April 15
Good morning! Next Wednesday is our last day, and you will take a combo exam covering Chapters 15 and 16. This is open-book.
For Chapter 15, be ready to solve problems like these from the review pages: 5, 10, 14 and 15.
For Chapter 16, focus on these problems from the review pages: 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9.
Thank you! Please let me know if you’d like me to send the answers to the review problems.
And, show up anytime between 9 and 11 to begin the test. I estimate it will take as long as usual, so the earlier you arrive the sooner you can begin.
April 8
We’ve finished Chapter 15. Your best approach to solidifying your understanding of rate equations is to work them, as you did today with questions 10, 14, and 15. You can work those again, by NOT looking at your previous answer and trying to solve it more confidently, and you can do this by using the example problems in the chapter.
Expect questions similar to 10, 14, and 15 on the final exam, which will be April 22.
Next week we’ll cover Chapter 16, Chemical Equilibrium. If you have time, why don’t you gently read at least the first part of that chapter this week…I know it’s a lot to keep both 15 and 16 in your brains, but reading it will help.
Our last exam will cover 15 and 16, and you’ll take it on April 22.
Thank you! Oh, and turn in your lab next time.
April 1
We’re going to smoosh Chapters 15 and 16 together to cover them before April 22.
So, this week please read Chapter 15, focusing on pages 453 – 467.
March 25
Test next time on Chapter 13, The Heat is On. Study especially questions 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 17.
Lab report 13.2 is due.
Email if you’d like the answers to the review questions!
March 18
Please read Chapter 13, The Heat is On. Practice problems similar to Example 13.1, as you will have one of those to solve for your quiz next week.
March 11
Chapter 11, Acids and Bases, is our current subject. Today you did two labs, 11.2 and 11.3. Because I would like you to concentrate on solving the acid/base problems for the test next time, you are welcome to write a lab report on 11.2 OR 11.3; you don’t have to write both.
Email me for the answers to the review questions. Focus particularly on questions 1-3, 7, 11-15.
March 4
Read and learn Chapter 11, Acids and Bases. Prep for the quiz next week!
February 25
Next week is your exam on Module 10, It’s a Gas. Be sure you can work Review Questions 3, 12-16, 18. Also – very important! – memorize the equations and values for “R” which I wrote on the white board today.
BTW — you are welcome to come to class any time after 10 a.m. next week to allow yourselves more time for the exam.
Email if you want the answers to the review questions!
Lab 11.4 is due.
February 18
Today we started Chapter 10, It’s a Gas. You’ll want to dive into this chapter and become comfortable with the equations there. No lab report this week.
February 11
Apologies…I think I neglected to “save” the post I made for you on Thursday. Here it is:
Text on Chapter 10 next time. You should review the chapter and work the review questions at the end of it.
Test will cover molarity, molality, freezing point depression and boiling point elevation problems.
Also, two lab reports are due — Lab 9.1 and 9.4
February 4
Chapter 10 is called “Solutions”, and here we learn about characteristics of solutes, solvents, and the solutions they form.
Key in this chapter are “precipitate”, which you saw in Lab 10.2. Also “molarity”, “molality” the “freezing point depression” and “boiling point elevation” equations. Good to get a jump on those before we see eachother again next week.
Lab 10.2 is due. Also, expect a simple quiz on solutions, focusing on the information we learned in class today.
January 28
Test next week on Chapter 8, so work the review problems and ask me for the solutions when you’re ready. Remember, we are SKIPPING the “combustion analysis” section in favor of percent yield and polyatomic ions.
So, any questions regarding combustion analysis on the review pages can also be skipped.
Due is your lab report for Lab 8.1.
January 21
Whew. Chapter 7 was a doozy, but it looks like you’re getting proficient with stoichiometry!
Chapter 8, More Stoichiometry, is not so much of a doozy, but you will need to hone your skills.
One of the big deals now is memorizing the “bold faced” polyatomic ions from the chart. You will be quizzed on those next time. Know the name of the ion and its chemical symbol, especially including the charge.
Please read Chapter 8 this week.
January 14
Exam for Chapter 7 is next week. Make sure you can solve the two types of problems in this chapter: How many grams? How many moles?
Email me if you’d like the solutions to the review. Also check here for the extra practice problems, answers are here
Lab reports 7.2 and 7.3 are due.
January 7
Stoichiometry isn’t hard, but it can be tedious. Practice example problems in Chapter 7 this week so that you are more comfortable with them.
Lab report for 7.1 is due.
No test until January 21, but you’ll have a problem to solve as a quiz next time.
