Chemistry A

About This Course

Chemistry is the study of the composition, structure, and properties of matter and the changes it undergoes. Matter is all the “stuff” around us. In this first semester class you will learn about atomic structure, physical and chemical change, chemical bonding, naming compounds, percentage composition and molecular geometry. Since chemistry is a laboratory based course, each unit will include a lab simulation and/or a kitchen lab experience. Prerequisites:  1 year of high school science and prior completion of Algebra 1

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...

• Construct data tables and graphs
• Explain how the scientific method is used to solve problems
• Apply lab safety protocols
• demonstrate accuracy and precision in measurements, calculations, unit conversions, as well as expressions in scientific notation
• Predict changes in matter due to changes in causal factors
• Identify physical and chemical properties of elements in a variety of states of matter
• Solve density problems
• Explain the development of modern atomic theory
• Compare properties of subatomic particles
• Calculate atomic mass and isotopic abundance, wave-length, frequency and velocity of waves, as well as molecular and hydrate compound compositions
• Use the Periodic Table to determine the electron configuration of elements
• Test the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
• Explain Mendeleev's arrangement of elements in the Periodic Table and how modern scientists continue to contribute to the Periodic Table
• Describe ionic and covalent bonds and how they form
• Create electron dot diagrams for atoms and monatomic ions, and predict the shape of simple molecules from Lewis dot structures
• Identify chemical formulas, including molecular, empirical and structural
• Generate empirical formulas of ionic compounds given their molecular constituents
• Identify organic compounds
• Interpret and balance chemical equations
• Predict the products of chemical reactions on the basis of present reactants
• Explain the relationship between mass, moles, and numbers of atoms or molecules

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Introduction to Chemistry

Unit 2: Matter

Unit 3: Atomic Theory

Unit 4: Periodic Table

Unit 5: Bonding

Unit 6: Chemical Formulas and Names

Unit 7: Chemical Equations

Unit 8: Mass Relationships in a Compound

Resources Included: Online lesson instruction and activities, opportunities to engage with a certified, online instructor and classmates, when appropriate, and online assessments to measure student performance of course objectives and readiness for subsequent academic pursuits.

Additional Costs: Students must acquire several common household items for completion of lab activities in each unit. Reference, Chemistry A Lab Supplies List. There is no textbook purchase required for this class. eText content in the course is available free online from: Frantz, D. (2019). Retrieved from Chemistry 2e

Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. A final score out of total points earned will be submitted to your school mentor for conversion to their own letter grading system.

Time Commitment: Semester sessions are 18-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1 or more hours per day in the course to be successful. Summer sessions are 10 weeks long: Students must be able to spend a minimum of 2 or more hours per day, or about 90 hours during the summer, for the student to be successful in any course. Trimester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.

Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.

Ensure that your school or district network and device administrator establishes network access permissions or exceptions for online resources relevant to the course in which you are choosing to enroll. Ref., Michigan Virtual Course Allow List

Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements.

Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at CustomerCare@michiganvirtual.org or by phone at (888) 889-2840.

Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.

Academic Support Available: In addition to access to a highly qualified, Michigan certified teacher, students have access to academic videos and outside resources verified by Michigan Virtual. For technical issues within the course, students can contact the Michigan Virtual Customer Care by email at customercare@michiganvirtual.org or by phone at (888) 889-2840.

Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building, discussion-based assessments (one-on-one conversations with your teacher), and other forms of authentic assessments.

Technical Skills Needed: Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to:

• Download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• Download and install software
• Use a messaging service similar to email
• Communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• Open attachments shared in messages
• Create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• Edit file share settings in cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
• Save a file as a .pdf
• Copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• Insert images or links into a file or html editor
• Search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• Work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• Activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• Use presentation and graphics programs
• Follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• Use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• Create and maintain usernames and passwords

Additional Information: None