Course Profile - Curriculum Services Canada

SIS.01 - demonstrate an understanding of safe laboratory practices by selecting and applying appropriate
techniques for handling, storing, and disposing of laboratory materials, and using appropriate personal
protection;
SIS.02 - select appropriate instruments and use them effectively and accurately in collecting observations
and data;
SIS.03 - demonstrate the skills required to plan and carry out investigations using laboratory equipment
safely, effectively, and accurately;
SIS.09 - select and use appropriate SI units.
Prior Knowledge & Skills
• Properties of acids and bases
• Bronsted-Lowry and Arrhenius definitions of acids and bases
• The difference between strong and weak acids and bases in terms of degree of dissociation
• The operational definition of pH
• Writing equations for dissociation of acids and bases
• Basic titration skills
Planning Notes
• Gather and prepare materials for the following Activities: 1.4.1 – solutions of strong and weak acids
and bases, pH meters/probes/paper; 1.4.3 – a number of salts, distilled water and pH
meters/probes/paper and a fill-in-the blank worksheet; 1.4.5 – concentrated acid and base solutions,
pH meters/probes/paper, indicators and titration apparatus; 1.6 – End-of-Unit Task solutions of
Ca(OH) 2 and Ca(OH) 2 with dissolved calcium salt.
• Prepare a rubric to assess the Abstract and Discussion sections of a senior-level formal lab report.
Some suggested criterion statements are provided in the Appendix.
• Prepare a peer-assessment checklist for titration skills for use in Act 1.4.5.
• Gather and prepare questions (and solutions) that incorporate practical applications and career
components for the following Activities: 1.4.2, 1.4.3, and 1.4.6.
• Take proper safety precautions when using concentrated stock solutions.
• Follow all board regulations for the safe handling and disposal of chemicals.
Teacher/Learning Strategies
1.4.1 Student Activity: Students could generate their own notes to distinguish between strong and weak
acids and bases using the concept of equilibrium. Through a teacher-directed lesson, they are introduced
to the equilibrium constants K a , and K b and K w .
Teacher Facilitation: Based on the results of the diagnostic quiz in Act 1.1.2, the teacher uses students’
prior knowledge to explain how dissociation constants are a measure of the relative strength of weak
acids and bases. The teacher may wish to do a demonstration as a visual aid using pH
meters/probes/paper and a variety of solutions of acids and bases to compare strong and weak acids and
bases using the concept of equilibrium. This leads to a discussion on equilibrium constants. Remind
students that they worked with equilibrium constants in Act 1.1.9 and that the acid/base/water
dissociation constants are set up the same way.
1.4.2 Student Activity. Students solve problems calculating pH, [H 3 O + ], pOH, [OH-], K a , K b , and K w .
Teacher Facilitation: Direct a lesson to provide sample questions and solutions for problems calculating
pH, [H 3 O + ], pOH, [OH - ], K a , K b , and K w . Post answers for the problem set and provide students with an
opportunity to ask questions pertaining to the problems. Suggest that experiments to determine
equilibrium constants, K b , K a for weak acids and bases at various temperatures would be a
straightforward Final Assessment Task project.
Unit 1 - Page 12
• Chemistry – University Preparation