Understanding SCH3U: Key Concepts for Grade 12 Chemistry

 

Grade 12 Chemistry or SCH3U is a core component of our University Preparation Program at USCA Academy. This 1.0 credit course aligns with the Science, Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12, 2008 (Revised).

While we have developed and offered our own unique curriculum since 2019, our SCH3U course continues to effectively assist international students in completing the necessary prerequisites for admission to North American universities and colleges. Our flexible and focused program’s goal is to help international students who are seeking a fast-track pathway to university.

How USCA Academy can help your child prepare for university

Our University Preparation Program welcomes international students looking to complete their high school education in Canada. If you are moving to Canada and your child has completed Grade 12 but still needs more course credits, we can help. At USCA Academy, we have a one-year university prep program to ensure your child has all the credits from essential courses, including SCH3U.

We have four student intakes every academic year, so your child can start our University Preparation Program when it’s most convenient. Our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process allows us to evaluate your child's previous high school coursework even if it was completed outside of Canada. This means we can potentially award Ontario high school credits for their prior studies, regardless of the educational system they followed.

A Closer Look at Grade 11 Chemistry

Grade 11 Chemistry is one of the essential chemistry subjects for high school students in Ontario. This course explores the properties of chemical bonds and chemicals. It delves into the nature of chemical reactions and their quantitative relationships, the behaviour of gasses and their role in atmospheric processes, and the properties of solutions and the solubility of various substances.

Through SCH3U, your child can hone their analytical skills by investigating the quantitative and qualitative properties of matter. Plus, they can understand how common chemical reactions can impact the environment and society. Overall, Grade 11 chemistry builds a solid foundation for Grade 12 chemistry (SCH4U).

Building Blocks for Grade 12 Chemistry

SCH3U introduces the key concepts necessary to understand chemical properties and bonds. At USCA Academy, our comprehensive curriculum is designed to equip your child with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in Grade 11 Chemistry and prepare for future chemistry courses.

As your child progresses through the course, we expect them to develop the following competencies:

Scientific investigation skills and career exploration

Grade 11 chemistry emphasizes the importance of scientific investigation skills relevant to research and inquiry. Students will learn how to initiate and plan experiments, perform and record experiments accurately, analyze and interpret data using statistical methods, and communicate findings effectively through written reports, presentations, and scientific posters.

Additionally, students will learn about various scientific professions and gain insights into the skills and knowledge required for success in these fields.

Matter, Chemical Bonding, and Chemical Trends

SCH3U will teach your child to analyze the properties of common chemical substances and their impact on the environment and human health. Your child will learn to investigate the chemical and physical properties of compounds and elements and apply various ways to visually represent them. They will also learn about periodic trends, such as how elements change in size, reactivity, and other properties as you move across a row or down a column. The course will likewise explore chemical bonds.

Chemical reactions

One of the important things your child will learn in Grade 11 Chemistry is how to analyze chemical reactions in various applications. Moreover, they will learn to assess the impact of these reactions on the environment and society. While investigating various chemical reactions, your child can understand them more effectively.

Quantities in Chemical Reactions

Chemical processes are prevalent in various settings, including the home, environmental sector, and workplace. SCH3U teaches learners how to analyze these processes and the chemical calculations and quantities involved.

In Grade 11 Chemistry, your child will learn how crucial quantitative accuracy is in industrial chemical processes. They will investigate chemical reactions and their quantitative relationships, solve relevant problems, and develop an understanding of the mole concept and its impact on the quantitative analysis of chemical reactions.

Solutions and solubility

Grade 11 Chemistry will delve into the causes and consequences of water pollution. During this course, students will investigate the chemical properties of water solutions and explore the environmental, economic, and social impacts of contaminated drinking water. This will help them develop a strong foundation in the quantitative and qualitative aspects of solutions.

Gasses and atmospheric chemistry

In SCH3U, we'll explore the relationship between gasses, atmospheric chemistry, and human activities. Students will learn about how technology and human behaviours have contributed to air pollution. We'll also discuss Canadian efforts to reduce air pollution and explore ways students can minimize their own carbon footprint. To deepen their understanding of gas laws, students will investigate the behaviour of gasses and solve related problems.

Outline of our course content

SCH3U builds on the knowledge of elements and atoms so your child can confidently explore the subatomic properties of the elements. Moreover, it delves into the mechanisms where a limited number of elements merge to become various stable compounds.

Here’s a quick outline of our course content for SCH3U:

Quantitative Chemistry

Once students know the nature of covalent bonding, they can apply carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds to create conceptual models of combustion and other chemical reactions. Ultimately, your child will learn to apply quantitative chemistry to various inorganic and organic contexts.

The Gaseous Physical State

Our chemistry teachers will help your child develop a solid understanding of molar ratios. These calculations are crucial in solving various problems impacting the gaseous state. Additionally, this unit introduces your child to the concepts of kinetic molecular theory and pressure. Independent work is included to encourage students to look into environmental and technological considerations.

Stoichiometry and the Importance of Balance

Once we set the foundations for bonding, kinetic molecular theory, and quantitative chemistry, your child is ready to investigate problems on solubility, solutions, and pH’s electronic basis. They will classify and describe the reactions and the solubility of polyatomic salts. From there, we will talk about the activity series of metals. This ties back to our initial discussion on periodic table trends.

Final evaluation

The final assessment for this course is a three-hour exam. It will make up 30% of your child's final grade.

Complete chemistry units at USCA Academy

Contact us today to learn more about our University Preparation Program and how SCH3U can prepare your child for Grade 12 Chemistry. Email info@uscaacademy.com or call (905) 232-0411.

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