College Prep (R) Chemistry Curriculum
St. Ignatius College Preparatory

Course Outcomes

Course-wide topics for enduring understanding:

• The world of Chemistry can be divided into three areas: macroscopic (the world you can see), atomic (the world you cannot see), and constructed (the symbolism used by chemists). 
• All matter is made up of atoms.  The composition, arrangement, structure, and properties of matter all determine how a substance behaves.
• Chemistry is all around us.  Chemical reactions constantly occur in the world we live in and even within us.
• The interactions of substances with one another create new products in a predictable, quantifiable way.
• The conservation of atoms in chemical reactions leads to the law of conservation of mass. 

• Chemical reactions may release or consume energy.
• Gravitational, electromagnetic, and nuclear forces can hold matter together.

• Certain chemicals may be reactive under some conditions, while others are not.
• The language of Chemistry and the process of scientific inquiry/method enable the investigation of questions, the possibility of problem solving, and the discovery of answers. 
• Mathematical and theoretical models can provide explanations for complicated phenomena in the real world.
• Chemists acquire meaningful data through precise and accurate measurements. 
• Evaluating and analyzing the validity of acquired knowledge and experimental data are all important in scientific discovery. The acquisition of new scientific knowledge requires initiative, flexibility, and creativity. 
• Scientific progress is made by asking pertinent questions and conducting carefully designed and controlled investigations

Course-wide essential questions:

• Is chemistry present in everyday life? What are some representative examples?  What happens when gasoline burns?  What chemical reactions happen in your body? 
• How do we describe and measure matter?  
• What gives matter its particular chemical and physical properties?  Table salt and sugar both have a very similar appearance, how do you explain their different taste, uses, and cost? 
• How does one characterize and classify substances as elements, compounds, and mixtures?
• What information can be obtained from the periodic table and what are the applications?  Why isn’t the table arranged in alphabetical order?  What’s the connection between halogen lamps and halogens on the Table? What is special about the element Mercury? 
• What information is conveyed by a balanced chemical equation?  What’s the connection between Chemistry and cooking with a recipe?
• Different types of matter have dramatically varied properties.  Is chlorine in a swimming pool the same as chlorine in table salt?  How is the atomic structure connected to the properties of matter? 
• Different phases of the same matter, including solids, liquid?

  R Chemistry New Order of Topics 2009-10

  First Semester (Approx 59 days)

  Chapters/ Major* Topics Covered:

  Chapter 1- Matter and Change

  Topics:  safety in the chemistry lab, matter and its properties, atoms, elements, metals, non-metals, chemical vs. physical change, states of matter (s,l,&g), chemical reactions, classification of matter, mixture, homogenous, heterogenous, pure substances

  Add: Elements’ name/symbols (#1-57 & 72-88)

  Essential Questions for Matter & Change

  Why are safety and proper lab procedure imperative in the Chemistry classroom?

  What is the difference between matter and energy?

  How is matter classified?  For example, what’s the difference between a mixture, element, and a compound?

  How are chemical and physical changes different?  What gives matter its different chemical and physical properties?

  How are solids, liquids, and gases of the same substance similar and how are they different?

  Where do you see Chemistry at work, in our daily lives?

  
  

  Chapter 2- Measurement and Calculations

  Topics:  scientific approach, scientific method, add - how to design a data table, SI units, SI prefixes, SI derived units, units, significant digits, density, measurement, conversion factors, dimensional analysis, uncertainty in measurement, accuracy vs. precision, percent error, significant figures, scientific notation, problem solving techniques

  Essential Questions for Measurements and Calculations – To be added by MFS

  Chapter 3- Atoms:  The Building Blocks of Matter

  Topics:  elements, symbols for elements, ions,  Modern Atomic Theory, law of conservation of mass, electrons, protons, neutrons, electron charge, atomic number, mass number, atomic mass, isotopes

  Add: the mole

  Remove: Dalton’s Atomic Theory, Rutherford model, Millikin, Bohr, Thomson (Create a mini-project for History of Atom)

  Essential Questions for The Building Blocks of Matter- To be added by DDM

  What is the relationship between an atom and an element?

  How is the position of an element on the Periodic Table related to that element’s chemical and physical properties? 

  OR How can you use knowledge of the Periodic Table to determine an element’s properties?

  How does the arrangement of subatomic particles dictate an element’s chemical properties?

  How do we know so much about something (the atom) that we can’t see?  (history & interactions of matter)

  What information can be gleened about an atom/element from its “box” on the Periodic Table?

  Do atoms exist or are they just concepts invented by scientists?  What evidence is there in your everyday life for the existence of atoms?

  What is a mole and why do chemists use the mole concept?

  Chapter 4- Arrangement of Electrons in Atoms

  Topics:  the nature of light, electromagnetic spectrum, energy, wavelength, frequency, amplitude, E=hv,

  c=(lambda)v, atomic structure, orbitals and orbital shapes (s,p,d,f), orbital diagrams, energy levels, electron configurations, orbital diagrams, filling order, trends in the filling order in the periodic table, Pauli exclusion principle, Hund’s Rule, writing complete and “short” electron configurations

           Essential Questions for Arrangement of Electrons in Atoms

Why is the location of the electrons so important?  How is the location of electrons related to chemistry/chemical reaction?

How do chemists communicate/illustrate  the location of the electrons?

What does light and the electromagnetic spectrum have to do with electrons and energy?

