In Fascinating Chemistry, you will learn the four ways that atoms bond to each other, and how each bond determines the properties of the resulting molecule. Understand the four bonds and the rest of chemistry will all make sense. Join Dr. Margulies for a fascinating course as he helps you learn how these special properties explain our everyday world — from water freezing to nuclear energy to food to metals to weather, and more!
The course lessons are laid out in a simple, easy to use table format with buttons below each picture for access to the lessons, text scripts, review, review scripts, and tests that correlate with each lesson. Click the buttons in the sample lesson about “The Structure of the Atom” to start.
Fascinating Chemistry – Course Content
Intramolecular Bonding
- Everything is made of atoms
- The first 20 elements of the periodic table
- Adding electrons to elements
- Electrons
- The nucleus
- Defining an element
- Proton repulsion
- The Strong Force
- Neutrons
- Isotopes
- Why atoms bond
- Intramolecular bonding
- Intermolecular bonding
- Properties of molecules
The Ionic Bond
- The atomic number
- Valence electrons
- How Ionic bonds form molecules
- Reaching a lower energy level
- Lattice Energy
- Melting ionic crystals
- Cracking a salt crystal
- Ionic bonding between rows of the periodic table
- Ionic bonds involving two elements
- Giving electrons without ionic bonding
- Pauling’s Electronegativity Chart
- Atomic Size
- Ionization energy
- Electron affinity
The Covalent Bond
- he Ionic Bond
- The Covalent Bond
- Gases
- Oxygen and nitrogen molecules
- Electronegativity difference in covalent bonds
- Nonpolar hydrocarbons
- London dispersion forces
- Triglycerides
- Weakening London Dispersion Forces
The Polar Covalent Bond
- Giving away electrons
- Pauling’s electronegativity chart
- Hydrogen bond
- Intramolecular and intermolecular bonds
- Nonpolar molecules with polar bonds
- Electrons travel in pairs
- Unshared and shared electrons
- Polarity strength
- Polarity of molecules
- Spectrum of intermolecular bonds
The Metallic Bond
- The Metallic Bond
- Metals in the Periodic Table
- Transition metals
- Electron shells
- Arrangement of subshells
- Subshell energy slots
The Metallic Bond
- Metallic density
- Metallic strength
- Improving metallic strength
- Metallic hardness
- Metallic grains
- Magnetism
- Heat and electrical conduction
- Metallic shininess
Heat
- Types of energy
- Heat versus temperature
- Absolute zero
- Ice’s specific heat capacity
- Water’s heat of fusion
- Water’s specific heat capacity
- Water’s heat of vaporization
- Steam’s specific heat capacity
- Water’s ability to absorb heat
- The energy of steam
- Water’s boiling point
- Heat transfer
- Electromagnetic energy
- Photons
- Carbon dioxide and global warming
- Hypothermia
- Heat insulation
- The Leidenfrost Effect
Properties of Water
- Oil and water
- Micelles and soap
- Viscosity
- Surface tension
- Ice
- Lowering the freezing point of water
- Melting frozen ice
- Density of water versus ice
- Staying afloat
- Density
- Salt water versus fresh water
Mass, Density, Weight, Pressure, and the Mole
- Determining Atomic Mass
- Determining the weight of one atomic mass unit
- The concept of a mole
- Deriving molecular and empirical formulas
- Mass, density, weight, and pressure
- Measuring gas pressure with a barometer
- Measuring gas pressure with a manometer
The Ideal Gas Law and the Behavior of Confined Gases
- The Ideal Gas Law
- The kinetic energy of a gas
- Temperature’s effect on molecular velocity
- Energy expressed in the ideal gas law
- Using the ideal gas law
- Electrolysis of water
- Standard temperature and pressure
- Partial pressure of gases
- Vapor Pressure
The Behavior of Unconfined Gases in the Atmosphere
- Gases dissolved in water
- The boiling point
- Air pressure
- Demonstrating the weight of air
- Barometer
- Changing the boiling point
- Measuring altitude by measuring air pressure
- Pressure and density
- Atmospheric gas density vs gas pressure
- The Dew Point
- Sweat
Solutions
- Molarity
- Molality
- Mixtures
- Freezing point depression
- Colligative property
- Phase diagram
- Boiling point elevation
- Acids and bases
- Types of acids
- Neutralization of acids and bases
- Calculating pH
Chemical Reactions
- Energy in a chemical reaction
- Activated complex
- Enthalpy and entropy
- Predicting Gibbs Free Energy
- Balancing chemical equations
- Coefficients in a chemical reaction
- Balancing moles and mass in chemical equations
