Chemistry

Prerequisites: Honors Life Science, Honors Earth Science, Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry

A core of material is studied in IB Chemistry SL. This is supplemented by the study of options. Eighty hours will focus on the core curriculum: stoichiometry, atomic theory, periodicity, bonding, states of matter, energetics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, oxidation and reductions, and organic chemistry. Another thirty hours will be spent on two of the following optional topic areas: medicine and drugs, human biochemistry, environmental chemistry, chemical industries or fuels and energy.

Forty hours will be devoted to the Internal Assessments (IA). There are eight different assessment criteria used to assess the investigations: planning (a), planning (b), data collection, data processing and presentation, conclusion and evaluation, manipulation skills, personal skills (a), and personal skills (b). Each candidate must be assessed at least twice on each of the eight criteria. The two marks for each criterion are added together to determine the final mark out of 48 for the IA component. This will then be scaled at IBCA to give a total of 24%. There is a Group 4 project that will take 10-15 hours. It allows students to appreciate the environment as well as the social and ethical implications of science. It may also help them understand the limitation of scientific study. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary cooperation and the process involved in scientific investigation rather than the products of such investigation. The exercise should be a collaborative experience where concepts and perceptions from across the group 4 disciplines are shared. The intention is that students analyze a topic or problem, which can be investigated in each of the science disciplines offered.