 

Chapter 5- The Periodic Law

Topics:  History of the Periodic Table, Mendeleev, Seaborg, Mosley, Aufbau, trends in electron configuration, chemical periodicity, the modern periodic table, group names, metals, semi-metals, nonmetals, periodic trends, atomic radii, ionization energy, ion atomic radii, valence electrons, electronegativity

Remove: electron affinity

Essential Questions for The Periodic Law- To be added by MF

 

Chapter 7- Chemical Formulas and Chemical Compounds (Nomenclature)

Topics:  chemical formulas, monatomic ions, diatomic molecules (BrINClHOF), using symbols to write formulas, naming compounds, compounds with metal + non-metal, ionic type I & II, molecular (covalent) compounds, polyatomic ions, writing formulas from names, acids

Add: Percent Composition, EF/MF

Essential Questions for Chemical Formulas and Chemical Compounds (Nomenclature) – to be added by HM

 

 

Chapter 6- Chemical Bonding

Topics:  types of chemical bonds, bond energy , electronegativity and bond type, bond polarity, molecular polarity, dipoles, ionic bonding, diatomic molecules, octet rule, Lewis Dot Diagrams, molecular structures and shapes, VSEPR Theory, , exceptions to the octet rule, ionic bonding, crystal lattice structure, lattice energy,

Remove: bond length, resonance, isomers

Essential Questions for Chemical Bonding- to be added by HM

 

Second Semester

Chemical Equations and Reactions

Topics:  Describing Chemical Reactions, Indications of a Chemical Reaction, Characteristics, Word Equations, Info Given by Chemical Equations (e.g. subscripts, coefficients), Symbols in Chemical Equations, Balancing Chemical Equations, Energy in Equations, Reaction Types, Classifying Chemical Reactions, Synthesis, Decomposition, Single Replacement, Double Replacement, Combustion, Activity Series of the Elements

 

Stoichiometry

Topics:  Stoichiometry, Atomic mass, Formula mass, Atomic Mass, The Mole, Molar Mass, Conversions: massß>mole ß>#particles, Percent Composition of Compounds, Formulas of Compounds, Empirical Formula, Molecular Formulas, Calculations involving a limiting reactant, Calculations involving reactants in excess

 

Physical Characteristics of Gases

Topics: Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases, Pressure, Volume, Temperature, Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law, Combined Gas Law, Laws and Models, STP

Molecular Composition of Gases

Avagadro’s Law, Guy-Lussac’s Law, Molar Volumes of Gases, The Ideal Gas Law, Gas Law Stoichiometry

 

Solutions

Topics: Mixtures, Solutions, Suspensions, Colloids, Electrolytes, Factors affecting Solubility, Solution composition, Solute, Solvent, Solubility Curve, Molarity, Concentration, Molality, Dilution, Saturated, Unsaturated

 

Ions in Aqueous Solutions and Colligative Properties

Dissociation, Precipitation, Ionization, Freezing Point Depression, Boiling Point Elevation

 

Chemical Equilibrium

Topics:  Reversible Reactions, Conditions affecting Reaction Rate, Endothermic vs. Exothermic Reactions, Energy Diagram of Reactions, Dynamic Equilibrium Condition, Le Chatelier’s Principle, Effect of Changing Temperature and Pressure, Adding a Catalyst

Essential Questions for Chemical Equilibrium

What characterizes a reversible reaction and why does it matter if a reaction is reversible?

What affect do different factors and conditions have on reaction rate?

What’s the difference between and endothermic and an exothermic process and why is one far more common?

What predicts a shift in chemical equilibrium when a system is subjected to stress? How are temperature, pressure, catalysts, and amount of moles related to chemical equilibrium?

 

Acids and Bases

Topics:  Properties and Characteristics of Acids and Bases, Naming of Select Acids, Acid Strength, Definition of acid/base, Typical Acid Reactions, Amphoteric Substance, Water as acid and base

Essential Questions for Acids and Bases

What gives an acid its particular characteristics and properties? Why are there so many different definitions of acids?

Can an acid ever be mistaken for a base? Can a chemical act like both an acid and a base under different conditions? What is so special about water?

Why does every acid and base have its own unique name and what relationship does this name have to a substance’s properties?

How do common acids and bases around us, such as baking soda, lemon juice, soap,water, and vinegar, compare in strength?

Where do acid and base reactions occur in the world around us? What industrial and biological processes involve acids?

How are acid-base reactions and equilibrium related?

Why is pH important and how does a substance’s pH relate to its chemical properties and behavior?

Acid-Base Titration and pH/ Buffers

Essential Questions for Acid-Base Titration and pH/Buffers

Why are biological buffers essential for our survival?

What are the characteristics and applications for titration?

What is the relationship between hydrogen concentration and pH? Why do we really care about this when it comes to our food?

What properties makes a base useful to us? Why are some antacid products better than others?

Lab and Lab Technique

Topics:  Proper Lab Technique (General), Avoiding Stock Bottle Contamination, Identification of Glassware, Creating Data Tables, Recording Data, Lab Safety  

s, and gases have different properties.  For example, water, steam, and ice all appear different to us even though the structure of this substance is the same. How do phase differences relate to properties of a certain substance?  

• Why do certain chemicals (and types of chemicals) react while others do not?  Hydrogen gas is a very light - why are air balloons no longer filled with hydrogen?
• How do the conservation laws apply to chemistry?
• What is a good definition for energy?  Are energy changes involved in all chemical reactions?
• How is heat different from energy?  What role does energy play in phases of matter?
• What is temperature?  Is temperature a construct or is it real…meaning concrete?
• What is the relationship between kinetic energy, heat, and temperature?

• How do we describe and measure data?  Why are there so many different types of equipment to obtain measurements?
• How are measurements used to reliably communicate data?
• What is the connection between chemistry and the other sciences (i.e. biology and physics)?  For example, what can be done about global warming?  What are options for alternative energy sources?

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