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Half Art, Half Science
Course
Honors Chemistry is an introductory course that teaches the foundations of modern chemistry, applies them to current scientific issues, and relates them to practical applications, such as air-bags, green chemistry, and nanotechnology. Major topics include: measurements, matter, atomic theory and the Periodic Table, chemical bonding, stoichiometry and chemical reactions, properties of aqueous solutions, states of matter (solids, liquids and gases), and acid-base chemistry. Additional topics include: chemical equilibrium, thermochemistry, reaction rates, and nuclear chemistry.
This course emphasizes exploratory learning through a variety of labs. Experiments include: (1) The synthesis and decomposition of zinc iodide, (2) precipitation reactions, (3) Identification of an unknown alkali metal, (4) Periodic trends, (5) Thermochemistry: Heat of formation of MgO, (6) Engineering a nanostructure film, (6) Determination of Absolute Zero (gases) (7) Freezing point depression through intermolecular force interactions, (8) Kinetics (determining the order and reaction rate constant for a reaction), (9) An acid-base titration analysis (including the identification of an unknown acid), (10) Electrochemical production of hydrogen gas (fuel cells).
SAT Subject Test - Chemistry
While this course is NOT a preparation course for the subject test, is should prepare students to take the Chemistry Test at the end of the year. Students should purchase one of the commercially available and begin preparation late April or early May.
Advanced Placement Chemistry Test
This course is NOT an AP Chemistry preparation course and does NOT prepare students to take the AP Chemistry Test. The AP Chemistry Test is designed more for a second year chemistry course. IF students still opt to prepare for the AP Chemistry test they should begin preparation in January with one of the commercially available books. Topics not covered in Honors Chemistry that are covered on the AP Chemistry Test are listed below.
- Structural isomerism of simple organic molecules and coordination complexes
- Nuclear cehmistry: nuclear equations, halif-lives, and radioactivity; chemical applications
- Kinteic-molecular theory: Graham's Law
- Lattice Energies
- The role of the electron in oxidation-reduction
- Electrochemistry: electrolytic and galvonic cells, Faraday's laws; standard half-cell potentials; Nerst equation; spontaneity of redox reactions
- Reaction mechanisms and rate determining steps
- Relationship of change in free energy to equilibrium constants and electrode potentials
- Introduction to organic chemistry functional groups (structure, nomenclature, chemical properties)
- LABS
- We do NOT do any of the recommended AP Chemistry labs.
- Chemical Calculations
- Faraday's Law of electrolysis
- Standard electrode potentials and their use; Nerst Equation