SCH4U – GRADE 12 CHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY PREPARATION
CULMINATING ACTIVITY
Last Day to Submit: January 13, 2014
Worth: 10% of Final Mark
Note: Final Exam Date is January 20, 2014
Description: The purpose of this culminating activity is for you to examine chemistry as it relates to technology, society, and the environment. The impact of chemistry is far reaching and can have huge impacts (both positive and negative) around the world. This is your opportunity to delve into an area of chemistry that interests YOU.
Task:
· Select TWO (2) of the expectations below, they must be from different units.
· Write an essay on each topic.
· Each easy must be between 750 and 1,000 words
· Essays must be submitted either in person (hard copy) or via e-mail
· Times New Roman Font, Size 12, 1 inch margins
· Include diagrams, etc. where necessary
· If you would like to present you findings any way other than an essay, talk to me beforehand
Notes:
· Seriously: NO HAND WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED
· Spelling and grammar will be included in the final mark
· No late assignments will be accepted, I do not have time to mark anything that is submitted late, I will, however, welcome assignments submitted to me earlier then the deadline
· Correct bibliographies with properly cited references must be used
· Please don’t submit something with a whole bunch of chemistry that I know you don’t understand and then expect me to be impressed – I won’t be, even it if it is sourced. Write it in your own words – you must be able to explain what you have written if I ask it of you.
· PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOTLERATED!!! (you will get a zero)
Important Dates:
Monday, December 2, 2013 – Topic Selection Date
· Students must have selected their topics by this date
Wednesday, December 18, 2013 – Progress Check (5% of mark)
· Final date of the school year; students must show me any preliminary research you have done and/or where you are in the assignment; also, this is the time to address any concerns or problems you have run in to while conducting your research or planning your essays.
Wednesday, January 13, 2014 – Final Date to Submit Assignment
· Assignments will be accepted up to and including this day, any assignments that are not received on this date will result in a mark of zero (0%) being assigned (i.e. your overall mark will drop by 10%)
Topics:
Unit 1 – Organic Chemistry
1. Assess the impact on human health, society, and the environment of organic compounds used in everyday life (e.g., polymers, nutritional supplements, food additives, pharmaceuticals, pesticides – pick ONE organic compound that you find interesting, you cannot do the same one you did for the organic molecules assignment)
2. Propose a personal course of action to reduce the use of compounds that are harmful to human health and the environment (e.g. wee lawns by hand rather than using herbicides, use cloth bags for shopping to reduce the number of plastic bags in landfill sites, choose fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicles to reduce fossil fuel emissions)
Unit 2 – Structure and Properties
1. Assess the benefits to society of technologies that are based on the principles of atomic and molecular structures (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], infrared spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, nuclear energy, medical applications of spectroscopy and mass spectrometry)
2. Evaluate the benefits to society, and the impact of the environment, of specialize materials that have been created on the basis of scientific research into the structure of matter and chemical bonding (e.g., bulletproof fabric, nanotechnology, superconductors, instant adhesives)
Unit 3 – Energy Changes and Rates of Reaction
1. Analyse some conventional and alternative energy technologies (e.g., fossil fuels-burningg power plants, hydro-powered generators, solar panels, wind turbines, fuel cells), and evaluate them in terms of their efficiency and impact on the environment
2. Analyse the conditions (e.g. temperature, pressure, presence of a catalyst) required to maximize the efficiency of some common natural or industrial chemical reactions (e.g., decomposition, combustion, neutralization), and explain how the improved efficiency of the reaction contributes to environmental sustainability
Unit 4 – Chemical Systems and Equilbrium
1. Analyse the optimal conditions for a specific chemical process related to the principles of equilibrium that takes place in nature or is used in industry (e.g., the production of sulphuric acid, electrolyte balance in the human body, sedimentation in water system)
2. Assess the impact of chemical equilibrium processes on various biological, biochemical, and technological systems (e.g., remediation in areas of heavy metal contamination, development o gallstones, use of buffering in medications, use of barium sulfate in medical diagnosis)
Unit 5 – Electrochemistry
1. Asses, on the basis of research, the viability of using electrochemical technologies as alternative sources of energy (e.g. fuel cells for emergency power generation or as power sources in remote locations), and explain their potential impact on society and the environment
2. Analyse health and safety issues involving electrochemistry (e.g., corrosion of metal pipes in drinking water systems)