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James Tarpo Jr. and Margaret Tarpo
Department of Chemistry

Lessons for High School Chemistry

 

Lab Safety for Middle School and High School

Understanding Lab Safety STEM Certificate

Start the school year safely by assigning the Lab Safety STEM Certificate! Designed for middle and high school students, each video introduces essential lab procedures and safety guidelines, including how to properly use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), expected student behavior in the science lab, and emergency equipment like the eyewash station, safety shower, and fume hood. Students will also review best practices for handling glassware and using key lab tools such as balances, microscopes, and various types of glassware. Perfect for a back-to-school science safety review! Click here to go to the Understanding Lab Safety STEM Certificate page 

 

Lewis Structures

Lewis Structures Website

This website is a wealth of resources created by Dr. Hannah Starr and Dr. Jeffrey Turkstra, along with their students. With background information about electron configurations, formal charge, resonance, rules for drawing Lewis Structures, exceptions to those rules, and molecular geometries, students can master these topics and test their knowledge with a series of quizzes where they will receive instant feedback. Supporting videos, hosted by Superheroes of Science, provide students with a walk through of topics and examples. 

  • Application to Next Generation Science Standards
    • HS-PS1-1: Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms. 
      • Lewis structures represent valence electrons and help predict bonding and molecular structure.
    • HS-PS1-2: Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of chemical properties.
      • Lewis structures help determine how atoms bond and form molecules.
    • HS-PS1-3: Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the atomic level to infer strength of electrical forces between particles.
      • Molecular geometry affects intermolecular forces, ploarity, and physical properties.
    • HS-PS2-6: Communicate scientific and technical information about why the molecular-level structure is important in the functioning of designed materials.
      • Molecular geometry influences polarity, which affects solubility, reactivity, and material properties.

 

Organic Nomenclature 

Bodies as Carbons (PDF)

This activity is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of organic nomenclature.  

(Indiana Academic Standards for Chemistry (2016): C.3.3; C.3.6)

 

Bonding Classification

This activity is designed to teach students about molecular structures in crystalline solids and use the physical properties of these solids to determine bond strength.

(Indiana Academic Standards for Chemistry (2016): C.3.3)

 

Reaction Task Cards

This activity is designed to help students learn to write, predict products, balance, and classify a variety of chemical reactions.

(Indiana Academic Standards for Chemistry (2016): C.4.1; C.4.2)