Honors Chemistry

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Course Overview

Acellus Honors Chemistry provides students with an in-depth introduction to chemistry. Students are introduced to various forms of matter. They learn about the basic components of the atom and electron orbitals. They will become familiar with the Periodic Table and learn how to use it to predict properties of specific elements. They will learn about chemical bonding, practice stoichiometry, and learn basic reactions. An introduction to organic chemistry is also included. Additional lessons have been included in this course to provide students with the more in-depth understanding that they will require for AP Chemistry. Acellus Honors Chemistry is taught by Dr. James Chapman. Acellus Honors Chemistry is A-G Approved through the University of California.

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Course Objectives & Student Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of this course students will have attained a fundamental understanding of chemistry, the characteristics of matter, and the scientific method. Students will understand the properties and changes of matter. They will understand atomic structure and be familiar with the quantum theory and the atom. They will be familiar with the various molecular shapes and know how to use the Periodic Table to predict behavior and properties of various elements. Students will be familiar with the different types of chemical bonds, their properties and formulas, naming conventions, and how to draw Lewis structures for various compounds. Students will know about some of the more common types of chemical reactions and how to balance them to perform basis stoichiometric calculations. They will know the different states of matter and how to use the gas laws to solve problems. Students will also know how to calculate the concentration of various solutions including how to dilute known concentrations of molar solutions. Students will know how to identify acids and bases and calculate pH and pOH as well as Ka for weak acids. Students will also have a basic understanding of organic and nuclear chemistry.

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This course was developed by the International Academy of Science. Learn More

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Scope and Sequence

Unit 1 – Introduction to Chemistry This unit discusses why we study chemistry, the characteristics of matter, and the scientific method. This unit also discusses scientific notation, SI units and prefixes, conversions between SI units for temperature, derived SI units for volume and density, scientific notation for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, unit conversion in dimensional analysis, data analysis, significant figures and rounding, and calculations using significant figures in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Unit 2 – Matter, Atomic Structure, and the Period Table This unit discusses states and properties of matter, physical versus chemical changes, and elements versus compounds as well as types of mixtures and separation methods for mixtures. The organization of the atom, what makes atoms different, radioactive decay, the quantum theory and the atom, and electronic configuration are also discussed.  Additionally, this unit covers the modern periodic table, electronic configuration and periodicity, and periodic trends. Unit 3 – Chemical Bonding This unit discusses valence electrons, ionic bonds and compounds, properties and formulas of ionic compounds, and names of ions and ionic compounds. This unit also discusses covalent bonds, single and multiple covalent bonds, and the strength of covalent bonds. Unit 4 –  Naming Compounds & Lewis Structures This unit covers the names of binary molecular compounds, naming acids, and Lewis Structures, including covalent compounds, polyatomic ions, resonance, and exceptions. Unit 5 – Molecular Shapes & Chemical Equations This unit discusses valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR), electronegativity, and polarity. This unit also covers chemical reactions, balancing chemical equations, types of chemical reactions, and reactions in water. Unit 6 – The Mole This unit discusses what a mole is, how to convert moles to particles and to mass, the mole ratios of compounds.  Also discussed are calculations for molar mass of compounds, percent composition calculations, empirical and molecular formula calculations, and formulas of hydrates. Unit 7 – Stoichiometry This unit discusses chemical reactions in terms of stoichiometric calculations, including mole to mole, mole to mass, mass to mole, mass to mass, limiting reactants, and percent yield.  Following this unit students are presented with the Mid-term Review and Exam. Unit 8 – Solids, Liquids, and Gases This unit discusses gases in terms of behavior, units, and the kinetic-molecular theory, and in terms of Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures. Also covered are liquids, solids, and the intermolecular forces that determine the state of matter. Unit 9 – Gas Laws This unit covers the laws that pertain to gases, including Boyle’s, Charles’s, and Gay-Lussac’s laws, as well as the Combined Gas Law and the Ideal Gas Law. Also discussed are the Ideal Gas Law in terms of molar mass and density, as well as stoichiometry in gases with volume-volume and volume-mass. Unit 10 – Mixtures and Solutions This unit discusses heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures, as well as concentration as percent by mass, percent by volume, molarity, dilution of molar solutions, molality, and mole fractions. Also covered are solvation in ionic and molecular compounds, solubility, and colligative properties. Unit 11 – Acids and Bases This unit discusses the Arrhenius, Bronsted-Lowry, and Lewis Models, the strength of acids, weak acid ionization constants, the strength of bases, weak base ionization constant, hydrogen ions, ion product constant, pH and pOH, pH and H+ calculations, pOH and OH- calculations, pH and pOH calculations, and pH and pOH strong acids and bases. Further discussion covers Ka calculations for weak acids, neutralization reactions for acids and bases, basic, acidic, and neutral salt solutions, and buffer solutions. Unit 12 – Organic Chemistry This unit discusses hydrocarbons, including alkanes, drawing structures, naming straight-chain alkanes, branched-chain alkanes, and cyclic alkanes, structures from names, alkenes, alkynes, aromatics, isomers, substituted hydrocarbons – functional groups, halocarbons, alcohols, ethers, amines, aldehydes, keytones, carboxylic acid, including ester and amide, substitution and elimination reactions, addition reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions, and polymers.  Following this unit students are presented with the Final Review and Exam.