syllabus


 * Nuclear Chemistry Content

I. Marie Curie** Discovery of radiation as function of atom Types of nuclear decay (alpha, beta, gamma) Decay of isotopes/carbon dating Nobel Prize Death/What does exposure to nuclear decay do to tissue?

X-Rays, etc. Electromagnetic spectrum
 * II. Medical Breakthroughs**

Dynamite Equivalence of dynamite to calories/Thermodynamics Fission vs. Fusion, Lise Meitner's miss of Nobel Prize
 * III. Thermodynamics**


 * TEST

IV. World War II** Manhattan Project Los Alamos/Hanford/U of Chicago/Livermore Labs Trinity/Bikini Atolls Hiroshima/Nagasaki WIPP Hanford/OMSI Nevada test site What is clean energy DU Transformers/cell pohnes/ewaste
 * l**
 * V. Environmental Justice**


 * VI. Remediation**


 * Assessment of Learning:**


 * Midterm** (multiple choice and short answer test) day before spring break.
 * Literature Review** assigned spring break**, class decides deadline____________________**
 * Final Essay** in which each student picks a topic from the class, explores it, writes a summary of their findings referencing course work
 * Multiple Choice Final**

Suggested sources: topics such as Helen Caldicot's, S.A.L.T. I and II, Nuclear Highway, Iran and Pakistan Nuclear Weaponization, Nevada Test Site, Trinity Site, Hanford, Chernobyl, 3 Mile Island, Atoll Islands
 * Literature Review:**

Most our work will be based in the textbook, Modern Chemistry: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. 2002. This class will present other examples from current media to make this class pertinent in a time when nuclear power is being promoted by some groups. An era where nuclear arms are still a concern. And where a global energy crisis dominates our international political scene. Youtube tutorials demonstrating the process of nuclear decay will be linked from the wikispace page. Frontline: Heat movie will be part of our discussions as well as homework.
 * Textbook:**

* Describe properties of elements and their relationship to the periodic table. * Analyze the effect of various factors on physical changes and chemical reactions * Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them. * Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data. * Communicate mathematical thinking coherently and clearly; use language of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely. (in describing the half life of nuclear waste)
 * Trillium Framework Goals: **
 * Apply critical thinking skills in discussion, writing and problem solving.
 * Gather, interpret, use and document information from multiple sources.
 * Examine a controversial event, issue, or problem from more than one point of view.

* Find equivalent expressions using the properties of rational exponents. (Half-Life) * Solve algebraic proportions and rational equations. * Explain how atomic structure is related to the properties of elements and their position in the * Periodic Table. Explain how the composition of the nucleus is related to isotopes and radioactivity. * Describe how different types and strengths of bonds affect the physical and chemical properties of compounds. * Explain how chemical reactions result from the making and breaking of bonds in a process that absorbs or releases energy. Explain how the rate of a chemical reaction is affected by temperature, pressure, and concentration. * Analyze data and identify uncertainties. Draw a valid conclusion, explain how it is supported by the evidence, and communicate the findings of a scientific investigation. * Identify examples from the history of science that illustrate modification of scientific knowledge in light of challenges to prevailing explanations. * Analyze data, identify uncertainties, and display data so that the implications for the solution being tested are clear.
 * Math CIM Benchmarks: **
 * Science CIM Benchmarks **
 * Explain how physical and chemical changes demonstrate the law of conservation of mass.

**Classroom Policies**

Any student scoring under 70% will be asked to retake the test or quiz. A retake cannot be a higher score than 89%.
 * Retakes:**

**Late Work:** Late work will be accepted for half credit within two weeks of the deadline. Exceptions to this would require a doctor note and is subject to instructor approval.

Students in this class are asked to abide by the Trillium Constitution guidelines of conduct. To work within the structures set in place for nonviolent conflict resolution. I encourage students to discuss issues or concerns with instructors as soon as they arise. Discussions in this class may get heated as we are talking about very serious issues, however we'll ask that people take a professional tone in our conversations and not cross into personal attacking. Lab Procedure safety requires all of us to be aware of each other's space, be careful about our movements, and wear our goggles for the entire period of asked to.
 * Rights and Responsibilities:**

Content has been selected to help students become more aware consumers of media, to improve science literacy, to make students aware of the promise and threat of nuclear chemistry. However special effort has been made to cover the guidelines for education set forth by Trillium and by the State of Oregon's CIM Benchmarks. See below for information regarding those guidelines.
 * Curriculum and Content:**

**Grades Will Be Based On:** Multiple Choice Midsemester Exam and Final: 40% Literature Review 20% Final Research paper on a topic tied to the class 20% In class work, movie questionnaires, homestudy, quizzes: 20% The typical 90% and above is an A, 80-89% is a B, 70-79% is a C, 69% and below is a D, 59% and lower is an F


 * Cheating:** In the first instance of any academic dishonesty cheating, the student will receive an 'F' grade for the work involved. Furthermore, any student who supplies answers, in part or in whole, will receive the same discipline as the one who receives work that is falsely claimed as their own. Subsequent cheating will result in disciplinary action that may lead to suspension or expulsion and/or loss of credit for the class.