AP Chemistry Summer Assignment 2013

Welcome to AP Chemistry!

While it might seem rude to pile work on your plate during this glorious summer, it is absolutely necessary to start the year as close to full speed as possible. So let’s get started, as there are several concepts that need to be mastered in order to start the course, which is how you will spend part of your “Summer of 13.”

First, please set-up a Dropbox account [LINK] using your school email. Many of you will have done this already so this might not be new. Once you have done this, create a folder called “AP Chemistry” and then add me as a shared user (not “share this folder”), at my school email address.

Next, sign up for the course texting list. You will do this as follows: send the text “@qchem” (without the quotes) to the following number (281) 500-9892 and follow the instructions. Hopefully, this won’t require you to work during those “Summer Nights.”

Next, you must read and take typed (outline) notes on the first two chapters of the textbook, and complete the required exercises (see list below).  Please know that the textbook has changed from past years so check the official SHP textbook listing for the title, author and ISBN. I am requiring the e-version (Kindle) of the text so that students can easily have this in class and at home. The assigned chapters cover topics that are review from first-year chemistry so this shouldn’t be much of a stretch, although, it can be “Tricky.”

Finally, there are three memorization topics that are necessary to start the year as well. They are: knowing the identities of the strong acids, the solubilities of some ionic compounds, and the symbols for common ions. For each of these topics you do not need to know why they behave the way that they do, but merely what they do. It is easy to get lost in the background theory, which is available for you, but you should avoid this unless you truly want this extra information. If you do get lost, remember that “Everybody Hurts,” sometimes…

So, to summarize…

Textbook

• Read & Take Notes – Chapters 1 & 2 (extra help here)
• Complete Textbook Problems –  1.40, 1.47, 2.26, 2.50, 2.58, 2.66, 2.68, 2.70, 2.71

Memorization

• Oxidation States & Charges [Extra Reading = LINK & LINK]
• Strong Acids  [Extra Reading = LINK & LINK]
• Solubility Rules  [Extra Reading = LINK]

Test Objectives

• calculate numbers using the rules of significant figures
• perform dimensional analysis to convert between quantities
• determine the protons, neutrons, electrons, net charge, and mass number of an atomic species
• state the names and formulas of the strong acids
• state the solubility of an ionic compound given the formula of the compound
• state the name, formula, and charge on an ion
• write the name of an ionic compound given the formula
• write the name of a molecular compound given the formula
• write the name of an acid given the formula
• write the formula of an ionic compound given the name
• write the formula of a molecular compound given the name
• write the formula of an acid given the name

When school starts I will administer a short exam (see the test objectives above) covering this material. Don’t worry, my goal is to help you transition to the start of school and be successful once the semester starts. The beginning of the school year is always a hectic time for everyone so by spreading this out (over the summer, or the three days before class… ) it will make it easier to grasp the first-semester concepts. I will be available during the summer using my school email so please send me a note if there is a problem, question or you need clarification.

I am looking forward to seeing you in August!