Scholars Online Chemistry

Course Overview

Scholars Online offers a an intensive introduction to chemistry covering the following topics:

• basic tools of measurement,
• the atomic model, including basic concepts of atoms, elements, molecules and compounds,
• the quantitative relationships between reactants and products (stoichiometry),
• atomic structure and electron configurations,
• patterns underlying chemical periodicity,
• phase changes affecting gases, liquids, and solids,
• the behavior of solutions,
• chemical kinetics,
• chemical equilibria,
• acid-base and precipitation reactions,
• electrolysis reactions,
• the major characteristics of main group and transition elements,
• and nuclear chemistry

We will approach this mass of material through our texts, through discussion, through guided Web Tours, and through lab experiences. As we learn about the concepts and methods of modern chemistry, we will try to put them into perspective by addressing these questions:

• What is science?
• What is scientific methodology?
• How do we observe a natural object or event?
• How do we use instruments to discover more detailed information about a living organism or process?
• How do we evaluate and organize our knowledge?
• What are hypotheses, models, theories, and natural laws?
• How do we test, accept, or disprove a theory?
• How does the very act of organizing knowledge limit or enhance the way we think about nature and ourselves?
• What are the ethical implications of scientific investigations into chemical processes, especially those which affect the environment or living organisms?
• What are our responsibilities as stewards of the natural resources of Earth?

See the Texts page for information about texts required for this course.

Browser Recommendation: I strongly that you use FireFox to attend class and use the Moodle, and avoid Chrome and Microsoft Edge, since Google and Microsoft chose not to implement the MathML standard in their browsers. We depend heavily on this math formatting tool in chat. Additionally, the Moodle is optimized for FireFox; some features are available in FireFox and not in other browsers.

Meetings: This course meets twice a week in live ninety-minute chat sessions using the Scholars Online HTML-based chat application (no audio)¹ for a review of the material and open discussion of homework assignments or topics posing difficulties. Some time will be devoted to basic lab work. Students post individually-assigned problems to the course conference center to gain practice in explaining solutions.

Credit: Students completing the course will receive high school chemistry credit. Students completing additional lab work will receive honors credit. While this course does conform to the 2017 AP Chemistry standards and should prepare students for the AP Chemistry exam, AP credit is no longer an option (see the FAQs page for an explanation).

Standard Exam Preparation: Students taking the Chemistry course should be well prepared to take both the SAT II Chemistry Test. Students completing extra lab work should be prepared to take the AP Chemistry exam. Those interested in either exam should read the Chemistry Exam Preparation page, and contact the instructor if they have questions.

Prerequisites: The Scholars Online Chemistry Course is designed to be an independent course for students who have completed a rigorous junior high school physical science course, or Scholars Online Natural Science I and II.

Labs and Lab Equipment:

Labs are not optional. Students must complete twelve labs for the course. Students must have parental permission to perform labs in order to receive credit. The lab permission form and a list of required equipment and materials is available from the Lab Requirements page.

¹I discuss my reasons for sticking to text-based chat in my May 29, 2020 Continuing in the Word blog entry "To Zoom or not to Zoom". The Scholars Online chat software runs on any browser and can handle most presentation forms — check out the Live Chats description page and Sample Chats to see how we include diagrams, equations, and even videos!

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Need more information? Further details on this course are available at this site on course procedures and other frequently-asked questions.

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© 2005 - 2024 This course is offered through Scholars Online, a non-profit organization supporting classical Christian education through online courses. Permission to copy course content (lessons and labs) for personal study is granted to students currently or formerly enrolled in the course through Scholars Online. Reproduction for any other purpose, without the express written consent of the author, is prohibited.