Slovenia Chemistry Curriculum - 9th Grade (2 hours/week)

This curriculum outlines the topics and learning objectives for 9th-grade chemistry in Slovenia, based on the official document from the Ministry of Education and Sport.

Overall Curriculum Goals:

Students will develop:

• Understanding of the interdependence of the structure, properties, and uses of substances.
• Understanding of natural processes and methods of chemical investigation of nature.
• Responsible attitude towards the use of substances and the ability to act responsibly for health and the environment (chemical safety).
• Experimental and research skills and competencies.
• Scientific procedures, cognitive processes (complex thinking), critical thinking, and creativity.
• Spatial awareness and basic chemical visual literacy using visualization tools and information and communication technology (ICT).
• Scientific literacy and awareness of the interdependence of social, socio-economic, and scientific-technical processes.

Topics and Learning Objectives:

The curriculum is organized by topics/thematic units. The order in which these topics are addressed is at the teacher's discretion. The curriculum differentiates between mandatory knowledge (regular font) and optional knowledge (italic font).

1. Chemistry is the World of Substances:

Students will:

• Define chemistry as a natural science dealing with substances, their properties, and changes.
• Understand the importance of chemistry in life and know some chemical professions.
• Understand the concepts of substances and states of matter based on the arrangement and movement of particles.
• Define elements/compounds as pure substances made up of atoms/molecules and gain an understanding of their relative size.
• Learn about symbols/formulas as representations of atoms of elements/molecules of elements or compounds.
• Observe and compare different properties of elements and compounds.
• Use the experimental-research approach and develop laboratory skills and techniques.
• Develop spatial awareness by working with models and submicroscopic representations.

2. Atom and the Periodic Table of Elements:

Students will:

• Understand the significance of the history of the development (research) of the atom's structure in connection with the development of human society.
• Learn about the structure of the atom: atomic nucleus, electron shell (arrangement of electrons in shells/energy levels, outer/valence electrons).

• Understand the interdependence between the structure of the atom and its position in the periodic table.
• Learn about the formation of ions from atoms and differentiate between anions and cations.
• Develop spatial awareness and use different types of models, animations, etc.
• Process and use data from various sources and symbolic notations to determine the structure of the atomic nucleus and electron shell and the position of atoms in the periodic table.
• Be aware of the importance of the development of natural sciences and technology for life, society, and the environment.

3. Bonding of Particles/Building Blocks:

Students will:

• Understand the formation of ionic bonds and covalent bonds (single, double, and triple) and the structure of simple molecules.
• Differentiate between polar and nonpolar covalent bonds using simple examples.

• Differentiate between the formation of ionic bonds/ionic compounds (crystals) and covalent bonds/molecules using simple examples.
• Compare selected properties of ionic substances with the properties of covalent compounds based on their chemical structure.
• Use different models, animations, and submicroscopic representations to develop spatial awareness.
• Develop observation skills and use the experimental-research approach.
• Understand the interdependence of the structure and properties of substances and the properties and uses of substances.

4. Chemical Reactions:

Students will:

• Recognize chemical changes.
• Understand chemical changes as chemical reactions, i.e., material and energy changes.
• Define reactants and products of a chemical reaction.
• Differentiate between chemical reactions in which energy is released or bound (consumed).
• Understand that the law of conservation of mass applies to chemical reactions.
• Learn about chemical equations as representations of chemical reactions and know the rules for balancing chemical equations.
• Use the experimental-research approach and laboratory skills in the study of chemical reactions and deepen their knowledge of chemical safety (safe handling of chemicals).
• Understand chemical reactions using visualization tools (models, animations, and submicroscopic representations of chemical reactions) and practice writing simple chemical reactions with balanced chemical equations (from macroscopic (verbal), through submicroscopic (model representations) to symbolic notation).

5. Elements in the Periodic System:

Students will:

• Learn about natural sources of elements and compounds (air, water, earth's crust).
• Learn the concept of relative atomic mass of elements and calculate the relative molecular mass of compounds.
• Calculate the mass fractions of elements in compounds.
• Understand the interdependence between the position of an element in the periodic table and its properties.
• Differentiate between metallic and non-metallic properties of elements in connection with the periodic table.
• Know the basic characteristic properties and uses of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, selected transition elements (e.g., iron, copper, mercury, gold), halogens, and noble gases.
• Understand the role of selected elements in modern technologies.

• Use the experimental-research approach and laboratory skills.
• Use and present data from various sources or databases and develop presentation skills for their own work (seminar papers, project work, etc.).
• Know and consider the circumstances of safe storage of selected elements in the school laboratory (e.g., sodium, bromine, etc.).
• Learn about the importance of the chemical industry in the production or processing of various substances (compounds) and the role of chemistry in modern technologies.

