Chemistry Curriculum

Family-facing version of the Chemistry curriculum

Goals

This course includes embedded scientific and engineering practices. Engaging in the practices of science and engineering helps students understand how scientific knowledge develops. These scientific and engineering practices include the use of scientific skills and processes to explore the content of science as outlined in the Science Standards of Learning. The engineering design practices are an application of the science content while trying to solve a problem or design an object, tool, process, or system. These scientific and engineering practices are critical to chemistry instruction.

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by:

  • Asking questions and defining problems.
  • Planning and carrying out investigations.
  • Interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating data. 
  • Constructing and critiquing conclusions and explanations.
  • Developing and using models.
  • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.

Quarterly Overview of Chemistry

The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing by quarter and by week provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of students.

Units and Details

Unit 1: The Atom

Students will investigate and understand that elements have properties based on their atomic structure. The periodic table is an organizational tool for elements based on these properties.

Key information pertaining to the periodic table includes:

  • Average atomic mass, isotopes, mass number, and atomic number.
  • Nuclear decay.
  • Electron configurations, valence electrons, excited electrons, and ions.
  • Historical and quantum models. 

Unit 2: Matter and Periodicity

Students will investigate and understand that:

  • Elements have properties based on their atomic structure. The periodic table is an organizational tool for elements based on these properties. Key information pertaining to the periodic table includes:
    • Trends within groups and periods including atomic radii, electronegativity, shielding effect, and ionization energy.
  • Thermodynamics explains the relationship between matter and energy. Key ideas include:
    • Heating curves provide information about a substance.
    • Reactions are endothermic or exothermic.

Unit 3: Bonding and Molecular Geometry

Students will demonstrate an understanding that atoms are conserved in chemical reactions. Knowledge of chemical properties of the elements can be used to describe and predict chemical interactions.

Key ideas include:

  • Chemical formulas are models used to represent the number of each type of atom in a substance.
  • Substances are named based on the number of atoms and the type of interactions between atoms.
  • Atoms bond based on electron interactions.
  • Molecular geometry is predictive of physical and chemical properties.

Unit 4: Chemical Reactions

Students will:

  • Demonstrate an understanding that atoms are conserved in chemical reactions. Knowledge of chemical properties of the elements can be used to describe and predict chemical interactions. Key ideas include:
    • Balanced chemical equations model rearrangement of atoms in chemical reactions.
    • Reaction types can be predicted and classified.
  • Demonstrate an understanding that thermodynamics explains the relationships between matter and energy. Key ideas include: 
  • Reactions are endothermic or exothermic.
  • Energy changes in reactions occur as bonds are broken and formed.

Unit 5: Molar Relationships

Students will demonstrate an understanding that molar relationships compare and predict chemical quantities.

Key ideas include:

  • Avogadro’s principle is the basis for molar relationships.
  • Stoichiometry mathematically describes quantities in chemical composition and in chemical reactions

Unit 6: Solutions

Students will demonstrate an understanding that solutions behave in predictable and quantifiable ways.

Key ideas include:

  • Molar relationships determine solution concentration.
  • Changes in temperature can affect solubility.
  • Extent of dissociation defines types of electrolytes.
  • PH and pOH quantify acid and base dissociation.
  • Colligative properties depend on the extent of dissociation.

Unit 7: Kinetics and Thermodynamics

Students will demonstrate an understanding that thermodynamics explains the relationship between matter and energy.

Key ideas include:

  • Heat energy affects matter and interactions of matter.
  • Heating curves provide information about a substance.
  • Reactions are endothermic or exothermic.
  • Energy changes in reactions occur as bonds are broken and formed.
  • Collision theory predicts the rate of reactions.
  • Rates of reactions depend on catalysts and activation energy.
  • Enthalpy and entropy determine the extent of a reaction.

Unit 8: Kinetic Molecular Theory

Students will demonstrate an understanding that the phases of matter are explained by the kinetic molecular theory.

Key ideas include:

  • Pressure and temperature define the phase of a substance.
  • Properties of ideal gasses are described by gas laws.
  • Intermolecular forces affect physical properties.

Assessments

Student assessments are part of the teaching and learning process.

  • Teachers give assessments to students on an ongoing basis to
    • Check for understanding.
    • Gather information about students' knowledge or skills.
  • Assessments provide information about a child's development of knowledge and skills that can help families and teachers better plan for the next steps in instruction.

For testing questions or additional information about how schools and teachers use test results to support student success, families can contact their children's schools.

In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), seventh grade tests focus on measuring content knowledge and skill development.

Other High School Information