A .pdf file of the a key for the practice mole ratio lab quiz has been put on the AP Chemistry Events Calendar under today's date (9/29/2010). On tomorrow's date (9/30/2010), I have put the Power Point file for Chapter 5. You may want to print it off so you have notes to go from as I lecture in class. I will be utilizing it in class. We will be skipping much of Sections 5.1 through 5.3. Much of that material will be covered in Chapter 19 next spring.
You will be having your quiz over the Mole Ratio Lab analysis first thing tomorrow. Please see me if you have any questions about seperating the data or doing the analysis / intersection determination on your calculator.
Remember, on Friday morning, October 1st, there will be the remedial session to earn back 1/2 of your points from the Chapter 4 test. The remedial session will be in room #327 from 6:30 am to 7:15 am.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Redox Lab Report and Chapter 4 Test Results / News
I will first address the results of the Chapter 4 Test. The average for the test was a 60%. The median for the test was also 60%. This is not out of the historical norm for this test. You may be asking yourself, "Why give the test if you have such poor averages?" I will reply that I want to give a very challenging test for all participants. I do not want a bunch of perfect scores. If I did have that, the test is not very challenging. On this exam, there was a high score of 17 out of 20 amongst the 29 students who took the exam. Now, to make things fair for all party's involved, I am going to curve this exam. In Infinite Campus, I am going to make this exam worth 40 points. (There were 20 questions, so I am going to double the points.) I am going to add 4 points to your total points earned out of 40. This is a 10% curve, which will bring the average up to 70%, which is a low "C", which is average. I know many of you would disagree with me and call a "C" failing, but that is in your own little world, not mine and the rest of human civilization. :)
But wait just one minute kids! I have an even better deal for you! If you choose, you can earn back one half (1/2) of your points. I am going to have another remedial session for those students who did not fair very well. If you attend the 45 minute remedial session next Friday morning (Oct. 1st) from 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., I will give you back 1/2 of your points that you missed. For many of you, this will exceed the 4 points that the curve offers. So, if you miss any more than 8 points, you will earn more than just taking the curve. For clarification, a 4 point curve will be given to everyone. Anyone wanting to attend the remedial session can earn more. I will not be including these test scores in the first six week grades because you can earn different point values if you choose.
Just to let you know, this will not be the last time a very low test average will be attained by the class. To make it challenging for all participants in the class, the tests need to be difficult. For context, I want to share with you a little story from my wife, the Lovely Mrs. Brueckner. When I told her of the complaining that many AP Chemistry students were taking part in after a particularly hard exam, she told me to tell them (the students) to "suck it up and live with it." The Lovely Mrs. Brueckner attended the University of California at Davis, which is a very renowned science school because of the Veterinary and Medical schools that are part of the university. Mrs. Brueckner was a cellular physiology major (Mrs. Brueckner is much smarter than Mr. Brueckner), which is major league science if you did not know. Anyway, Mrs. Brueckner shared that while at Cal Davis and taking organic chemistry, one test average in the class was in the mid-30% range. She attained a 65%. Her 65% became an "A". So the moral of the story is that it is not your actual score that is important, but rather, what was your score relative to everyone else. I had similiar experiences in college. You will be getting your exams back on Monday, September 27th.
On Monday, September 27th, your Oxidation / Reduction Titration Lab write-up will be due. There will be a different take on how I want the SEE's and Conclusion addressed in the lab report. Most people do fine in terms of attaining the 3% hydrogen peroxide value. Therefore, there is no reason to make-up SEE's, unless one trial really warrants having a SEE written about it due to a procedural gaffe during the lab. Otherwise, there was one systematic SEE that everyone has. It is #2 of the SEE's section. Make sure that you address how the addition of the inhibator in the hydrogen peroxide solution affects your calculated value for the percent hydrogen peroxide in the solution. Does it cause it to be higher than what it actually is? Does it cause it to be lower than what it actually is? Please give a well thought out reason why.
Your conclusion just needs to address all six questions listed in that section of the lab. Please write in complete sentences.
You will also getting back your quizzes based upon the Redox Titration lab on Monday. Also, on Monday we will be doing a pre-lab activity for a lab that will be completed on Tuesday, September 28th. Finally, another little remidner, the WebAssign work for Chapter 4 is also due Monday, September 27th, 2010. Have a good weekend.
But wait just one minute kids! I have an even better deal for you! If you choose, you can earn back one half (1/2) of your points. I am going to have another remedial session for those students who did not fair very well. If you attend the 45 minute remedial session next Friday morning (Oct. 1st) from 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., I will give you back 1/2 of your points that you missed. For many of you, this will exceed the 4 points that the curve offers. So, if you miss any more than 8 points, you will earn more than just taking the curve. For clarification, a 4 point curve will be given to everyone. Anyone wanting to attend the remedial session can earn more. I will not be including these test scores in the first six week grades because you can earn different point values if you choose.
