Our Curriculum › Science › 10th Grade
Chemistry
A year of high school chemistry: atomic structure, the periodic table, bonding, reactions, the mole and stoichiometry, gas laws, solutions, acids and bases, and thermochemistry. The core teaching fills roughly the first 80 days; the rest is review and applied projects.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
10 units
Each opens to its lessons
19 real-world projects
Plus 8 explainer projects
Standards
NGSS high school science
What's taught, unit by unit
Atoms & the periodic tableDays 1–20
Protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, how atomic models developed from Dalton to the electron cloud, electron configuration, the layout of the periodic table, periodic trends, valence electrons and the octet rule.
- 1 · Welcome to Chemistry: What Is Matter?
- 2 · The Atom: Structure and Subatomic Particles
- 3 · Atomic Number and Mass Number
- 4 · Isotopes
- 6 · Early Atomic Models: Dalton to Rutherford
- 7 · The Bohr Model and Electron Energy Levels
- 8 · The Modern Electron Cloud Model
- 9 · Electron Configuration Basics
- 11 · Introducing the Periodic Table
- 12 · Periods and Groups
- 13 · Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids
- 14 · Periodic Trend: Atomic Radius
- 16 · Periodic Trend: Ionization Energy
- 17 · Periodic Trend: Electronegativity
- 18 · Valence Electrons and Chemical Behavior
- 19 · The Octet Rule
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Bonding & naming compoundsDays 21–30
Ionic and covalent bonds, cations and anions, comparing the two kinds of compounds, naming ionic and covalent compounds, writing ionic formulas, and predicting molecular shape.
- 21 · Introducing Ionic Bonding
- 22 · Forming Ions: Cations and Anions
- 23 · Introducing Covalent Bonding
- 24 · Comparing Ionic and Covalent Compounds
- 26 · Naming Ionic Compounds
- 27 · Writing Ionic Compound Formulas
- 28 · Naming Covalent Compounds
- 29 · Introducing Molecular Geometry
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Reactions, the mole & stoichiometryDays 31–50
Signs of a reaction, conservation of mass, balancing equations, the five reaction types, then Avogadro's number, molar mass, mole-to-mole and mass-to-mass calculations, and finding the limiting reactant.
- 31 · Introducing Chemical Reactions
- 32 · Signs of a Chemical Reaction
- 33 · The Law of Conservation of Mass
- 34 · Balancing Chemical Equations
- 36 · Synthesis and Decomposition Reactions
- 37 · Single and Double Replacement Reactions
- 38 · Combustion Reactions
- 39 · Classifying and Predicting Reaction Types
- 41 · Introducing the Mole Concept
- 42 · Converting Between Moles and Particles
- 43 · Molar Mass
- 44 · Converting Between Moles and Grams
- 46 · Introducing Stoichiometry
- 47 · Mole-to-Mole Stoichiometry Calculations
- 48 · Mass-to-Mass Stoichiometry Calculations
- 49 · Identifying the Limiting Reactant
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
States of matter & gas lawsDays 51–60
Solids, liquids and gases, phase changes, heating and cooling curves, then Boyle's, Charles's, Gay-Lussac's and the combined gas law with real-world applications.
- 51 · The States of Matter
- 52 · Phase Changes
- 53 · Heating and Cooling Curves
- 54 · Introducing Gas Laws: Boyle's Law
- 56 · Charles's Law
- 57 · Gay-Lussac's Law
- 58 · The Combined Gas Law
- 59 · Real-World Applications of Gas Laws
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Solutions, acids & basesDays 61–70
Solutions, solubility and what affects it, molarity calculations, then acids and bases, the pH scale, how to identify them by their properties, and neutralization reactions.
- 61 · Introducing Solutions
- 62 · Solubility and Saturation
- 63 · Factors Affecting Solubility
- 64 · Calculating Concentration: Molarity
- 66 · Introducing Acids and Bases
- 67 · The pH Scale and Its Chemical Mechanism
- 68 · Identifying Acids and Bases by Properties
- 69 · Introducing Neutralization Reactions
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
ThermochemistryDays 71–80
Exothermic and endothermic reactions, reading energy diagrams, conservation of energy, specific heat calculations, and everyday examples. Day 79 starts a first capstone synthesis.
- 71 · Introducing Thermochemistry
- 72 · Exothermic Reactions
- 73 · Endothermic Reactions
- 74 · Reading Energy Diagrams
- 76 · The Law of Conservation of Energy
- 77 · Specific Heat and Heat Calculations
- 78 · Applying Thermochemistry to Everyday Phenomena
- 79 · Synthesizing a Chemistry Capstone Project
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Cumulative reviewDays 81–90
Review of each unit in turn, a mixed practice set, and a lesson on common misconceptions. No new chemistry; the course's main teaching ends before this point.
- 81 · Cumulative Review: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
- 82 · Cumulative Review: Bonding and Nomenclature
- 83 · Cumulative Review: Reactions and Stoichiometry
- 84 · Cumulative Review: States of Matter and Gas Laws
- 86 · Cumulative Review: Solutions and Acids/Bases
- 87 · Cumulative Review: Thermochemistry
- 88 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Chemistry Review Set
- 89 · Reviewing Common Chemistry Misconceptions
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Applied & explainer projectsDays 91–120
Short projects applying chemistry to recipes, household products, news stories, the environment, medicine, farming, energy, sports, space and forensics, plus explainers on bonding, stoichiometry, gas laws and acids, mixed with reviews.
