COURSE DESCRIPTION: Practical Chemistry is a non-Regents course designed for students who may not want to pursue a career in science BUT it encourages students to have a better understanding of chemistry in our daily lives and its contribution to modern technology and global climate change. The purpose of the course is to help students build critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, and become more scientifically literate.
TOPICS OF STUDY INCLUDE:
Elements
Atomic Structure
Periodic Table
Properties of metals/nonmetal/metalloids
Physical and chemical changes/properties
Electrons
Bonding
Chemical Reactions
Nuclear Chemistry
Acids and Bases
Solution Chemistry
Examples of FUN LABS students will do this year:
Water Lab (using a penny to test alcohol, oil, etc. to explore water properties like cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, density, etc.)
Physical and Chemical Changes Lab (observing 10 mini experiments and determining whether those experiments showed evidence of a physical or chemical change)
Chemical Reaction Lab (exploring exothermic and endothermic reactions by measuring temperature changes of two different reactions)
pH Indicator Lab (using indicators and observing color changes to identify unknown solutions based on pH)
Ice Cream Lab (using half & half, flavoring, ice, and road salt to make ice cream)
Please see my syllabus posted on google classroom for information regarding my grading policy, attendance policy, homework policy, etc.