Just to let you know, this will not be the last time a very low test average will be attained by the class. To make it challenging for all participants in the class, the tests need to be difficult. For context, I want to share with you a little story from my wife, the Lovely Mrs. Brueckner. When I told her of the complaining that many AP Chemistry students were taking part in after a particularly hard exam, she told me to tell them (the students) to "suck it up and live with it." The Lovely Mrs. Brueckner attended the University of California at Davis, which is a very renowned science school because of the Veterinary and Medical schools that are part of the university. Mrs. Brueckner was a cellular physiology major (Mrs. Brueckner is much smarter than Mr. Brueckner), which is major league science if you did not know. Anyway, Mrs. Brueckner shared that while at Cal Davis and taking organic chemistry, one test average in the class was in the mid-30% range. She attained a 65%. Her 65% became an "A". So the moral of the story is that it is not your actual score that is important, but rather, what was your score relative to everyone else. I had similiar experiences in college. You will be getting your exams back on Monday, September 27th.
On Monday, September 27th, your Oxidation / Reduction Titration Lab write-up will be due. There will be a different take on how I want the SEE's and Conclusion addressed in the lab report. Most people do fine in terms of attaining the 3% hydrogen peroxide value. Therefore, there is no reason to make-up SEE's, unless one trial really warrants having a SEE written about it due to a procedural gaffe during the lab. Otherwise, there was one systematic SEE that everyone has. It is #2 of the SEE's section. Make sure that you address how the addition of the inhibator in the hydrogen peroxide solution affects your calculated value for the percent hydrogen peroxide in the solution. Does it cause it to be higher than what it actually is? Does it cause it to be lower than what it actually is? Please give a well thought out reason why.
Your conclusion just needs to address all six questions listed in that section of the lab. Please write in complete sentences.
You will also getting back your quizzes based upon the Redox Titration lab on Monday. Also, on Monday we will be doing a pre-lab activity for a lab that will be completed on Tuesday, September 28th. Finally, another little remidner, the WebAssign work for Chapter 4 is also due Monday, September 27th, 2010. Have a good weekend.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
New VodCast - Balancing Redox Reactions
I added a new VodCast. It is a .mov file, so it can be played with Quicktime. It can be found on the AP Chemistry calendar on the class web-site under the date of September 21st, 2010. It is problem 14(d) from WebAssign and deals with balancing the reaction in a basic environment.
Remember, we are meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, September 22nd) in the big computer lab in the library. We will be reviewing for the Chapter 4 test (which you will take on Friday, September 24th) and the Redox Titration Lab quiz (which you will take on Thursday, September 23rd.). You will have the opportunity to work on WebAssign during the period.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Redox Titration Lab: Balanced Equations_Concentration Calculations
Below are the images from the Power Point presentation shown in class today. Please use this as a guide on how to do all calculations for the lab. You will be required to do calculations like this on a quiz that will be given Thursday, September 23rd, 2010. Also, I will try and do a VodCast of the problem 14 (d) from WebAssign. I will post it under today's date (9/20) as a .mov file so can be played on Quicktime.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
AP Level Free Response Question
After much debate in class today, we will have the solubility / ion concentration quiz tomorrow. The two practice problems on the Chapter 4 blog are extra practice for tomorrow's quiz. Also, on the Event Calendar on today's date (9/16) I have put the video file for the solution of the first practice problem. It is a .mov file, so you will need Quicktime to play it.
Please solve the problem below. You will be graded on your results, so it needs to be completed before class starts on Friday, September 17th, 2010. This problem is on par with any problem that you would see on the AP Chemistry test, free response section. Good luck.
Please solve the problem below. You will be graded on your results, so it needs to be completed before class starts on Friday, September 17th, 2010. This problem is on par with any problem that you would see on the AP Chemistry test, free response section. Good luck.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Solubility and Ion Concentration W/S
Below is the solution for #8 of the Common Ion, Precipitate and Concentration worksheet. There will be a quiz over a problem like the ones you performed on this worksheet on Thursday, September 16th, 2010. Beginning tomorrow (Tuesday, 9/14), under Chapter 4 on the AP Chemistry web-page, there will be two more practice problems for you. Practice problem #1 will have a solution posted on TeacherTube and practice problem #2 will have just the answers. The quiz will be going in the homework section of your grade.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Chapter 3 Quiz Results
Today everyone who completed the Chapter 3 Quiz was shown his or her results. Many individuals did quite well. Of the 29 quizzes scored, 6 (21% of tests) received a perfect score of 23 out of 23. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there were way too many scores that were low D's and F's. Of the 29 quizzes scored, 8 (28% of tests) scored 61% or lower. This is not acceptable since this material is mostly review of material from the first year chemistry course taken as a pre-requisite for AP Chemistry.
