Monmouth County Private High School – Chemistry in Life
Unit 1: Introduction, General Chemical Principles, Air, Atmosphere
Unit 2: Air Pollution, Ozone Layer, Global Warming
Unit 3: Water, Water Pollution, Acid Rain, Acids and Bases
Unit 4: Consumer Chemistry, Nuclear Energy, Plastics, Nutrition
This class will explore chemistry while taking a closer look at issues that are important in our daily lives. Along with learning the basics of lab chemistry, the students will apply their new knowledge in a lab setting, where they will collect data and think deeply about which choices are best for the Earth and all creatures on the Earth.
Students will be moved beyond looking at chemical reactions in the isolation of a lab and grow to understand that chemistry is all around us and that our use of this science is leaving indelible footprints on our planet.
The students will:
- Utilize critical thinking skills to learn fundamental concepts from chemistry found in everyday life (Critical Thinking, Mathematical Skill Competency, Problem Solving Competency)
- Perform chemistry-based problem solving. Reinforcement of chemical concepts will be made as hands-on skills are developed in the laboratory program (Critical
- Thinking, Mathematical Skill Competency, Problem Solving Competency)
- Utilize risk assessment (Critical Thinking, Mathematical Skill Competency)
- Analyze the effect man has had on the environment through studies of global warming, the greenhouse effect, and acid rain (Critical Thinking, Problem Solving Competency)
- Identify the benefits of using synthetic versus natural indicators (Critical Thinking, Problem Solving Competency)
- Determine the sugar content in common sodas and fruit juices (Critical Thinking,Mathematical Skill Competency, Problem Solving Competency)
- Use a Geiger counter to measure radioactive material (Critical Thinking, Mathematical Skill Competency, Problem Solving Competency)
- Identify contaminants that may be found in drinking water and analyze its potability (Critical Thinking, Problem Solving Competency)
- Research one topic from the course in depth and write a paper to show your research (Critical Thinking, Information & Technical Literacy)
In Chemistry Unit 1, students studied the periodic table, gaining an understanding of the significance of both the group and period number. They explored metals vs. nonmetals in the periodic table and the state these elements exist in nature (ex. solid monoatomic, gas diatomic molecules). In Unit 2, Students learned about cations (metals losing electrons) becoming positively charged, anions (non-metals gaining electrons) becoming negatively charged, and their naming. In Unit 3, students learned about molecular, and ionic compounds. In Unit 4, we covered the formation of Ionic compounds, which included how to bring cations and anions together and how to balance the charges and achieve electrical neutrality. In Unit 5, we looked at reactions and discussed different chemical reactions; specifically combination and decomposition reactions. This unit covered single displacement, double displacement, and combustion. In Unit 6, students have been focused on balancing chemical reactions.
In the winter session, the students started by learning the concept of a mole and Avogadro’s number. This knowledge allowed the students to calculate the molar mass of a molecule they could identify. The student used these calculations to determine, based on a given mass, the quantity of molecules available for a reaction in addition to the total number of atoms involved in a given reaction.
The next concept investigated was stoichiometry, which defines the relative quantities of molecules and atoms are needed to perform a reaction. Once mastering this concept the students investigated what would happen if one of the molecule quantities were limited. This led to the concept of limiting and excess reagents and the subsequent quantities of materials after chemical reactions take place.
The final weeks of the winter session the students studied electrolytes and non-electrolytes. They learned about the properties of electrolytes and how ions and anions separate in a solution, They also considered their role in chemical reactions. The study of solutions also led to the concept or acidity and base solutions.
In the spring session, the students reviewed their study of moles and Avogadro’s number. Students started balancing more difficult equations, determining the appropriate amount of material for a reaction and calculating limiting equations. Next, the students learned Boyle’s Law and the relationship between pressure and volume for gasses. This study led naturally to the Ideal Gas Law, which relates the pressure and volume and the amount of material and temperature.
TEACHER: Shahin Pirzad