- 91 · Explainer Project: Teaching Ionic and Covalent Bonding
- 92 · Explainer Project: Teaching Stoichiometry
- 93 · Applied Project: Analyzing a Recipe's Chemistry
- 94 · Applied Project: Evaluating a Household Chemistry Product
- 96 · Explainer Project: Teaching Gas Laws
- 97 · Applied Project: Evaluating a Chemistry News Story
- 98 · Applied Project: Creating a Chemistry Terms Glossary
- 99 · Completing a Final Applied Chemistry Project of Your Choice
- 101 · Applied Project: Chemistry in the Environment
- 102 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Medicine
- 103 · Explainer Project: Teaching Acids and Bases
- 104 · Practicing a Mixed Review Set: Bonding, Reactions, Gas Laws, and Thermochemistry
- 106 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Agriculture
- 107 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Energy Production
- 108 · Reviewing Common Chemistry Calculation Errors
- 109 · Timed Practice Chemistry Assessment
- 111 · Reviewing Common Chemistry Misconceptions: Atoms, Acid Strength, and Energy
- 112 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Sports Science
- 113 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Space Exploration
- 114 · Cumulative Review: A Year of Chemistry (Part 1)
- 116 · Cumulative Review: A Year of Chemistry (Part 2)
- 117 · Reflecting on a Year of Chemistry Thinking
- 118 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Forensics
- 119 · Bridging to Physics: Energy and Motion Connections
Plus 6 review days, not listed.
Capstone projectDays 121–130
A two-week project connecting chemistry to a real-world field: choose a topic, research its chemical foundations, solve applied problems, make diagrams, write it up, and present it to family.
- 121 · Beginning the Capstone: Choosing a Chemistry-in-the-World Topic
- 122 · Researching the Capstone’s Chemical Foundations
- 123 · Solving Applied Problems for the Capstone
- 124 · Creating Diagrams for the Capstone
- 126 · Writing Up the Capstone’s Explanation
- 127 · Completing the Capstone Project
- 128 · Preparing to Present the Capstone
- 129 · Presenting the Capstone Project
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Final review, practice & celebrationDays 131–180
Cumulative reviews, timed practice assessments, error-checking lessons, more applied projects (textiles, water treatment, batteries, fireworks, metals, recycling), a final presentation and celebration days. Almost all review.
- 131 · Cumulative Review: Atoms and Bonding
- 132 · Cumulative Review: Reactions and Calculations
- 133 · Explainer Project: Teaching Thermochemistry
- 134 · Reviewing Common Errors in Stoichiometry
- 136 · Timed Practice Assessment: Atoms and Bonding
- 137 · Timed Practice Assessment: Reactions and Calculations
- 138 · Reflection: How Your Chemistry Thinking Has Grown
- 139 · Preparing a Final Chemistry Reference Guide
- 141 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Textiles
- 142 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Water Treatment
- 143 · Explainer Project: Teaching the Mole Concept
- 144 · Practicing a Mixed Review Set: One Problem from Each Unit
- 146 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Cosmetics
- 147 · Reviewing Common Errors in Gas Law Calculations
- 148 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Chemistry Review Set 2
- 149 · Timed Practice Assessment: Solutions and Thermochemistry
- 151 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Food Preservation
- 152 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Batteries
- 153 · Explainer Project: Teaching Balancing Chemical Equations
- 154 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Chemistry Review Set 3
- 156 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Fireworks
- 157 · Reviewing Common Errors in Nomenclature
- 158 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Chemistry Review Set 4
- 159 · Timed Practice Assessment: A Full-Year Mixed Set
- 161 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Metallurgy
- 162 · Applied Project: Chemistry in Recycling
- 163 · Explainer Project: Teaching Neutralization Reactions
- 164 · Full-Year Chemistry Cumulative Review, Part 1: Atomic Structure and Bonding
- 166 · Full-Year Chemistry Cumulative Review, Part 2: Reactions and Stoichiometry
- 167 · Full-Year Chemistry Cumulative Review, Part 3: States of Matter, Solutions, and Thermochemistry
- 168 · Timed Practice Assessment: The Comprehensive Final
- 169 · Full-Year Chemistry Growth Reflection
- 171 · Final Review: Atomic Structure, Bonding, and Reactions
- 172 · Final Review: Stoichiometry, Gas Laws, and Thermochemistry
- 173 · Preparing Your Year-End Chemistry Presentation
- 174 · Delivering Your Year-End Chemistry Presentation
- 175 · Celebration Day: Reflecting on a Year of Chemistry!
- 176 · Celebration Day: A Favorite Reaction Challenge
- 177 · Celebration Day: Chemistry All Around You
- 178 · Looking Ahead: Forces, Motion, and Momentum in Physics
- 179 · Final Reflection: A Challenge, a Turning Point, and a Favorite Moment
- 180 · Congratulations! You Completed Chemistry!
Plus 8 review days, not listed.
By the end of the year, your child can
- Use the periodic table to predict an element's behavior and how it bonds
- Name compounds and write and balance chemical equations
- Convert between moles, grams and particles and solve stoichiometry problems
- Use the gas laws and molarity to solve problems
- Explain acids, bases and heat changes in reactions with examples
Other 10th Grade subjects: Geometry · English 10: Literature · English 10: Composition & Grammar · US History