A grade for the class is available if requested.

Save $22 on enrollment when you use coupon code DANLEYSPRING22  by December 15, 2024.

REFUND POLICY: Full refund until 12 hours after the first class meeting (6 hours in the summer).  If you do not notify me within 12 hours of the first class that you wish to be refunded, you will need to contact Outschool support to request a refund which they may or may not grant. .  

This course will give students a solid understanding of the essential concepts in chemistry.  We will focus on a particular topic or series of topics each week with previous concepts being integrated into later topics when appropriate.  Material will be taught in the socratic method as much as possible along with examples and illustrations.  Each class we will go over a worksheet to help solidify the concepts taught, and students will be asked to contribute their knowledge to the completion of the worksheet.  Optional out-of-class homework assignments with answers will further help students master the concepts.  At optional assessment at the end of each unit (every five weeks) will test the knowledge of the student.  

There is no pre-requisite for the course, however please note that out of necessity, a few topics do overlap with the chemistry portion of the Fundamentals of Science class that I teach.  Specifically, this will occur in Class 2, Class 3, Class 5, and Class 7.  

Students should have a basic understanding of how to solve equations or should pick math up quickly as we will be doing calculations during some portions of the class.  As such, students should have access to a calculator, online or handheld, during class.  

CLASS 1 – SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENTS
We’ll talk about what makes a measurement, how to properly record a measurement and how to work with significant figures.  We’ll also take a quick look at the metric system and unit dimensional analysis.

CLASS 2 – MODELS OF THE ATOM
We’ll discuss the theory of the atom and how scientists arrived at our current model of the atom, the quantum mechanical model.

CLASS 3 – THE PERIODIC TABLE
We’ll discuss the information about an element that can be gained from the periodic table including the atomic number, the atomic mass, and the number of valence electrons.  We’ll also discuss isotopes and their relation to the atomic mass that is found on the periodic table.

CLASS 4 – MIXTURES AND COMPOUNDS, ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION AND HUND’S RULE
We’ll talk about the differences between a mixture, an element, a molecule, and a compound and then discuss two forms of denoting the arrangement of electrons in an atom: electronic configuration and Hund's rule.  

CLASS 5 – CHEMICAL BONDING
We’ll talk about why elements combine the way that they do to form ionic bonds, polar covalent bonds, and non-polar covalent bonds.  

CLASS 6 – NAMING COMPOUNDS
We’ll learn how to name ionic compounds with and without metals with a variable valence as well as binary molecular compounds.  

CLASS 7 - CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND STATES OF MATTER
We will talk about the difference between chemical changes and physical changes.  We will learn how to balance chemical reactions and we will look at exothermic and endothermic reactions.  We’ll also look at the states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas and the transitions between them.

CLASS 8 – CHEMICAL CALCULATIONS – PART 1
We’ll discuss the mole and what it means as well as how to determine the molar mass of elements, molecules, and compounds.  We’ll talk about molar ratios as given by a chemical equation and how to convert between grams and moles.

CLASS 9 – CHEMICAL CALCULATIONS – PART 2
We’ll discuss limiting reactants, theoretical yield, and percent yield and see how to do calculations involving these.

CLASS 10 – THE GASEOUS STATE
We’ll discuss the kinetic-molecular theory of gases and see how to perform calculations using the gas laws.

CLASS 11 – INTERMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS
We’ll take a look at the interactions that occur between particles and see how they affect the properties of the materials that they comprise.  We’ll talk about electronegativity and its effect on intermolecular interactions.

CLASS 12 - SOLUTIONS AND SOLUBILITY
We'll discuss solutions and the factors that affect solubility and perform calculations using molarity.  We'll learn how to write a net ionic equation and identify the spectator ions.  

CLASS 13 – ACIDS AND BASES
We’ll discuss the definitions and properties of acids and bases and take a look at how these properties can be measured.  We'll distinguish between strong and weak acids and bases and discuss the importance of buffers and the purpose of a titration. 

CLASS 14 – CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM AND REACTION RATES
We’ll discuss the concept of chemical equilibrium and talk about the factors that affect the rate of a reaction.

CLASS 15 – OXIDATION AND REDUCTION
We’ll talk about oxidation and reduction reactions and how they can be used to provide electrical energy.

CLASS 16 - NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
We’ll discuss radioactivity and half-life as well as the applications of radioactive elements.