Curriculum Overview Subject: Science Course: Chemistry (234) Grade Level: 11-12




Essential Activities/Agreements


Students will:

·         learn about the properties of matter and how these properties help to organize elements on the periodic table

·         develop a better understanding of the structure of the atom.

·         develop an understanding of chemical reactions including the involvement of energy and sub-atomic particles to better understand the nature of chemical changes

·         learn about chemical reactions that occur around us everyday

·         understand the quantitative relationship between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction

·         gain a deeper understanding of acids and bases, rates of reactions, and factors that affect those rates

·         learn about proportionality and strengthen their math skills by solving stoichiometry problems and calculating molar concentrations


Unit 1: Introduction and Nuclear Chemistry

·         Matter & Measurement

·         Atomic Structure & the Periodic Table

·         Nuclear Chemistry


Unit 2: Compounds, Molecules and Chemical Equations

·         Atoms, Ions, & Molecules

·         Formula Writing

·         Stoichiometry & Percent Yield


Unit 3: Gases and The Atmosphere

·         Molecular Motion

·         Pressure & Temperature Conversions

·         Pressure, Temperature, Volume, and Mole Relationships

·         Global Warming


Unit 4: Liquids, Solutions, and Acid-Base Chemistry

·         Phase Changes and Energy

·         Solutions

·         Colligative Properties

·         Acid-Base Chemistry



Students Will:


·         Use laboratory equipment safely and efficiently

·         Use algebra and unit analysis (dimensional analysis) to solve word problems

·         Explain the structure of the atom and describe the three subatomic particles

·         Define “radioactivity” and compare and contrast the different types of radiation

·         Name compounds and write formulas

·         Write and balance chemical equations

·         Use proportions and mole ratios to solve stoichiometry problems

·         Explain the arrangement of the periodic table

·         Compare and contrast solids, liquids and gases in terms of molecular motion and forces of attraction

·         Solve word problems using the ideal gas law

·         Describe the law of conservation of energy explain the difference between and exothermic and endothermic processes.

·         Calculate the boiling point and freezing point of a solution

·         Identify the factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction

·         Identify common acids and bases

·         Use logarithms to calculate the pH of a solution.

·         Conduct titration experiments to determine the molarity of unknown solutions of acids and bases.


Common Laboratory Experiments:


·         Chemical Formulas

·         Copper/Silver Nitrate

·         Calculating the Ideal Gas Constant

·         Clock Reaction

·         Heating Curves

·         Acid/Base Titration


Other Essential Activities:


·         Nightly Homework

·         Homework Quizzes

·         Unit Tests

·         Research Projects on environmental issues




·         Common Course Expectations

·         Common Lab Report Expectations

·         Shared test/quiz questions

·         Common questions for midterm and final exams
