THREE “BIG IDEAS” IN CHEMISTY 103:

I. Atomic, ionic and molecular structure:

How do we describe these (energy, shape, bonding, etc.) at the particle scale?

Can you: draw and calculate the effects of energy on matter?

represent atomic structure using symbols?

make particle scale drawings of ions in solids and solutions?

make drawings that show 3D structure of molecules?

How do they determine physical properties of substances (elements or compounds)?

periodic trends in atomic structure affect reactivity of elements

different ion charges and radii contribute to properties of ionic compounds

bonding within covalent molecules lead to changes in reactivity

3D structures of molecules affect attractive forces (IMF) between molecules

QUESTION: IN OTHER WORDS, HOW DOES PARTICLE-SCALE STRUCTURE DETERMINE MACROSCALE PROPERTIES OF MATTER?

ANSWER: BY ENERGY INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PARTICLES WITH CHARGE. (this might be between electrons & protons, cations & anions, or partial charges of net dipoles on polar covalent molecules, or some combination of these) HOWEVER, THE KEY IS: LOWER ENERGY = MORE STABLE)

II. Structure predicts chemical reactivity; but what can we do with this understanding?

Can you: write, complete, predict products, and balance chemical equations?

use these equations to make quantitative predictions – i.e. stoichiometry?

along the way, can you convert between different units & manner of expressing amounts of substances (moles, atoms, mass, volume, etc.?)

and can you do report quantitative results using proper significant figures, appropriate use of scientific notation, SI units, and labels?

III. How is science done? in other words, by what process are models like those above created? and how do observations (either historic or observations from your labs) support those models?