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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Toxicology and living systems

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=429

A lesson plan for grades 9–11 Science

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science


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In this lesson, students are introduced to the way toxic chemicals affect biological systems. This lesson is part of a three-part series on toxicology, the scientific study of poisons and their affect on biological systems. Students evaluate how safeguarding public health and the quality of the environment depends on identifying the effects of chemicals found in everyday items and the levels of exposure at which they may become hazardous. Through a collaborative discussion guided by specific questions, students should develop an understanding that all chemicals and substances can be toxic. Science NetLinks provides links to the two lessons that follow this activity, student E-sheets, handouts and teachers’ notes. The lesson plan also provides a link to the website for the Society of Toxicology.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 9–12 — AP Chemistry

  • Goal 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry.
    • Objective 1.01: Design, conduct and analyze investigations to answer questions related to chemistry:
      • Identify questions and suggest hypotheses.
      • Identify variables.
      • Use a control when appropriate.
      • Select and use appropriate measurement tools.
      • Collect and organize data in tables, charts and graphs.
      • Analyze and interpret data.
      • Explain observations.
      • Make inferences and predictions.
      • Explain the relationship between evidence and explanation.
      • Identify how scientists share findings.
    • Objective 1.02: Analyze reports of scientific investigations.
      • Appropriate sample.
      • Adequacy of experimental controls.
      • Replication of findings.
      • Consideration of alternative interpretations of the data.
    • Objective 1.03: Analyze experimental designs with regard to safety.
      • Identify potential safety hazards given a scenario.
      • Differentiate between safe and unsafe procedures.
      • Use information from the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) to assess chemical hazards.
  • Goal 4: The learner will develop an understanding of chemical reactions.
    • Objective 4.01: Analyze the various types of common chemical reactions
      • Acid-base reactions; concepts of Arrhenius, Brönsted-Lowry, and Lewis;
      • Coordination complexes; amphoterism.
      • Precipitation reactions.
      • Oxidation-reduction reactions.
        • Oxidation number.
        • The role of the electron in oxidation-reduction.
        • Electrochemistry: electrolytic and galvanic cells; Faraday's laws; standard half-cell potentials; Nernst equation; prediction of the direction of redox reactions.
    • Objective 4.05: Analyze chemical thermodynamics
      • State functions.
      • First law: change in enthalpy; heat of formation; heat of reaction; Hess's law; heats of vaporization and fusion; calorimetry.
      • Second law: entropy; free energy of formation; free energy of reaction; dependence of change in free energy on enthalpy and entropy changes.
      • Relationship of change in free energy to equilibrium constants and electrode potentials.
  • Goal 5: The learner will build a knowledge of descriptive chemistry.
    • Objective 5.01: Examine chemical reactivity and predict the products of chemical reactions.

Grade 9–12 — Chemistry

  • Goal 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry.
    • Objective 1.01: Design, conduct and analyze investigations to answer questions related to chemistry.
      • Identify questions and suggest hypotheses.
      • Identify variables.
      • Use a control when appropriate.
      • Select and use appropriate measurement tools.
      • Collect and organize data in tables, charts and graphs.
      • Analyze and interpret data.
      • Explain observations.
      • Make inferences and predictions.
      • Explain the relationship between evidence and explanation.
      • Identify how scientists share findings.
    • Objective 1.02: Analyze reports of scientific investigations from an informed scientifically-literate viewpoint including considerations of:
      • Appropriate sample.
      • Adequacy of experimental controls.
      • Replication of findings.
      • Alternative interpretations of the data.
    • Objective 1.03: Analyze experimental designs with regard to safety and use safe procedures in laboratory investigations:
      • Identify and avoid potential safety hazards given a scenario.
      • Differentiate between safe and unsafe procedures.
      • Use information from the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) to assess chemical hazards.
  • Goal 5: The learner will develop an understanding of chemical reactions.
    • Objective 5.01: Evaluate various types of chemical reactions:
      • Analyze reactions by types: single replacement, double replacement (including acid-base neutralization) , decomposition, synthesis, and combustion including simple hydrocarbons.
      • Predict products.
    • Objective 5.06: Assess the factors that affect the rates of chemical reactions.
      • The nature of the reactants.
      • Temperature.
      • Concentration.
      • Surface area.
      • Catalyst.