By the end of this unit, a successful student will be able to:
- Define Chemistry. (1.1)
- Show how the terms experiment, hypothesis, theory, and law fit into the scientific method. (1.1)
- Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative measurements.
- Understand and follow safety rules within the lab
- State the advantages of the metric system. (1.4)
- Name the metric units of length, mass, and volume. (1.4)
- List and define the common metric prefixes. (1.4)
- Use a decimeter cube to explain why the milliliter and cubic centimeter have the same volume. (1.4)
- State the difference between the mass and weight of an object. (1.2, 1.4)
- Calculate the density of an object from experimental data. (1.4)
- Distinguish between the accuracy and precision of measurement. (1.5)
- Identify the number of significant figures in a measurement. (1.5)
- Use the rules for significant figures in calculations to correctly round off numbers. (1.5)
- Use the factor-label method when converting between units (1.6)
- Convert between Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin temperature scales. (1.6)
- Name and characterize the four most common states of matter. (1.2)
- State the Law of Conservation of Mass. (1.2)
- Distinguish between matter and a substance. (1.2)
- State the difference between an element and a compound. (1.2)
- Classify a sample of matter as a pure substance or a mixture. (1.2)
- Further classify a sample of matter as homogeneous or heterogeneous (1.2)
- Classify changes in matter as physical or chemical changes (1.3)
- Classify properties as physical or chemical (1.3)
- Classify properties as intensive or extensive (1.3)
Make sure to use the PDF found in the google drive. (Viewing the book in the “web view” at openstax.org has different section and page numbers.) All questions can be found at the end of each chapter
Due Date Day Assignment
9/3 Thu Hw#1 Section 1.1 Chemistry in Context pp. 9-14 reading and problems 1-7
9/4 Fri Read Lab #1: Procedures, write out lab procedures
9/8 Tue Hw#2 Section 1.4 Measurements pp. 29-36 reading and problems 34-41
9/9 Wed Hw#3 Section 1.5 Measurement Uncertainty, Accuracy and Precision pp. 36-44 reading and problems 44-56
9/11 Fri Finish Lab #1: Measurement
9/14 Mon Hw#4 Section 1.6 Mathematical Treatment of Measurement Results pp. 44-51 reading and problems 57-99 (every 3rd problem)
9/15 Tue Measurement Quiz; Hw: Conversion problems
9/16 Wed Prelab Questions and Outline: Lab #2, Chemical and Physical Changes
9/17 Thu Hw#5 Section 1.2 Phases and Classification of Matter pp. 15-25 reading and problems 8-25
9/18 Fri Finish Lab #2: Chemical & Physical Changes
Hw#6 Section 1.3 Physical and Chemical Properties pp. 25- 29 reading and problems 26-33
9/21 Mon Review/Practice
9/22 Tue Test Unit 1
Links - Chemistry Preliminaries
- While often described as "The" scientific method, there is no single recipe for doing good science. There are, however a number of common elements in most versions of the scientific method. The following pages describe them.
- Wikipedia's entry on the Scientific Method describes the method in detail as well as its historical development.
- Jose Wudka's The Scientific Method comes from a collection of physics notes. It describes the method in a general form and contrasts it with non & pseudo-scientific methods.
- Bill Latura maintains a similar page taken from Usenet's sci.skeptic FAQ on the Scientific Method.
- J. Stein Carter describes The Scientific Method from a biological standpoint including javascript exercises to help check your understanding.
- Frank Wolfs provides an Introduction to the Scientific Method including an explanation of when the scientific method is not applicable.
- Dr. Terry Halwes explores The Myth of the Magical Scientific Method calling attention to the multiplicity of methods through which good science is accomplished.
- Bruce Bryson has adapted the rather famous film/book The Powers of Ten by Philip and Phyllis Morrison and the office of Charles & Ray Eames. It teaches about scientific notation and length scales in the univese from tiny quarks to the most distant quasars by zooming in and out from a patch of skin on the hand of a sleeping man in a park.
- International System of Units from NIST describes the SI system, the most widely recognized metric system of units. It includes a history of the system metric prefixes, and unit conversions.
- Frank Tapson's A Dictionary of Measures, Units and Conversions includes tables explaining the same for the SI system as well as for the UK Imperial system and the American systems of measurements with further explanations of units by catagory on separate pages.
- After the mks or SI metric system, the cgs or Gaussian system is the most commonly used metric system - mainly for electricity and magnetism. Eric Weisstein's page compares cgs to SI.
- Measurement, Error, Accuracy and Precision
- Bellevue Community College's physics department has this Introduction to Measurement and Sig Figs including uncertainty, accuracy and precision.
- Material Safety Data Sheets provide information about the hazaards of handling and recommended precautions for working with different chemicals. This page shows Where to find MSDS on the Internet.
- After a brief mention of Hero of Alexandria, Albert Van Helden describes the developement of the Thermometer of Galileo and its progression in the 17th century.
- InterGalactic Power & Light presents A Brief History of Temperature Measurement show the development of the Fahrenheit, Celcius and Kelvin scales and including a large table of several temperatures in those three scales.
- The Brannan company looks at Who Invented the Thermometer in this brief history.