- Equilibrium state
- LaChatelier’s Principle
Orbitals
- Subshells
- Slots within subshells
- Subshell energy levels
- Probability clouds
- Aufbau Principle
- Hund’s Rule
- Pauli Exclusion Principle
- Electron profiles
- Ionization energies
- Lewis Diagrams
Molecular Geometry
- Lewis Dot Diagrams
- Lewis Dot Diagram Predictions
- Filling the Valence Shell
- Formal Charges
- Forming sp3 Hybrid Bonds
- Carbon sp2 Hybrid Orbitals Current
- Sigma and Pi bonds
- Nitrogen sp3 Hybrid Orbitals
- Oxygen sp3 Hybrid Orbitals
- Beryllium difluoride
- Boron trifluoride
- VSEPR
- Molecular shapes
- Diamonds
- Isomers
Electrochemistry
- Oxidation State
- Redox
- Voltage Cells
- Reduction Potential
- Calculating Potentials
- Voltage
- Current
- Car Battery
- Electroplating
- Aluminum Oxide
- Iron Rust
- Fuel Cells
Polymers
- Formaldehyde, Phenol, and Bakelite
- Ethylene and Polyethylene
- Strengthening Polyethylene
- Natural Polymers
- Nylon
- Rubber
The Nucleus
- Solar energy
- The Strong Force
- Neutrons
- Making helium
- Making heavy elements
- Binding energy
- The Sun’s fuel
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If you have questions, please submit the form below or email fascinator@fascinatingeducation.com
“Finding a good science program has to be one of the hardest subjects for homeschoolers to find. Upon reviewing Fascinating Education Chemistry my kids really liked the layout and style of teaching. Some reviews I have read expressed concern that there wasn’t enough material however I disagree. I just finished going through the entire program, assigning and breaking up lessons for the entire year. This course seems to me to be very thorough. It’s meant to be mastered not sped through. There are some labs, we may add some of our own. One thing I especially like is the conversational tone of the narrator and how he anticipates questions the reader will have, explaining science in a thorough but simple manner. That in of its self is gold to me. We have seen too many programs that are overwhelming because of their layout or distracting because the language is too complicated. I feel the tougher subjects should be explained simply. When that happens there is retention and learning flourishes. We’re excited to start “
Jacky Parrales
“We purchased the Chemistry course for my 16-yr-old daughter, who is a visual learner. Although she is stronger in language than math/science, she really likes the program! The succinct explanations combined with the slides help her understand AND remember the material covered. We will definitely continue to use this program and look forward to my younger son trying it out next year!”
Gayla W.
“I homeschool and my son needed chemistry. Yikes! The one subject in school I never understood myself. I looked everywhere for a curriculum that might cover “the top 10 things you need to know about chemistry,” and I was having no luck. I attended the homeschool expo in Atlanta and I placed finding a chemistry curriculum at the top of my agenda. When I saw Dr Marguiles’ seminar “you can learn chemistry in 30 minutes,” I thought if he can teach me chemistry, he can teach anyone. It was amazing! I left the seminar having an understanding of the periodic table that I’ve never had before. In less than an hour I had a basic understanding of chemistry. My son and I went through the online lessons in 1 semester. Some lessons took 2 days and some took 5-6 days to complete. Dr Marguiles begins most lessons with an interesting dilemma. For example, Who will live longer: The man fully clothed thrown into above freezing water or the man completely naked left outside in below freezing temperatures? It makes what he’s teaching relevant, compared to memorizing a lot of vocabulary and terms (which is what I had in high school.) In addition to plenty of visuals, charts, and some math, each lesson includes a test of mastery. Dr Marguiles stressed in his seminar that he desires everyone to see the world at a molecular level. I can attest that he has accomplished that for me. When I cook an egg and it turns white I recognize I am witnessing a protein chain unfold. When my daughter told me someone was testing a vaccine for Ebola that included silver, I instantly pictured silver on the periodic table and could understand how it might be used based on its many rings of power and number of electrons. In the end, my son got an A, and I feel empowered just knowing I CAN understand chemistry. ”
Vikki Waters
