This is a first year chemistry course that uses an inquiry based approach to examine matter and its interactions while improving their ability to communicate clearly and effectively in verbal and written formats and use mathematics to analyze data and form conclusions. Students will explore essential topics including atomic structure, chemical bonding, reactions, mass relationships in reactions, gasses, liquids, solids, solutions, acids and bases, kinetics and equilibrium, and oxidation and reduction. Additional focus will include differentiating between quantitative and qualitative observations, making accurate measurements using a variety of instruments and technologies, and construction and analysis of graphs to solve problems and identify patterns.
Unit | Timeframe | Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions) | Major Learning Experiences from Unit |
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Matter | Sept - Oct | What is matter and how does it behave? How can we explain physical and chemical changes? How/why do you classify matter? What makes each element different? |
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The Atom | Oct -Nov | Where did the idea of an atom come from? What happens to an atom when the number of protons, neutrons, or electrons change? Why don’t all atoms have the same mass? |
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Electrons | Nov-Dec | How are electrons distributed around the atom? How does the emission of light relate to the structure of an atom? |
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Periodic Table | Nov-Dec | Why do periodic trends allow us to predict physical and chemical properties of atoms? How do you name elements that are in groups? |
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Bonding | Jan-Feb | What holds atoms together? What does “like dissolve like” mean? How do the names of compounds relate to their composition? |
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The Chemical Reactions Mole/Stoich | March-April | How do we weigh an atom of anything if it’s too small to put on a scale? What is a mole and what do chemists use it for? What is stoichiometry? How much oxygen can you generate from a gallon of water? |
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Gasses | May | How are gases different/same from other states of matter? How can we measure them? |
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Solutions | May | Why is water the “universal solvent”? How can we measure the concentration of a solution? |
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Acids and Bases | May | What is acid rain? How is an acid different from a base? What is pH and how is it measured? |
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Equilibrium REDOX | May | How does collision theory explain the process of a chemical reaction? What is the underlying concept that summarizes LeChatelier’s Principle? |
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Thermodynamics | June | Why do some reactions feel hot to the touch and some feel cold to the touch? |
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