monday 10/15

In class, we are reviewing Atomic Structure, Periodicity, and Bonding.  It will be quick, and the focus will be on writing correct essay answers.

Chemistry

We are starting a unit on Matter and Gas Laws.  By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

• Explain how a hot air balloon works
• Calculate the pressure inside an aerosol can if it is thrown into a fire
• Find the volume of a weather balloon when it is high above the earth
• And so much more...

Remember, you can click on the Chem wikispace link below for all assignments + class notes.

What's going on in class? 9/17-10/1

IB Chemistry
For the next couple weeks, we are learning the ins and outs of IAs, with a couple practice labs and some calculations in class, and reviewing (very briefly) Stoichiometry.  See your calendar for details.  Here are a few videos which might help with...

• finding the +/- in a measurement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcaYc9xr9-k&feature=edu&list=PLE9E765B2D2701FF2&edufilter=6ZTXQkm2XQimUMKt1E0_Hg
• finding the +/- in a calculation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7dKWE-0FZY&feature=BFa&list=ECE9E765B2D2701FF2

Your first real IA will actually start Wednesday 9/26 (due 10/8)- finding the percent CaCO3 in an eggshell.  It will be graded using the IB rubric for the Data Collection and Conclusion sections only.

Mark your calendars for the IB Science field trip to Dillon Falls on October 9!

Chemistry
We are currently laying the groundwork for Science in general- conversions, making graphs, designing experiments...  We will be doing a few little activities like making Rice Krispie Treats, analyzing Myth Busters.  But, we are building up to a big lab October 1-5: Finding the Total Mass of Water a Diaper Can Hold.

homework assignments:
(1) due Mon 9/17- bookwork page Chapter 3 Review pages 78-79 #50-52, 56-60, 67, 70
(2) due Thurs 9/20- Conversions worksheet in the packet
(3) due Friday 9/21- Make a graph showing shoe sizes for 4 of your friends
(4) due Thurs 9/27- Write a purpose question and procedure for any experiment which tests a consumer product (ex: Do Nike shoes make you run faster than Adidas? Do people prefer the taste of Coke or generic soda?)

tests/quizzes:
(1) Conversions Quiz Friday 9/21