Have you ever wondered what happens to the atoms and molecules in an explosion? How lead concentration is measured in our water or blood? How about how leaves turn colors in the fall? How carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses are measured in our atmosphere? Or, how about how batteries work and how better ones are designed? Why food rots? What goes on in the world around us involves chemistry. The changes that produce the brilliant colors of tree leaves in the fall, the electrical energy that powers a cell phone, the spoilage of foods left standing at room temperature, and the many ways our bodies use the foods we consume are all everyday examples of chemical processes. Chemistry is the study of matter and how and why it changes. This year, you will learn how chemistry operates in all aspects of our lives, and how we can use it to address some of the world's most pressing problems.
For example, lead and many other contaminants in our water, desperately needed new medicines in all parts of the world, and all the challenges climate change poses are only some of the problems your generation will need to address in the coming years. How will you use what we teach you to do this? That is your task: to find ways to use what you learn to make the world a better place. My goal is to provide you with the experiences you will need to be successful in this all-important venture - which means you will need to be challenged to think about your life experiences in different ways. In Chemistry this year, you will be a scientist and an engineer. You will think about phenomenon from the perspective of atoms and molecules, design experiments to answer questions and solve problems, cooperatively analyze data in order to design prototypes of devices, and write and re-write arguments for your own interpretation of data and your own designs.
For example, lead and many other contaminants in our water, desperately needed new medicines in all parts of the world, and all the challenges climate change poses are only some of the problems your generation will need to address in the coming years. How will you use what we teach you to do this? That is your task: to find ways to use what you learn to make the world a better place. My goal is to provide you with the experiences you will need to be successful in this all-important venture - which means you will need to be challenged to think about your life experiences in different ways. In Chemistry this year, you will be a scientist and an engineer. You will think about phenomenon from the perspective of atoms and molecules, design experiments to answer questions and solve problems, cooperatively analyze data in order to design prototypes of devices, and write and re-write arguments for your own interpretation of data and your own designs.