We are offering 16 sections of introductory chemistry at LPHS in the 2019-2020 school year.  The four teachers work collaboratively and use the same resources, assignments, and schedule.  There is at least one section offered every class period.

1. Make sure the email addresses listed in Skyward (for both student and guardian) are accurate!  (Students-- use an email address that you actually CHECK, i.e., the email address that updates to your smart phone, if you have one.)
2. Do not allow yourself to fall behind.  Concepts build upon prior knowledge, so if you don't do the homework at the beginning of a unit, odds are good that you will struggle with concepts for the rest of that unit because of it.
3. Watch the calendar!  Units are frequently very short.  Generally there is a new test or late-work-deadline (or both) every week.  All of these are already marked on the calendar.   Being unaware of a deadline will not get you an extension!  Add the calendar to your gmail account (this can also update to a smart phone).
4. There will be homework.   Every day.   Plan on it.  We will learn new things.  Every day.  Plan on it.  Choose to be excited to learn new ideas and skills.  Polish up your work ethic and enjoy the opportunity to grow, because that is what school is all about.
5. Use the resources that are available.  All class notes and all handouts are available on this website for viewing or download.  There are tutorial applets linked with many concepts as well.  There is an outline-style review posted with every unit.  Some students use these outlines during the units as well, since they often explain things in a different way than the class notes do.

There are two common problems people have with logging in to Canvas.
​
1)  Using the alpine.instructure.com link to log in yields a 500 error:
If the device you are using is logged in to multiple Google accounts (Gmail accounts) when you first log in to Canvas, this error message is almost guaranteed.  This error also pops up when the server is too busy-- which frequently happens right at the end of the term.

There are two ways to solve this problem.  The first way is as follows :

Log out of each and every Google account used on the device.  (It isn't enough to close the window.  You must actually log out.)  Then log in using your @alpinesd.org gmail account.  After this, you should be able to add the other Google accounts (reopen them on the device), and from then on, the Canvas login will ask you which one to use.  But the first time, you have to log all the others out.

The method for solving problem 2 (below) should also work for this.

​2.  Using the alpine.instructure.com link to log in yields a forbidden or restricted error:

Solve this problem (and almost all Canvas Login problems) this way:

Log into your @alpinesd.org gmail, and get to Canvas through the google apps button in the upper right corner next to your profile pic.

​Click the 9 dots  (the symbol you use to get to Google drive), then choose MORE.

​This is always the best way to get you into Canvas when the alpine.instructure.com link yields a server error.

Click below to check out some recent chemistry: from skunk stench to the moon, from eye-floaties to uranium, Compound Interest summarizes July 2019's big chemistry topics.

Fireworks! 
​(Actually, let's call it applied chemistry & physics.)
Here's a short video from the American Chemical Society about the chemistry of fireworks, for your Fourth of July enjoyment.  You also might like this article from Mental Floss which  explains the chemistry of different fireworks colors. 

Science News for Students has an article that also looks into some of the physics and engineering challenges involved in creating a pyrotechnics show-- including pictures of a record-breaking shell that created a fire-burst 1 km (0.6 mi) in diameter!

We are offering 16 sections of introductory chemistry at LPHS in the 2018-2019 school year.  The five teachers work collaboratively and use the same resources, assignments, and schedule.  There is at least one section offered every class period.

1. Make sure the email addresses listed in Skyward (for both student and guardian) are accurate!
2. Do not allow yourself to fall behind.  Concepts build upon prior knowledge, so if you don't do the homework at the beginning of a unit, odds are good that you will struggle with concepts for the rest of that unit because of it.
3. Watch the calendar!  Units are frequently very short.  Generally there is a new test or late-work-deadline (or both) every week.  All of these are already marked on the calendar.   Being unaware of a deadline will not get you an extension!  Add the calendar to your gmail account.
4. There will be homework.  Every day.  Plan on it.  We will learn new things.  Every day.  Plan on it.  Choose to be excited to learn new ideas and skills.  Polish up your work ethic and enjoy the opportunity to grow, because that is what school is all about.
5. Use the resources that are available.  All class notes and all handouts are available on this website for viewing or download.  There are tutorial applets linked with many concepts as well.  Some students find it helpful to print the "printer-friendly" versions of the PowerPoints to take notes on during class.  There is an outline-style review posted with every unit.  Some students use these outlines during the units as well, since they often explain things in a different way than the class notes do.

This year's classes start on Monday 8/22/16.

In this course, you will learn about the physical world around you. Substances can be described by their chemical structure or properties. Substances can be made of molecules and these molecules are made of atoms. When parts come together, the whole often has properties that are very different from its parts. The formation of compounds results in a great diversity of matter from a limited number of elements. When matter combines, energy is absorbed or released and matter is rearranged to make new substances with new properties.   

Chemistry employs algebra to describe and predict relationships between variables.  Throughout the year, you will be applying the basic algebra skills you've learned in math.

Come to class prepared with:

1. Lined paper
   
2. A folder or binder
   
3. Pencil & pen
   
4. Scientific Calculator  (Graphing Calculators are great, but not required.)
   

​The text we will use in class is Modern Chemistry, by Davis.  You may also use the USOE OER chemistry text (free pdf version or print version $5.49) as a resource.  You will NOT need to bring a text to class unless your teacher specifically tells you to the previous period.

You must have internet access to succeed in this course-- online homework is a staple, and all class resources are linked through this website.  If you do not have access at home, make sure you have completed AUP paperwork and plan to spend time in a school computer lab or the media center at lunch or after school.

Thanks for a fabulous year full of chemistry.

​When in doubt, convert to moles!