Friday, May 25, 2007
A Working Vacation (oxymoronic yet true)
Chemistry Regents Review must be a daily habit until June 21. Thus, we have TWO more actual released exams assigned for this weekend: June 2005 and August 2005, which are BOTH in your Orange Review Book. I will also post the files on the class website in case the "dog temporarily got hold of your review book".
As I explained in class, take the Regents properly: go over the exams that we have been reviewing, then take the new exams (one every other day). Carefully mark up each question, write any formula, definition, illustration, explanation, etc. to show how you predicted your answer to each question. DRAW EVERYTHING OUT- that can ONLY help you! Chemistry is THE MOST visual of all sciences. Those who do not "get" chemistry are NOT drawing a picture/diagram of what is going on.
I WILL POST the answer keys to these tests with some of my additional COMMENTS (sadly, the Regents answer keys are so horrifyingly minimal and poor; your answers (your KEY!) on the Regents will have to be more thorough, illustrated, and explanatory. Do NOT take chances with this!). The honest and intelligent student will only review the key AFTER s/he has completed the test. Again, your part B-2 and C answers should be more elaborate and Honors-level than the succinct, "Frankenstein"-talk answers on the key.
Use these tests to study for your written mock Regents exam next week.
I posted a detailed Reference Table/"legal cheatsheet" that you should practice copying so that you can commit the information to memory for test-day. You WILL be making a LEGAL cheat sheet by marking up your Reference Table just AFTER the Regents exam begins (you have all the time in the WORLD on Regents day to do so). You can then refer to your mnemonics and other tips throughout the entire test! Please let me know if you think of any mnemonics to add to the table. I also posted the current NY State Chem Regents Syllabus upon which all Regents questions are based.
Random most frequently asked question: What does AMPHOTERIC/AMPHIPROTIC mean? an AMPHOTERIC/AMPHIPROTIC substance can act as either a Bronsted acid = H+ donor/proton donor or as a Bronsted base = H+ acceptor/proton acceptor in a chemical reaction.
For example:
rxn 1 HS- + H2O --> H2S + OH-
rxn 2 HS- + NH2- --> S 2- + NH3
in rxn 1, HS- is acting as a proton/H+ acceptor i.e. a Bronsted base
in rxn 2, HS- is acting as a proton/H+ donor i.e. a Bronsted acid.
I will post another Regents by Monday; just download that one and PREVIEW/HIGHLIGHT some questions that you want answered during Tuesday's class. If ANYONE is not ready for review on Tuesday, s/he will be given an in-class 100-point exam immediately.
I take Regents review seriously and I expect the same from each class.
The time to relax is AFTER June 20th. Until then, you have a lot of knowledge to reinforce. I hope that ALL of you will make the commitment, as I have to you, to achieving a very high score on the Regents and that you will NOT settle for a grade below 90, but rather that you will strive for the elusive 100 (as 10 students achieved last year)!
On WEDNESDAY, June 20th, you will be taking your ELEVENTH full Regents exam, at the least!. If you work earnestly and correct any and all errors and uncertainties, I think that you will be well-versed by then.
Stay strong,
Mr.Cicale
As I explained in class, take the Regents properly: go over the exams that we have been reviewing, then take the new exams (one every other day). Carefully mark up each question, write any formula, definition, illustration, explanation, etc. to show how you predicted your answer to each question. DRAW EVERYTHING OUT- that can ONLY help you! Chemistry is THE MOST visual of all sciences. Those who do not "get" chemistry are NOT drawing a picture/diagram of what is going on.
I WILL POST the answer keys to these tests with some of my additional COMMENTS (sadly, the Regents answer keys are so horrifyingly minimal and poor; your answers (your KEY!) on the Regents will have to be more thorough, illustrated, and explanatory. Do NOT take chances with this!). The honest and intelligent student will only review the key AFTER s/he has completed the test. Again, your part B-2 and C answers should be more elaborate and Honors-level than the succinct, "Frankenstein"-talk answers on the key.
Use these tests to study for your written mock Regents exam next week.
I posted a detailed Reference Table/"legal cheatsheet" that you should practice copying so that you can commit the information to memory for test-day. You WILL be making a LEGAL cheat sheet by marking up your Reference Table just AFTER the Regents exam begins (you have all the time in the WORLD on Regents day to do so). You can then refer to your mnemonics and other tips throughout the entire test! Please let me know if you think of any mnemonics to add to the table. I also posted the current NY State Chem Regents Syllabus upon which all Regents questions are based.
Random most frequently asked question: What does AMPHOTERIC/AMPHIPROTIC mean? an AMPHOTERIC/AMPHIPROTIC substance can act as either a Bronsted acid = H+ donor/proton donor or as a Bronsted base = H+ acceptor/proton acceptor in a chemical reaction.
For example:
rxn 1 HS- + H2O --> H2S + OH-
rxn 2 HS- + NH2- --> S 2- + NH3
in rxn 1, HS- is acting as a proton/H+ acceptor i.e. a Bronsted base
in rxn 2, HS- is acting as a proton/H+ donor i.e. a Bronsted acid.
I will post another Regents by Monday; just download that one and PREVIEW/HIGHLIGHT some questions that you want answered during Tuesday's class. If ANYONE is not ready for review on Tuesday, s/he will be given an in-class 100-point exam immediately.
I take Regents review seriously and I expect the same from each class.
The time to relax is AFTER June 20th. Until then, you have a lot of knowledge to reinforce. I hope that ALL of you will make the commitment, as I have to you, to achieving a very high score on the Regents and that you will NOT settle for a grade below 90, but rather that you will strive for the elusive 100 (as 10 students achieved last year)!
On WEDNESDAY, June 20th, you will be taking your ELEVENTH full Regents exam, at the least!. If you work earnestly and correct any and all errors and uncertainties, I think that you will be well-versed by then.
Stay strong,
Mr.Cicale
# posted by C @ 2:06 AM 
