Course Description

This chemistry course covers the basic principles of chemistry. It begins by reviewing concepts introduced in physical science classes, including physical and chemical properties of matter, classifications of matter, and basic atomic structure.  This course delves deeper into understanding how to use the periodic table to predict reactions, how elements form compounds, and how compounds interact with each other in chemical reactions.  This course also introduces students to factors that affect chemical reactions, including rates of reactions, thermodynamics and equilibrium of reactions, and chemical kinetics.  Chemical quantities like molar mass and the mole are introduced, along with stoichiometry and the arithmetic of chemistry.  Different types of chemistry are introduced and their significance is explained.  These genres of chemistry include nuclear chemistry, electrochemistry, acid and base chemistry, and organic chemistry as it applies to biological systems.  Students also gain a greater understanding of physical chemistry by learning the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, and the theories describing their behaviors in systems.  This course also offers a greater understanding of scientific methods and processes with a strong focus on laboratory experiments.

Course Objectives

After completing the course, students will be able to:

• Describe and demonstrate the nature of science
• Demonstrate appropriate skills for laboratory and field investigations including measurement skills
• Plan and implement investigative procedures
• Analyze the relationship between science and society
• Describe the history of chemistry and the development of current and modern atomic theory
• Distinguish between different types of matter
• Explain the basic organization of the periodic table
• Use the periodic table to explain properties that show periodicity
• Describe the general concepts of chemical bonding including ionic and covalent bonds
• Demonstrate an understanding of nomenclature of simple compounds
• Calculate the percent composition of compounds
• Summarize the basic concepts of organic chemistry
• Describe the role of organic compounds in biological systems
• Describe and illustrate the basic types of chemical reactions
• Describe precipitation reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions, and acid-base reactions
• Demonstrate how to balance simple chemical equations
• Perform stoichiometry calculations using the mole
• Describe the kinetic molecular theory
• Discuss the behavior of ideal gases and the properties of solids,
• Describe the basic properties of solutions and factors that affect solubility
• Describe and discuss the nature of energy in chemical reactions including chemical kinetics
• Explain and evaluate energy changes in chemical reactions including heat and entropy changes
• Explain radiation and describe nuclear processes

DoDEA Chemistry Standards may be viewed by clicking the link.

Course Outline

Unit 1: An Introduction to Chemistry

• Section A – Science and Society
• Section B – Scientific Measurements
• Section C – Safety in the Chemistry Laboratory

Unit 2: Chemistry All Around

• Section A – Classifying Matter
• Section B – Physical Properties of Matter
• Section C – Chemical Properties of Matter
• Section D – Separating Mixtures

Unit 3: Atomic Structure

• Section A – Atomic Theory
• Section B – Atomic Structure
• Section C – Atomic Orbitals and Electron Configurations
• Section D – Atomic Spectra and Quantum Mechanics

Unit 4: The Periodic Table

• Section A – Arrangement
• Section B – Classification of Elements
• Section C – Ions
• Section D – Periodic Trends

Unit 5: Elements Form Compounds

• Section A – Ionic Compounds
• Section B – Covalent Compounds
• Section C – Compound Structure
• Section D – Special Bonds
• Section E – Organic Chemistry

Semester 1 Exam

Required Textbook

Chemistry Matter and Change

ISBN Number (Student Edition) 0-02828378-3

Publisher: McGraw Hill