Can we change any material into gold? What properties do elements have and how can they vary? What gives molecules their smells, reactivities, and elemental ratios? What causes our weather and how can we model weather phenomenon using gas laws. How do toxins impact our bodies and the environment? In chemistry we study the world from a molecular perspective, with the goal of understanding how interactions between atoms and molecules lead to macro-scale observable phenomenon in our world. Through lab work, guided inquiry, and class discussion we build a comprehensive knowledge of the fundamentals of chemistry.
The periodic table is a systemic way of categorizing properties of atoms and elements.
Chemical and nuclear changes lead to new materials with new properties.
The structure of individual atoms regulates how they interact with other atoms.
Our bodies have mechanisms to respond to a variety of chemicals based on their structure .
The weather is driven by pressure differences in atmospheric gases.
The concentration and toxicity of materials determines their impacts on organisms and ecosystems.
Can we make gold from other materials?
What helps us smell? How can we differentiate between chemicals with our noses?
What causes the weather?
How can we decide if a chemical is toxic?
How does energy move between systems?
Essential Questions:
Can we use chemistry to create gold?
Major Concepts:
The structure of atoms determines their properties.
Changes in the structure of atoms changes their properties.
Major Content:
Organization of the periodic table
Structure of atoms
Nuclear chemistry
Ionic compounds
Bonding types
Unit Assessments:
Lab reports on the copper cycle and bonding properties. Two unit tests.
Major Texts:
Living by Chemistry
Essential Questions:
What gives molecules unique scents?
Major Concepts:
The shape, functional groups, and polarity of molecules contribute to their smells.
Major Content:
Covalent bonds
Structural formulas
Molecular shape
Polarity
Protein folding
Unit Assessments:
Unit test
Lab report on ester synthesis
Cooking and smell project: investigate the chemicals giving a specific herb or spice its aroma. Create a poster identifying the functional groups and molecular shapes leading to the smell of that herb or spice. Cook an international dish using that spice. Present the dish at a tasting event where parents taste the foods and learn about the chemicals leading to the associated aromas.
Major Texts:
Living by Chemistry
Essential Questions:
How can we predict the weather?
Major Concepts:
The properties of gasses can be used to understand the weather.
We can use math to describe the relationships between pressure, temperature, and volume.
Major Content:
Density of solids, liquids, and gasses
Gas laws - Boyle's, Charles', and Gay Lussac's law, ideal and combined gas laws
Absolute zero, phase transitions
Kinetic-molecular theory
The mole
Unit Assessments:
Unit test
Major Texts:
Living by Chemistry
Essential Questions:
How do we determine a substance's toxicity?
When can we neutralize toxins?
How do we determine when the outcome of a reaction will be toxic?
Major Concepts:
Toxins come in many forms and strengths.
Toxicity is a function of the type of toxin, dose, and organism impacted.
Chemical reactions can neutralize some toxins in the body and environment.
Major Content:
Toxicity
Concentration
Molarity
Moles
Acid-base chemistry
Balancing chemical equations
Stoichiometry.
Unit Assessments:
Two unit tests
Poster examining a toxin of choice
Airbag project - design an airbag for a model car, determining the correct amount of reactants to create gas and fill the air bag
Major Texts:
Living by Chemistry
Essential Questions:
What is fire?
How does energy move between systems?
Major Concepts:
Chemical reactions, energy transfer
Major Content:
Endothermic and exothermic reactions
Energy transfer
Combustion
Bond energy
Unit Assessments:
Unit test
Major Texts:
Living by Chemistry