Ontario Grade 11 SCH3U Chemistry (Grade 11, University Preparation)
Chapters: 6
1. A. Scientific Investigation Skills and Career Exploration
A1 Scientific Investigation Skills · A2 Career Exploration
- The Scientific Method – The scientific method is the careful way scientists find out how the world works. Observe something, ask a testable question, make a hypothesis (a clear, testable guess), test it with a fair experiment (change one variable, measure one, keep the rest the same), repeat and record data, analyse it, draw a conclusion and share it so others can check. Results that fail the test are useful too: they send you back to a new hypothesis.
2. B. Matter, Chemical Trends, and Chemical Bonding
B1 Relating Science to Technology, Society, and the Environment · B2 Developing Skills of Investigation and Communication · B3 Understanding Basic Concepts
- Chemical Bonding: Ionic, Covalent and Metallic Bonds – Atoms join together (bond) to become more stable. Only their outer electrons take part. Most atoms are most stable with 8 outer electrons: the octet rule. There are three main ways to reach it. In an ionic bond, a metal gives electrons to a non-metal, making oppositely charged ions that attract. In a covalent bond, two non-metals share pairs of electrons to make molecules. In a metallic bond, metal atoms release outer electrons into a shared 'sea' that holds positive ions together. The difference in electronegativity (how strongly an atom pulls shared electrons) tells us which kind of bond forms. The type of bond explains melting points, whether a substance conducts electricity, and whether it dissolves in water.
- Kossel-Lewis Approach and the Ionic Bond – Atoms join so that each gets a stable outer shell of 8 electrons (an octet), like a noble gas. Kossel said atoms can give or take electrons to make ions (ionic bond). Lewis said atoms can also share pairs of electrons (covalent bond). Lewis structures show these electrons as dots and lines. Formal charge (V − L − B/2) helps pick the best Lewis structure. Ions pack into a crystal, and the energy released is linked to the lattice enthalpy.
3. C. Chemical Reactions
C1 Relating Science to Technology, Society, and the Environment · C2 Developing Skills of Investigation and Communication · C3 Understanding Basic Concepts
- Types of Chemical Reactions – Most reactions fit a few patterns. Combination: A + B → AB. Decomposition: AB → A + B. Displacement: A + BC → AC + B, where the more reactive A pushes out B. Double displacement: AB + CD → AD + CB, where partners swap; if an insoluble solid forms it is a precipitation reaction. Reactions that give out heat are exothermic; those that take in heat are endothermic.
4. D. Quantities in Chemical Reactions
D1 Relating Science to Technology, Society, and the Environment · D2 Developing Skills of Investigation and Communication · D3 Understanding Basic Concepts
- Mole Concept, Molar Mass and Chemical Formulas – Atoms are far too small to count one by one, so chemists count them by weighing. Atomic masses are given in u, where 1 u is one-twelfth the mass of a carbon-12 atom. One mole is 6.022 × 10²³ particles, and its mass in grams equals the formula mass in u. With moles we can find the percentage of each element in a compound, and work back from percentages to the empirical and molecular formulas.
5. E. Solutions and Solubility
E1 Relating Science to Technology, Society, and the Environment · E2 Developing Skills of Investigation and Communication · E3 Understanding Basic Concepts
- Solutions: Types, Concentration and Henry's Law – A solution is an even mix of two or more substances. The part in bigger amount is the solvent, the smaller part is the solute. We tell 'how strong' a solution is with concentration terms: mass %, volume %, ppm, mole fraction, molarity (per litre of solution) and molality (per kg of solvent). Solids usually dissolve more when hot. Gases dissolve more when their pressure is high (Henry's law, p = KH·x) and less when it is hot.
6. F. Gases and Atmospheric Chemistry
F1 Relating Science to Technology, Society, and the Environment · F2 Developing Skills of Investigation and Communication · F3 Understanding Basic Concepts
- Perfect Gas Equation PV = nRT and Work in Compressing a Gas – A gas is made of countless tiny molecules flying about. Their hits on the walls make pressure. For a low-density gas, three simple laws hold: at fixed temperature, P × V stays constant (Boyle); at fixed pressure, V grows in step with kelvin temperature (Charles); at the same P and T, equal volumes hold equal numbers of molecules (Avogadro). Put together they give the perfect gas equation PV = nRT = N k T. One mole holds Avogadro's number, 6.022 × 10²³, of particles. Pushing a piston in does work on the gas; the work equals the area under the P–V graph, and at fixed temperature W = nRT ln(V₁/V₂).