Honors Course: Chemistry

Below, you will find specifics regarding Honors Chemistry.  This will include what to expect throughout the course and what extensions an honors student will receive in this class that is not taught in the general level class.  If you have questions regarding the following, please contact the course teacher.

Curriculum Content

Honors Chemistry is one of the first science classes that a student will take that has a strong math component.  Students learn the relationship between mathematic components in the science world.  Using this, students will see how everything around us is connected and how matter changes through time.  Students are also introduced to lab procedures that are necessary for higher level sciences and college level classes.  Throughout the course, students will have to think critically to come to conclusions, find solutions, and will make connections between pieces of knowledge they learned in pre-requisite science classes will knowledge learned in this class.

Honors Chemistry is a pre-requisite for several upper level classes, so the vertical alignment may be applied to more than one course.  The main class we try to vertically align Honors Chemistry to is AP Chemistry.  AP Chemistry requires the entire Chemistry curriculum as prerequisite knowledge.  Chemistry is also a pre-requisite for AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, and Honors Anatomy and Physiology.

Standards and Objectives

• Extensions to prepare for AP Chemistry:
• Electron configuration changes in regards to transition metals and multivalent ions.
• Classical naming of multivalent compounds.
• Dot structures and VSEPR shapes and geometries for compounds with expanded octets.
• Redox reaction analysis.
• Limiting reagent calculations using stoichiometry.
• K_a and K_b calculations in terms of equilibrium of acids and bases.
• Completing titration calculations using stoichiometry for reactions with a 1:1 molar ratio or higher.

Curriculum Plan

Click here to access the

Click here to access the Parent Curriculum Documents.

Instructional Materials and Methods

Students will receive additional instruction and modified assignments in reference to the extension topics.  They will be responsible for the general chemistry curriculum as well as mastery of the extension topics.

Through Honors Chemistry students will be performing:

·        Additional/ Modified Labs

·        Additional/ Modified Performance Tasks

·        Modified Assignments.

 Additional Resources for Honors Chemistry:

·        AP Chemistry Curriculum Framework The learning objectives begin on page 11.

Assessment

In Honors Chemistry, students will have various course/unit assessments.  These include quizzes, labs, homework, performance tasks, and tests that will also assess the extension topics as well as the NC essential standard objectives.  Students will use math as a tool in chemistry, so they will be required to show work and solve chemical calculations.  Chemistry concepts will also be conceptually interpreted.  Doing the math is not enough; you must understand what your answer means.

All students will be required to complete the NC Final Exam of Chemistry worth 25% of the overall course grade. The Final Exam will not include honors extensions.