Below is a summary of the statistics from the quiz. I have broken the values into three categories: (1) Overall results (2) Junior results and (3) Sophomore results. I want to discuss a disturbing trend that I saw, that is why the two classes (years) were separated.
________Overal results__ Junior results __Sophomore results
Average: __77.0% __________62.6% __________88.3%
Median:___ 82.6%_________ 60.9%___________87.0%
As you can see, the juniors in the class (13 of the 29 tests) underperformed by a large margin when compared to the sophomores (16 of the 29 tests). I can propose one reason for the disparityin the scores.
Below is a summary of the statistics from the quiz. I have broken the values into three categories: (1) Overall results (2) Junior results and (3) Sophomore results. I want to discuss a disturbing trend that I saw, that is why the two classes (years) were separated.
________Overal results__ Junior results __Sophomore results
Average: __77.0% __________62.6% __________88.3%
Median:___ 82.6%_________ 60.9%___________87.0%
As you can see, the juniors in the class (13 of the 29 tests) underperformed by a large margin when compared to the sophomores (16 of the 29 tests). I can propose one reason for the disparityin the scores.
- For most of the sophomores, they took the pre-requisite course last year before entering AP Chemistry this year. For most of the juniors, they are one plus year removed from the pre-requisite course. This is a possible reason for the disparity, but not an excuse. There were a number of juniors that did very well on the test.
If you were an average freshman sitting in 1st year chemistry up at CU Boulder, most likely you would have taken high school chemistry your junior year of high school. Thus, the average freshman enrolled in first year chemistry at CU Boulder is also two years removed from the first time he or she was first introduced to chemistry. You may have to work a little harder at the review of the material because it is not fresh in your memory. You at one point were proficient at this material because you earned a good enough grade to take this course. You have shown in the past that you have the ability, you just need to sharpen those skills.
No matter how you did on the first assessment of the year, I would like you think about the following points and did you attempt the following during the chapter to be successful.
- Did you read the chapter, even though you were not specifically told to do so? This is a trait that is incredibly necessary for learning high level (college level) material like you are doing now.
- Did you download the PowerPoint file associated with Chapter 3 from the AP Chemistry calender associated with the AP Chemistry webpage? The PowerPoint is a good summary of the material covered in the chapter and offers good examples.
- Did you consistenly work on WebAssign throughout the chapter? The due date for WebAssign work is always one day after the unit assessment, but that does not mean that you should wait until the very end to do the homework. Your homework is your studying, and waiting till the very end to do the work to test proficiency is not productive at all. Worse yet, doing the majority of the work after the exam is really of no point, yet I had reports of students doing this.
- Did you look at my webpage and go to the Chapters section to view the Vodcasts made for the chapter? This could be of some help because both Vodcasts for the chapter covered major topics covered by the quiz.
- Did you go to the AP Chemistry calendar to download the solutions to the old AP Chemistry problems used as review for the quiz. We did go over the solutions in class, but did you study the problems and solutions outside of class?
- DID YOU SEEK OUT EXTRA HELP IF YOU DID NOT UNDERSTAND A CONCEPT? This is the most important and most effective intervention for yourself. It is your responsibility to insure that you know and understand the material. I will give you opportunities to assess you level of comprehension (homework and quizzes), but you need to seek out help if you do not understand the material. Coming in to see me on an off hour is not your only means of getting help. You can email me a question. If I get enough questions on the same subject or problem, I can address it in class for everyone or address it through a Vodcast. If it is a question specific only to you, I can email you back a response. I gave everyone my cell phone number and have had students text me a question. These are all means of getting help for yourself.
Since this was the first assessment of the semester and some of you were maybe taken by surprise in terms of the depth of the material covered and the fast pace of the course, I am going to offer you the opportunity to earn back one half (1/2) of the points that you missed on the quiz. To do so, you must complete a CHAPTER 3 REMEDIAL ASSIGNMENT on WebAssign. This will be due at midnight, Tuesday, September 7th, 2010. Second, from 2:25 pm to 3:15 pm, Tuesday, September 7th, 2010, you must attend a remedial session in room #327 to go over two new AP Chemistry free response questions. Therefore, if you need to make arrangements for a ride from school or make plans with a coach or sponsor to be late for practice or an event, please make the arrangement. This is a one time deal and no exceptions will be made.
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