Curriculum Overview

 

Subject: Science

Course: Chemistry in the Community – Fuel & Energy (231)

Grade Level: 11-12

                                                                                                                       

Concepts

Topics/Units

Content/Skills

Essential Activities/Agreements

 

Students will:

·         learn about chemical reactions that occur around us everyday

·         develop problem-solving techniques, laboratory skills, and critical thinking skills

·         learn about proportionality and strengthen their math skills

·         make informed decisions about scientific and technological issues

·         recognize and understand the importance of chemistry to their daily lives

 

Unit 3 – Petroleum:

Making and Breaking Bonds

(25 days)

 

·         Petroleum: What is it?

·         Petroleum: An Energy Source

·         Petroleum: A Building-Material Source

·         Energy Alternatives to Petroleum

 

 

Unit 4 – Food: Matter and

Energy for Life

(20 days)

 

·         Food as Energy

·         Energy Use and Storage

·         Proteins, Enzymes, and Chemistry

·         Other Substances in Foods

 

 

Unit 5 – Nuclear Chemistry

(15 days)

 

·         The Nature of Atoms

·         Nuclear Radiation

·         Using Radioactivity

·         Nuclear Energy: Benefits and Burdens

Students Will:

 

·         Use laboratory equipment safely and efficiently

·         Make and interpret observations

·         Analyze data and draw conclusions

·         Construct and interpret graphs and tables.

·         Use unit analysis (dimensional analysis) to solve problems.

·         Express answers to problems in scientific notation

·         Separate mixtures using distillation

·         Construct models of common hydrocarbons and other organic molecules

·         Write formulas for organic compounds and name them correctly

·         Interpret data on energy use

·         Understand decision making regarding energy use and building use

·         Determine energy efficiency

·         Explore energy alternatives to petroleum

·         Correlate weight loss or weight gain with caloric intake and physical activity.

·         Explain the role and function of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the human body

·         Identify essential vitamins and minerals in a healthy diet.

·         Identify the relative risks and benefits of food additives (artificial dyes, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, etc).

·         Describe the characteristics of protons, neutrons, and electrons and explain how they interact with one another.

·         Describe the effect of ionizing radiation on living tissue.

·         Describe how radioisotopes are used as diagnostic tracers in medicine.

·         Evaluate methods for disposal of nuclear waste, including the burdens and benefits of each.

·         Evaluate the use of nuclear energy in the world today.

 

Common Laboratory Experiments:

 

·         Separation by Distillation

·         Molecular Modeling

·         Viscosity

·         Heat capacity of a candle

·         Synthesis of Sterno®

·         Homemade Polymers

·         Synthesis of an Ester

·         Making Biodiesel

·         Food as Energy

·         Food Testing

·         Candy Chromatography

·         Vitamin C Analysis

·         Detecting Radiation

·         Half Lives

 

 

Other Activities:

 

·         Research project on alternative fuels (including class presentations)

·         Personal Nutrition Plan

·         Debate: Should the US build new nuclear power plants to alleviate our dependency on petroleum?

·         Final exam is 50% written work and 50% lab practical

 

 Updated 8/08