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Liptrap's Chemistry Klein High School | |||||
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I taught Chemistry I Honors for 19 of my 21 years at Klein High School, and Chemistry in some form for a total of 30 years before retiring in May, 2003. _ This site contains information about learning and teaching Chemistry and links to other sites offering tutorial help. |
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Chemistry is the study of the composition of matter and how it changes in interaction with other matter and energy around it. High School Chemistry is a thorough introduction intended for college-bound students including an up-to-date treatment of modern chemical theory enriched by historical backgrounds and development. Students must supplement and reinforce topics introduced in the classroom with regular laboratory experiences and daily assignments to be completed outside of class time . | |||||
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To the Student and Parent: Welcome! It was my duty and honor to shepherd over 4000 students through an introductory course in Chemistry. Very few failed. And those who did had failed to follow my instructions on how to learn Chemistry. You may have heard horror stories about how hard this course is. But while a level of competence in Algebra is presumed, the concepts studied are not actually hard. The problem is that they build upon each other. What you learn in one unit, you will use in the next. It is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that you learn (know and remember) each unit as you go along. Because you will probably not understand the next one until you then go back and learn the first. DO NOT FALL BEHIND! |
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____ You are also probably used to quickly memorizing for a test using your short-term memory. You are good at it, and it has done well for you this far. BUT NO FARTHER! You MUST access your long-term memory. Chemistry is not hard, but there is too much to remember all at one time in short-term memory. You have limited file space on your "desktop," you must put some basic things on your "hard drive." If you don't, you may get to October but then find that you are suddenly lost. For example, the names and symbols of 50 elements and 21 polyatomic ions. (LIST) You cannot begin to write names and formulas of compounds until you know the elements. MEMORIZE THEM. Read "Heuristics" (How to Study) from the ChemTutor website. You think you know how to study. But Chemistry is different from any subject you have tried to learn before (except possibly Geometry, which has similar characteristics and requires similar methods). Try the very effective study methods suggested on that page. | |||||
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____ Are you scared yet? Don't be. Many have survived before you. Listen in class. Do the homework. Your teacher has not assigned "busywork." You and he or she are both too busy already! The text readings should re-emphasize lectures and the exercises provide the practice you need. Don't say you need no practice. "Hey, coach, I saw how you shot that free-throw. I can do it without practicing - first time, every time!" Do not hesitate to ask questions.Good Luck! Have Fun! KEEP UP! ---------- -- Mr. Liptrap | ||||||
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STUDY LINKS - WEBSITES WITH GOOD TUTORIALS: | ||||||
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Excellent tutorials from John L Park, formerly of | ||||||
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First course and tutorial in chemistry designed to work | ||||||
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Let load completely, then click "Topics." Worksheets | ||||||
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Site created by and for Chemistry students
through | ||||||
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Everything you ever wanted to know about every element | ||||||
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He does NOT promise to answer the same night, but willattempt to answer your questions when he has a chance. | ||||||
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A flow-chart for Stoichiometry Calculations. It gives direction Current students: I did not show this full chart until the Second Semester Final Exam Review. We built it gradually. Start here: | |||||
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MARVIN BASIC | ||||||
The Chem Team
Chemtutor.com
Steve Marsden's Chem
ChemWeb Online
Web-Elements
E-mail Mr. Liptrap
"Marvin the Mole"
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