January 2
When we begin again on January 7 (next Wednesday!), I will give you a little quiz on your reading of Chapter 7, Stoichiometry.
Because your chemistry skills are likely rusty, I thought I would do you a favor and give you some hints regarding the quiz. Here they are —
- What’s a mole? What’s the value of a mole?
- What’s the relationship between moles, grams, and amu?
- How are chemistry equations like chocolate chip cookie recipes?
- When an ingredient in a recipe or in a chemical equation runs out first, what do we call it?
- What does stoichiometry allow us to do?
See you soon!
Mrs. B
November 28
Before I see you again on January 7, 2026, please make sure you have read Chapter 7, Stoichiometry. I will give you a quiz!
Enjoy your break.
November 19
Chapter 6, Physical and Chemical Changes, introduces you to a crucial chemistry concept: balancing equations.
Please read the chapter this week and concentrate on balancing equations, including formation, decomposition, and complete combustion ones.
I’ll review with you next week for a bit, and then you will take a balancing equations exam for this chapter.
Your lab 6.1 is due next week.
November 12
Ahhh! I’m so sorry for not updating this on time. What was I thinking? I was not thinking. Bummer.
Test on Chapter 5 next week. If you haven’t asked me for the review answers yet, you’re welcome to.
Lab report 5.2 is due.
Thank you!
November 5
We started Chapter 5, Molecular Geometry today. Please read the chapter, memorize the seven homonuclear diatomic elements for your quiz, acquaint yourself with the naming procedure for covalent compounds, and take note of the molecular shapes molecules can obtain in 3-D space. It appears difficult; it’s really not that bad. We’ll talk next time.
If you didn’t turn in “bending water” lab, do that next time.
October 29
Chapter 4 test will be very similar to the practice problems you worked on in class yesterday. See the link below for the questions and the answers.
Due is your lab report — 4.2? The one with the charcoal…
Find the “extras” website for our text book here.
Find the specific documents, including practice problems and answers here. Note: you’ll need to scroll to the very bottom of this page and see links to those pdfs.
As always, I’m happy to send the answers to the review questions for this chapter. Let me know if you want them.
October 22
Chemistry is all about the electrons, folks! In particular the “valence” electrons. Read Chapter 4 and learn it.
Quiz next time…I will likely ask you to draw some electron dot diagrams, among other things!
October 15
Test on Chapter 3 is next week. Pay particular attention to the review questions I had you circle yesterday…as soon as I locate my book, I’ll come back here and list those numbers!
Your flame test lab is also due.
October 7
Please read Chapter 3 this week. Memorize the first 20 elements on the periodic table — those will be your quiz!
October 1
Your exam on Chapter 2, What’s the Matter, is next week. Focus your study time on the questions I had you mark on the Review pages.
Also, write lab reports for the two labs we did today.
Thank you!
September 24
Very well done on Test #1 today, everybody. I’m quite happy with your efforts.
This week do these, please:
- Read Chapter 2, What’s the Matter?
- Check your understanding by answering the CC questions as you go; again, these are not due as homework.
- Write your lab report for Lab 2.2, The Conservation of Mass, according to the directions I gave you today. This is due next time.
- Expect a 10-point, general knowledge quiz on Chapter 2 next time.
September 17
Today you completed your first lab, Lab 1.3 on density. I do have a very special, very specific way I want you to write lab reports, but we’ll save that until next week. For now, simply do this:
- Tell me what the purpose of the lab was.
- Tell me what you did in the lab. Three – five sentences of explanation in your own words is great.
- Include your data (mass of water, oil, etc.)
- Explain why the oil “floated” on top of the water, and what happened with the salt.
Your first exam is next time. Today I had you circle the numbers of review questions which are the most important ones to understand for the exam. Those are 1,2,3, 7-12, 14, 17, 18, and 21.
And, I’m happy to email a pdf of the review question solutions if you like. Simply email me and ask for those: kimbaum@writinghome.org.
September 10
Welcome to Chemistry class! Thanks for joining me this year as we learn some chemistry basics. I know you’re feeling overwhelmed and confused with significant figures, etc. at this point.
Not to worry. Chemistry is somewhat like learning a foreign language, and very soon it will become easy…or easier!
Your homework:
- Read Chapter 1.
- Answer the CC questions as you go. These are to help your understanding, and the answers are in the back of the chapter. If you can’t answer a question, that’s your signal to go back and read again and work on it. These are not homework; I will never collect them.
- Finish the Significant Figures Worksheet.
- Expect a 10-point quiz next time on Chapter 1. It will be objective — true/false or multiple choice. You’ll just need to recognize the correct answer.
Thank you!