Honors Chemistry

Description:

Current for 2026–27

This advanced high school chemistry course combines up-to-date science with a Christian worldview and an educational approach that aims for wonder, integration, and mastery to prepare students for college freshman chemistry. Meeting Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, this course will include both lab and lecture/discussion components. This course requires daily dedication. Students should anticipate an hour per day of study to fully master the material, and regular homework assignments need to be completed promptly.

Skills-Focused Core and Topics

A strong emphasis is placed on spiraling skills and developing a deep understanding of foundations in chemistry. The following topics will be explored in greater depth with extended problem-solving, conceptual analysis and corresponding laboratory work.

Students in Honors Chemistry gain a strong foundation in the following:

• The History of the Periodic Table— the wonder around the discovery of the elements of the periodic table and their discovery,
• Atomic structure— the structure of atom and how subatomic particles relate to one another
• Periodicity and Bonding— the patterns of the periodic table and how elements interact with one another,
• Stoichiometry— acquire an in-depth understanding of stoichiometric relationships and their mathematical applications,
• Gas laws— how to mathematically represent the behavior of gases,
• Thermochemistry— how to calculate energy relationships in chemical reactions,
• Solutions— how to predict the outcomes of chemical reactions,
• Acids and Bases— calculating the relationship between the properties of acid and bases and their compositions

Students will engage in multi-step problem solving, modeling, and technical writing to gain both conceptual understanding and fluency with the language of chemistry.

Laboratory Component

Laboratory work is an important part of this course and will be used to enhance understanding of concepts and develop skills used in the chemistry laboratory.

Students will learn to do the following:

• Make appropriate equipment choices
• Measure reagents accurately
• Collect accurate measurements and record data with appropriate precision
• Collect, analyze and interpret data
• Maintain safety within the lab setting
• Calculate and analyze sources of error in experimentation
• Write formal lab reports that clearly communicate methods, analysis and conclusions

Emphasis is placed on accuracy of data collection through appropriate equipment use and communication of meaning of findings and the purpose behind their data and concepts connected to those data.

Students should plan to average 4-5 hours of homework each week for this honors Chemistry Course.

Optional AP Preparation Track

Students who wish to prepare for the AP Chemistry exam may opt for an additional, optional, AP-aligned homework supplement. This material is for motivated students who wish to take the AP Chemistry Exam. It will include recommended assignments (aside from the regular class assignments) consisting of AP-style multiple-choice and free-response questions. While class instruction will focus on conceptual understanding through the Honors curriculum, AP students will need consistent exposure to problems that focus on nuanced analysis. This will help them develop the accuracy, speed, and familiarity of format needed to finish the timed exam. Students should expect an additional time commitment of approximately 3–5 hours per week (for a total of 7 to 10 hours of homework per week average for the course). This supplement is optional and not required for success in the Honors course.

For materials, students in the AP track can supplement with a subscription to CK-12 and videos found on Khan Academy. Details will be sent out at a later date.

Corequisite: Chemistry students must be concurrently enrolled in Algebra 2 or higher math and must enroll in both the Lab and Lecture components of the Honors Chemistry course.

Prerequisites: Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, prior enrollment in BHSC/Novare Physical Science and/or ASPC (or equivalent) is required. For students who have not previously taken Accelerated Studies in Physics and Chemistry (ASPC), summer study is highly recommended. Enrollment requires teacher approval or successful completion of the placement exam.