Science Department

Essential Knowledge and Skills

Students in Advanced Placement Chemistry study chemistry as a laboratory science. Experiments are used to introduce and reinforce concepts. The course builds on the first year of chemistry that the students have already successfully completed. The course reviews first year material; recalling the concepts already learned and then going further into depth. During the second semester new material will be presented. The course places a great deal of emphasis on problem-solving strategies, which will be good preparation for the Advanced Placement Exam.

Indicators of Student Learning

Upon the successful completion of this course, students will:

Using the Scientific Method

• Continue to develop the analytical and critical thinking skills learned in previous years of science.

• Build upon the lab skills and techniques developed during the past two years of science.

• Collect and analyze data to understand new scientific principles

• Understand the atomic-level description of matter, and use this information to explain phenomena at macroscopic scales

• Investigate chemical reactions and factors affecting these systems (types of chemical reactions, kinetics, equilibrium,etc.)

Problem Solving

• Identify the broad information that is required in order to solve specific scientific problems

• Locate and identify relevant information resources and use this information to solve scientific problems

• Carryout the required mathematical operations in order to evaluate solutions

• Determine the reasonableness and viability of obtained solutions

Communication

• Communicate their observations and data to other classmates and with the instructor

• Construct precise scientific conclusions based on the analysis of accumulated experimental data

• Clearly elucidate the thought processes employed in arriving at the previous conclusions

Technology

• Use the tools and basic laboratory equipment employed in chemistry experiments as required in the concurrent enrollment in a laboratory class offered through the University of Utah.

• Identify and set up the needed apparatus for an experiment, as well as manipulate it to collect the necessary data

Assessment

Upon the successful completion of this course, students will:

• Demonstrate the application of the scientific method through careful observation, safe laboratory protocol, and data analysis.

• Demonstrate an understanding of AP level chemistry principles.

• Demonstrate competency in practical problem solving using mathematics as well as chemical intuition.

• Demonstrate a clear and effective protocol for reporting, collecting, and analyzing experimental data.

• Demonstrate a competency in identifying and manipulating various experimental apparatus