HONORS CHEMISTRY
INSTRUCTOR: Fr. Bernard Johnson
contact: frbernard@marystarhigh.com
TEXT:
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions by Masterton,
Hurley & Neth
A Guide to the Elements, 2nd edition by Albert Stwertka
The Honors Chemistry course is designed to present the students
with the principles of chemistry at an accelerated pace and in
greater depth than in the regular chemistry course. Emphasis is on
qualitative relationships and problem solving skills. Topics covered
include but are not limited to, the nature of matter, atomic theory,
periodic properties of the elements, chemical bonding, chemical
reactions and equations, molar relationships, stoichiometry,
properties of gases, thermodynamics, acids and bases,
electrochemistry, and organic chemistry. The course involves
hands-on laboratory activities. The nature of scientific inquiry and
the use of the scientific method to investigate chemical systems is
also addressed. This course meets the requirements of the California
State Framework for science.
General course objectives are intended to enable the student to
1. develop an understanding of the main concepts and processes of
chemistry.
2. develop an awareness of the diversity and complexity of
chemical processes and interrelationships.
3. develop an understanding of the scientific method and how it is
used and how scientific hypotheses and theories are
formulated and tested.
4. develop an understanding of measurement accuracy and
precision.
5. develop skills in solving chemistry related word problems
especially including conversions.
6. develop an understanding of the major theories and paradigms
used in chemistry and chemical research.
7. develop an awareness of the history of science and the men and
women who have contributed to the advancement of the
chemical and physical sciences.
8. develop an understanding of the different types of written reports
used in chemistry, including but not limited to laboratory
notes, laboratory reports, library research papers, field notes,
field reports, and experimental research papers.
9. understand and connect to the study of chemistry the “expected
schoolwide learning results” pertaining to Catholicism,
Character, Curriculum, and Community.
Specific course objectives will enable the student to
1. differentiate among types of matter and physical and chemical
properties.
2. use the international system of measurement to measure physical
and chemical properties; graph, perform calculations on, and
determine quantitative relationships among these
measurements; use conversion factors to change units of
measured quantities; and determine the numbers of
significant figures in calculated quantities.
3. use symbols for chemical cements; relate symbols to numbers of
protons, neutrons, and electrons in atoms and ions; name ions
and compounds; determine structural, molecular, and
empirical formulas for covalent and ionic compounds and
predict formulas for ionic compounds.
4. determine atomic mass, formula mass, and molar mass of
elements and compounds, determine percent composition of
compounds, balance chemical equations; use balanced
equations to relate masses of reactants and products.
5. use solubility rules to predict results of chemical reactions and to
determine concentrations of substances.
6. derive and use gas laws to determine pressure, volume,
temperature, molar and kinetic relationships.
7. determine relationship among wavelength, frequency, energy,
and quantum mechanics; use quantum mechanics to
determine electron configurations of atoms and ions.
8. identify periodic trends in atomic radii, ionization energy, and
electronegativity and use these trends to predict bond type and
strength.
9. determine bond type; draw Lewis structures; and use the VSEPR
model to predict molecular geometry of covalent compounds.
10. determine temperature relationships for closed systems; write
thermochemical equations and use them to determine bond
energies of reactants and products.
11. identify intermolecular forces in polar and nonpolar substances
and determine their effects on physical properties.
12. differentiate between acids and bases and use indicators and
titration to determine acidity.
13. name and differentiate among classes of organic compounds;
draw structural formulas for isomers of organic compounds;
and identify classes of organic compounds found in living
systems.
15. determine the identity and composition of various chemical
substances.