6. Acids, Bases, and Salts:

Students will:

• Differentiate between acidic, basic, and neutral substances from their environment using indicators.
• Understand that in aqueous solutions, oxonium ions are carriers of acidic properties and hydroxide ions are carriers of basic properties.
• Differentiate between solutions of acids and bases based on the content of oxonium and hydroxide ions and write the chemical formulas of basic acids and bases.
• Use the pH scale as a measure for assessing the acidity and basicity of solutions.
• Learn about the neutralization reaction using simple examples and name the products.
• Define the concepts of solutions, solubility of substances, and concentration.
• Calculate the mass fraction of solute in a solution and express it as a percentage.

• Use the experimental-research approach and laboratory skills.
• Deepen their knowledge of safe handling of corrosive substances.
• Process and use data from various sources with an emphasis on the use of graphical representations.
• Know the importance, use, and impact of acids, bases, and salts in life and the environment.

7. The Hydrocarbon Family with Polymers:

Students will:

• Learn about oil and natural gas as key sources of organic compounds (especially hydrocarbons) and non-renewable energy sources.
• Know that carbon and hydrogen are the key elements in organic compounds - hydrocarbons - and define the reasons for the abundance and diversity of organic compounds.
• Learn the nomenclature of basic hydrocarbons and the criteria for classifying hydrocarbons using various models and formula notations.

• Learn about the basic properties of hydrocarbons, relate them to their use and safe handling.
• Differentiate between complete and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons and the effects of combustion products on the environment.
• Differentiate between substitution and addition reactions.
• Learn about the polymerization reaction and differentiate between the concepts of monomer and polymer.
• Learn about some examples of synthetic hydrocarbon polymers and their properties in connection with their use and environmental impacts.
• Study the impacts of the use of hydrocarbons and their derivatives on the environment.
• Use the experimental-research approach and laboratory skills.
• Develop spatial awareness by using models or various visualization tools (animations of chemical reactions, etc.).
• Process and use data from various sources with an emphasis on classifying data, searching or defining criteria for classification, and recognizing patterns.
• Understand the importance or impact of hydrocarbons and their derivatives on life and the environment.
• Reflect on preventing or reducing the impacts of hydrocarbons and their derivatives on the environment and be aware of the importance of recycling waste.

8. The Oxygen Family of Organic Compounds:

Students will:

• Study the properties of the main groups of organic oxygen compounds and relate them to their use in life and industry.
• Recognize the hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, and ester functional groups in the notation of compounds or models.
• Define fats as esters of fatty acids and glycerol, know their basic properties and sources.
• Learn about the structure and function of soaps.
• Recognize carbohydrates as polyfunctional compounds based on their structure and learn about their importance for life and the economy.
• Define polysaccharides as natural polymers.
• Learn about some examples of synthetic condensation polymers of the oxygen family of organic compounds and their properties in connection with their use and environmental impacts.
• Use the experimental-research approach and laboratory skills.
• Build models of basic oxygen organic compounds and develop spatial awareness by using models or various visualization tools.
• Process data from various sources with an emphasis on classifying data, searching or defining criteria, recognizing patterns, and presenting.
• Learn about the effects of alcohols on the body and learn to provide first aid in cases of poisoning.
• Understand the importance or impact of organic oxygen compounds on life and the environment.
• Be aware of the importance of fats and carbohydrates for a balanced diet.

9. The Nitrogen Family of Organic Compounds:

Students will:

• Define nitrogen organic compounds based on the nitrogen content in the structure of compounds and recognize the amino group.
• Learn about amino acids as compounds with two functional groups.
• Learn about proteins as natural polymers built from amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
• Know the basic properties and function of proteins in organisms.
• Learn about examples of polyamides as synthetic condensation polymers.
• Use the experimental-research approach and laboratory skills.
• Develop spatial awareness by using models or various visualization tools.
• Process data from various sources with an emphasis on classifying data, searching for patterns, and presenting.
• Understand the importance/impact of nitrogen organic compounds on life and the environment.
• Be aware of the importance of proteins in nutrition and the consequences of their deficiency.

10. Amount of Substance:

Students will:

• Learn the concept of amount of substance with the unit mole and the number of particles in one mole of substance.
• Understand the connection between the molar mass of elements and compounds and the amount of substance.
• Calculate the mass of a substance from the amount of substance and vice versa.
• Process and use data from various sources.
• Develop observation skills and use submicroscopic representations.
• Know the importance of the amount of substance for chemistry and understand the importance of agreed physical quantities and units.

This detailed information provides a comprehensive overview of the 9th-grade chemistry curriculum in Slovenia. It is important to note that teachers have autonomy in adapting the curriculum to suit their students' needs and interests.