Description and Objectives

This course intends to introduce students to properties of material substances, under what conditions substantial change takes place, and the ancillary effects of such changes. The course places a significant emphasis on real-world examples. This allows students to pick up on the patterns of the natural world, resulting in a strong conceptual understanding. This understanding is primarily a good in its own right, but also allows for students to make accurate predictions about the behavior of the physical world.

 

In particular, the courses covers:

Quarter 1

Chapter 1 – Matter and Energy

Explanation for why how substances transition between various states. Relationship between temperature, pressure, and volume for gases.

Chapter 2 – Atomic Structure

Electron arrangement in an atom. Importance of valence electrons. Electronegativity and Ionization energy

Quarter 2

Chapter 3 – Bonding

Three types of intramolecular bonds: covalent, ionic, and metallic. Molecular structure and how it can be used to predict molecular polarity. Intermolecular bonds and understanding why certain bonds are stronger than others.

Chapter 4 – Formulas and Equations

Proper chemical nomenclature. Writing formulas for molecules and equations for chemical transformations. Memorizing common polyatomic ions. Oxidation numbers. Different types of chemical reactions.

Quarter 3

Chapter 5 – The Period Table

Short history of the periodic table along with an explanation of its layout.

Chapter 6 – Some Chemical Families

Explanation of various chemical families in light of the previous chapter’s explanation of the layout of the periodic table.

Quarter 4

Chapter 7 – Chemical Calculations

The most math heavy chapter. This covers stoichiometry, which is really a study of the relationship between quotity and quantity in regards to molecules and how to exploit that relationship to predict the quantity and quotity of products and reactants in a chemical reaction.

 

Textbooks

Contemporary Chemistry: The Physical Setting by Cohen and Geffner

Course Requirements

Students should bring their notebooks, books, and something with which to write. Although not required, many students will find having a scientific calculator to be a useful aid.

There are three areas of evaluation, with each being worth roughly 1/3 of the quarter grade. :

Class participation: 1 percentage point/day

Homework: 1 percentage point/day

Tests: the remaining percentage points.

 

Successful Students

The grading categories above are a template for student success.

1) Pay careful attention and actively participate in class

2) Give the homework an honest and diligent effort.

3) Perform well on tests through doing the above, along with additional preparation one or two days before a test.