Honors Chemistry

Avon Lake City Schools

Curriculum Framework

Honors Chemistry

Course Overview:

This course is a systematic, conceptual study of chemistry that challenges the student to develop an understanding of modern theories and laws of chemistry. Problem solving skills are integral to this course. In many cases, quantitative arguments are used to develop these laws and theories. The laboratory work is designed to guide the concepts-an inquiry approach is used. The use of excel and PASCO is used for data acquisition and manipulation. Prerequisites: Biology or Honors Biology, concurrent enrollment in Algebra II and staff recommendation. Biology students should see instructor of Honors Chemistry for extra preparation, which could be done over the summer. The student is responsible for having a scientific calculator. This class meets seven periods per week for ½ unit of credit each semester.

Textbook:

  • Introductory Chemistry A Foundation Zumdahl class set of textbooks
  • Online access login.cengage.com

Assessments:

  • First Quarter Assessment (cumulative & lab practical)
  • Midterm (cumulative)
  • Third Quarter Assessment (cumulative & lab practical)
  • Final (cumulative)

First Quarter:

Standards/Learning Goals:

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY:

  • Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations
  • Design and conduct scientific investigations
  • Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications
  • Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence (critical thinking)
  • Recognize and analyze explanations and models
  • Communicate and support a scientific argument.

STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF MATTER

  • Representing compounds
    • Formula writing
  • Quantifying matter
  • Phases of matter
  • Intermolecular chemical bonding
    • Types and strengths
    • Implications for properties of substances
      • Melting and boiling point
      • Solubility

INTERACTIONS OF MATTER

  • Chemical reactions
    • Energy

Second Quarter: 

Standards/Learning Goals:

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY:

  • Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations
  • Design and conduct scientific investigations
  • Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications
  • Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence (critical thinking)
  • Recognize and analyze explanations and models
  • Communicate and support a scientific argument

INTERACTIONS OF MATTER

  • Gas laws
    • Pressure, volume and temperature
    • Ideal gas law
  • Stoichiometry
    • Molar calculations
  • Nuclear Reactions
    • Radioisotopes
    • Nuclear energy

STRUCTURE & PROPERTIES OF MATTER

  • Atomic structure
    • Evolution of atomic models/theory
    • Electrons
    • Electron configurations
  • Representing compounds
  • Quantifying matter

Third Quarter: 

Standards/Learning Goals:

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY:

  • Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations
  • Design and conduct scientific investigations
  • Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications
  • Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence (critical thinking)
  • Recognize and analyze explanations and models
  • Communicate and support a scientific argument.

STRUCTURE & PROPERTIES OF MATTER

  • Periodic table
    • Properties
    • Trends
  • Intramolecular chemical bonding
    • Ionic
    • Polar/covalent
  • Representing compounds
    • Formula writing
    • Nomenclature
    • Models and shapes (Lewis structures, ball and stick, molecular geometries)
  • Quantifying matter
    • Intermolecular chemical bonding
    • Types and strengths
    • Implications for properties of substances
      • Melting and boiling point
      • Solubility
  • Chemical reactions
    • Types of reactions
    • Kinetics
    • Energy

INTERACTIONS OF MATTER

  • Stoichiometry
    • Molar calculations
    • Solutions

Fourth Quarter: 

Standards/Learning Goals:

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY:

  • Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations
  • Design and conduct scientific investigations
  • Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications
  • Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence (critical thinking)
  • Recognize and analyze explanations and models
  • Communicate and support a scientific argument.

INTERACTIONS OF MATTER

  • Chemical reactions
    • Kinetics
    • Energy
    • Equilibrium
    • Acids/bases
  • Stoichiometry
    • Molar calculations
    • Solutions
    • Limiting reagents