Students will investigate the science of matter and its changes by engaging in activities that promote problem solving and critical thinking skills. By focusing on the four big ideas of Chemistry: conservation of matter and energy, behavior and properties of matter, particulate nature of matter, and equilibrium and driving forces, students will be able to understand how matter interacts on the macroscopic and atomic level. Students will concentrate on conceptual learning goals first and then relate them to everyday phenomena and real-world problems. Using laboratory investigations and guided inquiry learning activities, students will use analytical skills, mathematical comprehension, and quantitative concepts to comprehend chemical principles. Throughout the learning process, students will be introduced to Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church so they may fully appreciate the beauty of God’s creation and know that Faith and science can interact. Some topics of study throughout the course include the nature of matter, measurements, structure of the atom, the mole, chemical reactions and equations, stoichiometry, states of matter, and acids and bases.

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to investigate and verify scientific information, make informed decisions about scientific issues, and develop life-long learning skills.

Students will investigate the science of matter and its changes by engaging in activities that promote problem solving and critical thinking skills. By focusing on the four big ideas of Chemistry: conservation of matter and energy, behavior and properties of matter, particulate nature of matter, and equilibrium and driving forces, students will be able to understand how matter interacts on the macroscopic and atomic level. Students will concentrate on conceptual learning goals first and then relate them to everyday phenomena and real-world problems.

By using laboratory investigations and guided inquiry learning activities, students will use analytical skills, mathematical comprehension, and quantitative concepts to comprehend chemical principles. A strong emphasis will be placed on the mathematical relationships observed in the study of matter and extending the students’ knowledge to solve related problems. Honors Chemistry will involve differentiated assignments which will include advanced worksheets, advanced lab questions, advanced tests and quizzes, and advanced activities for each unit. The expectation in the Honors course is to incorporate a high level of mathematics and involve this math in the problem solving process. Honors Chemistry students will also extend their learning in the classroom to how chemistry relates to other subjects such as biology and physics. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to investigate and verify scientific information, make informed decisions about scientific issues, and develop life-long learning skills.

Throughout the learning process, students will be introduced to Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church so they may fully appreciate the beauty of God’s creation and know that Faith and science can interact.

Students will study the topics of matter, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and waves in preparation for future science courses of Chemistry, Biology and Physics II. More specifically, students will study the structure of the atom and how the interaction with other atoms leads to the many properties of matter. The study of thermodynamics will describe more properties of matter such as the high specific heat of water and the importance of this property for life on earth. Electricity and magnetism will be studied and explained in terms of the structure of the atom and movement of subatomic particles. The last topic, waves, will be explored and used to explain everyday experiences of sound and light. Students apply a three-step learning sequence of exploration, concept development and application. They will also participate in hands-on activities that help them understand the concepts and skills that are presented in the lab.

In addition to the study of different scientific concepts, students will be introduced to the teaching of the Catholic Church in relation to science.

General Chemistry 121 is the first semester of a one-year sequence of chemistry for
first-year chemistry students at Duquesne University. As a College in High School course, this class will be completed over one school year. The course emphasizes the following topics: components of matter, atomic structure and theory, Stoichiometry, Gas Laws, Thermochemistry, the Kinetic-Molecular Theory, Quantum Theory, Atomic Structure, Electron Configuration, Chemical Periodicity, Chemical Bonding, Shapes of Molecules, and an introduction to the Molecular Orbital Model. The course contains both a lecture component and a laboratory component.

The two main goals of the course are
1) To introduce students to the fundamental concepts of chemistry which serve as
the building blocks for more advanced science courses.

2) To help the students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills so that
they can not only solve basic chemistry problems, but also apply their chemistry
knowledge to problems and situations that they have not encountered before.

The lectures, laboratory activities, textbook readings and assignments as well as the graded
assessments are designed to help fulfill these goals.