How Do Chemists Communicate?

This unit is concerned with a fundamental concept in Chemistry and indeed science. How do we know what each other is talking about?

Chemistry is seamlessly integrated in every country in the world and at once we have ways of explaining to each other what we did, what our results were and what we think is happening. You are now starting on learning this method of communication.

This unit will show you how to write equations, draw apparatus, plot data, name compounds, write formulae and crucially understand why the experiments we do our designed in the way they are. Hopefully we will present a similar picture across all three sciences and you will be able to abpply your understanding from one subject to the others.

The area of interaction for this unit is Human Ingenuity. Here is what the IB say about it:

Human ingenuity

• Why and how do we create?
• What are the consequences?

This area of interaction allows students to explore in multiple ways the processes and products of human creativity, and to consider their impact on society and the mind.

Human ingenuity allow students to focus on the evolution, process and products of human creativity and their impact on life and society. Human ingenuity provides opportunities for students to appreciate and develop in themselves the human capacity to create, transform, enjoy and improve the quality of life.

In particular, human ingenuity:

• stresses the way humans can initiate change, whether for good or bad, and examines the consequences
• emphasizes both the importance of researching the developments made by people across space, time and cultures, and the importance of taking time to reflect on these developments.

In this way, human ingenuity goes beyond the act of creation alone, leading students to examine, experience and reflect on the creative process.