SCIENCE EDUCATION Secondary Chemistry ChemCom Standards Web Page

Souderton Area School District

Souderton, PA 18964

Science Education Standards

Souderton Area School District

Science Education Standards - 1999

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts and principles of biological sciences.

2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts and principles of chemistry.

3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts and principles of physics.

4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts and principles of Earth sciences.

5. Students relate how human ingenuity and resources combine to meet human needs and wants through technology.

6. Students master and apply technological advances.

7. Students use, master and apply inquiry, including the scientific method and problem solving in technology.

8. Students construct and evaluate scientific and technological system approaches to explain or predict results.

9. Students explain the interrelationships among science, technology and other human endeavors.
 

The knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making.
 

 
 

Consist of three major components
 
 

Inquiry

Application

Knowledge

INQUIRY

• Investigate and analyze science questions
• Using multiple process skills--(Observing, classifying, space/time relations, using numbers, measuring, inferring, predicting)
• manipulation, cognitive, procedural - integrated process skills (defining operationally, formulating models, controlling variables, interpreting data, hypothesizing, and experimenting)
• Using evidence and strategies for developing or revising an explanation
• Science as argument and explanation
• Communicating science explanations
• Groups of students often analyzing and synthesizing data after defending conclusions
• Doing investigations in order to develop understanding, ability, values of inquiry and knowledge of science content
• Applying the results of experiments to scientific arguments and explanations
• Management of ideas and information
• Public communication of student ideas and work to classmates

APPLICATIONS

Science and Technology

• Abilities of technological design
• Understandings about science and technology

The relationship between science and technology is so close that any presentation of science without developing an understanding of technology would portray an inaccurate picture of science.
 
 

History and Nature of Science
 
 

• Science as a human endeavor
• Nature of scientific knowledge
• Historical perspectives

 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

• Personal and community health
• Population growth
• Natural resources
• Environmental quality
• Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Assessment Standards

• The assessment standards provide criteria against which to judge the quality of assessment practices.

Knowledge

• The atom's nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons, which are much more massive than electrons.
• When an element has atoms that differ in the number of neutrons, these atoms are called different isotopes of the element.
• The nuclear forces that hold the nucleus of an atom together, at nuclear distances, are usually stronger than the electric forces that would make it fly apart.
• Nuclear reactions convert a fraction of the mass of interacting particles into energy, and they can release much greater amounts of energy than atomic interactions.
• Radioactive isotopes are unstable and undergo spontaneous nuclear reactions, emitting particles and/or wavelike radiation.
• The decay of any one nucleus cannot be predicted, but a large group of identical nuclei decay at a predictable rate. This predictability can be used to estimate the age of materials that contain radioactive isotopes.
• Fission is the splitting of a large nucleus into smaller pieces.
• Fusion is the joining of two nuclei at extremely high temperature and pressure, and is the process responsible for the energy of the sun and other stars.
   
   
   

NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

 Nuclear Chemistry Unit

• You will begin to realize that many scientific/technological aspects involve the question of risks versus benefits.
• You will be able to use a survey to learn more about nuclear-related phenomena.
• You will be able to distinguish between ionizing and non ionizing radiation and their biological effects.
• You will be able to discuss general properties of electromagnetic radiation, and specific properties of various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• You will be able to describe the experiments of Roentgen, Becquerel, the Curies, and Rutherford, and explain how they led to modifications in the atomic modes.
• You will be able to describe the properties and locations of the three major subatomic particles.
• You will be able to define the term isotope, and interpret nuclear isotope notation.
• You will be able to use molar masses and isotopic abundance data to calculate average mass and relative abundance of elements.
• To assess your knowledge of the lesson.
• You will be able to give examples of how nuclear power was discovered.
• You will be able to give examples of how nuclear power was discovered.
• You will be able to compare and contrast the general properties of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.
• You will be able to balance nuclear equations and use them to describe natural radioactive decay.
• You will be able to explain the concept of half-life.
• You will be able to describe radiation detectors and their operating principles.
• You will be able to define nuclear transmutation using a nuclear equation to illustrate the process.
• You will be able to describe the nuclear fission process.
• You will be able to describe and give an example of a nuclear chain reaction.
• You will be able to describe the need for a critical mass in order for nuclear fission to occur.
• You will be able to identify the main components of a nuclear power plant and describe their functions.
• You will be able to describe the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
• To assess your knowledge of the lesson.
• You will be able to discuss some of the problems that my occur at nuclear power plants.
• You will be able to assess relative risks and benefits of various nuclear technologies such as power generation, medical application, industrial tracing techniques.
• You will be able to compare the ionizing radiation produced by various sources, including radon, that are encountered by a typical United States citizens.
• You will be able to assess relative risks and benefits of nuclear medical application.
• You will be able to identify several misconceptions that they had about nuclear technology.

Joseph F. Zisk