Course Description
In the simplest terms, chemistry is the study of matter. Nearly everything in the world is matter. Anything that can be touched, seen, heard, or smelled is matter. Even things that cannot be seen, such as atoms, are matter. In the Chemistry course, students will study the basic structure of matter and the ways different types of matter interact. They will explore how single atoms come together to make large complex molecules and mixtures. Anything that isn’t matter is energy. Students will examine the ways matter interacts with energy. Students in the honors course will learn basic chemistry concepts, then explore them in greater detail. In addition, students will have the opportunity to examine cutting-edge research and learn about the latest advancements in chemistry.

Course Breakdown

Percent yield
Redox reactions
Kinetic theory and gas laws
Heat changes
Colligative properties
Measures of concentration
Dilution Acid-base chemistry
Collision theory and reaction rates
Action of catalysts
Law of thermodynamics
Le Chatelier’s principle and equilibrium
Organic chemistry
Nuclear chemistry

Course Goals
Relate electron transfers to the changes in oxidation-reduction reactions.
Use the motion of particles to explain the properties and behavior of ideal gases.
Describe the nature of heat changes in physical and chemical changes.
Relate the nature of water to its function as a solvent in solutions. Compare and contrast acids and bases and describe how they react with one another.
Apply the factors that affect the rates of reactions by calculating the rate law.
Apply the laws of thermodynamics in chemical reactions and in equilibrium conditions.
Describe the nature of carbon and the compounds formed from carbon.
Explain the characteristics of nuclear reactions and the dangers associated with them.