Exploring Creation with Chemistry

Sample Module
Table of Contents

Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. is proud to present the second edition of its Exploring Creation With Chemistry course. The first edition, originally published in 1995, was the first science course written by Dr. Wile. It took the homeschooling community by storm and set the stage for the rest of Apologia’s courses. Now, this award-winning chemistry course will get even better!

The second edition of our chemistry course will have several features that enhance the value of the course:

• The illustrations will be in color instead of black and white.
• Dr. Wile has been answering student questions on the course for seven years. Those questions have allowed him to realize what sections of the book could be written more clearly. Thus, this edition of the chemistry course is even more understandable than the first edition!
• For students who need more practice, there are extra practice problems for each module as well as detailed solutions to those problems in the solutions and tests guide.
• The student text has graphic icons that tell the student when there is a related multimedia presentation on the optional multimedia CD.
• The text references an extra laboratory kit that can be used to add about a dozen experiments to the course. These extra labs are not required, but are optional for those students who want more laboratory experience.
• There is a special website available only to users of the second edition. This website will contain links to web resources such as animations and graphics which will enhance the material in the text.
• Advanced students who have the time and the ability to learn additional material will be directed to online resources which contain advanced subject matter.
• The tests in the solutions and tests guide contain a point system that will aid the parent/teacher in grading the tests.
• There are also cumulative tests in the solutions and tests guide if the parent/teacher wants to give the student quarterly, semester, or final exams.
• Finally, even though the module tests are found in the solutions and tests manual (so that the parent/teacher always has a copy of them), a second set of tests is also provided in a perforated booklet. This will allow the student to be given the tests without referring to the solutions and tests manual.

Please note that because of the differences between the first and second editions, students in a group setting cannot use both. They must all have the same edition. Because of this, the first edition of the course will still be available for those in schools or support groups that use the first edition.

Here are some comments we have received from the students and parents who have used the second edition of the chemistry course:

• “I am currently a college freshman at LeTourneau University. As a homeschooled high school student, I had the privilege of using your material for Chemistry I and II, Physics, and Biology. Now, as a General Chemistry student, I have been very pleased with the excellent preparation that I received as a result of using your material for chemistry...Our professor said that he was going to recognize several students for their academic achievements in General Chemistry. I was naturally gratified to hear my name among the four names called...[two of the other] students who were recognized are friends of mine, so I knew that both of them had been homeschooled. I also knew that one had used your high school science curriculum, but I wasn't sure about the other. After class, I had to find out. Amazingly, the other student had also used your chemistry program in high school!” --student
• “Just a note; our son did all your high school courses and is now in an engineering program at college. He came home this summer after his freshman year and thanked me for doing apologia science with him all through high school, and wanted to reread the chemistry book as summer reading to help refresh himself for more chemistry in his sophomore year. So i pass that thanks on to you for helping us prepare him for college as a science major.” --parent
• “[Our daughter] is in her first year at the United States Coast Guard Academy, after having survived a grueling summer of basic training. All the 4/c cadets (freshmen) take the same courses no matter what their intended major is and course load is around 24 credits per semester. She received midterm grades this week and she has an A in her chemistry class. Everything covered so far she has studied before in your course, and she has a firm understanding of it. It is a tough class, with many cadets attending extra study sessions...Thank you for writing such an intensive, comprehensive curriculum. As a home schooling mom, I was biting my fingernails at the academic pressure placed on the cadets...However, your courses have prepared her well. I just wanted to let you know what a blessing your curriculum has been, and encourage you in your ministry to home schooling parents!” --parent
• “I wanted to share with you a testimony about my 11th grade daughter. My daughter, along with her siblings has always been homeschooled, and there had not been a year when my daughter didn't question the purpose of school. She hated it, it was boring etc. Until last year when she was studying your Chemistry Curriculum, and she discovered she loved Chemistry. Needless to say, I rejoiced with her. She completed the course in about six months and launched into your Advanced Chemistry. She is thinking she would like to study Chemistry in college.”
• [NOTE: This is from a mother whose son is in public school. He was having trouble with chemistry, so she got him our book as a resource.] “I thought you'd like to know Nick is already using your chemistry book...He has his first big test today and was struggling with some of his studies, so he pulled out the book and now understands!! AND several of the class had a study session using your book as reference...[Your book] travels with him now to school/study groups for reference.”

Here are some comments we have received from the students and parents who have used the first edition of the chemistry course:

• “ I just heard from my daughter's college Chemistry 111 instructor who has awarded my daughter the "Best of Section" award. That means my daughter...scored the highest of all the Chem.111 students at Schoolcraft College this semester. After talking to her, she credits your "Exploring Creation with Chemistry" book as helping her tremendously. A lot of students in the college course were lost and came to [her] for help.” --parent
• “I just want to thank you for your science books "Exploring Creation With Chemistry" and "Advanced Chemistry in Creation." They were really great and easy to understand. I am bored now in my college chemistry class because of the chemistry I learned through your courses. It more than prepared me for college science courses. Keep up the good work.” --student
• “My son used your Chemistry and later found his college Chemistry course covered the same material.” --parent
• “I was a home-school student throughout high-school, and I used your Chemistry, Physics, and Advanced Chemistry courses. I just wanted to say thanks for doing home and christian schools such a great service by providing excellent christ-based material. I am currently in the University of Kentucky engineering program, extended campus at Paducah. I am completing my second semester of general college chemistry, and we have not yet covered anything that wasn't covered in your courses. I have also been selected the outstanding chemistry freshman for this school year's honors program. Thanks again, and keep up the good work.” -student
• “Finally, Chemistry we can actually understand! God bless you for listening and being obedient. We are looking forward to Advanced Chemistry and Physics.” -- parent
• “This book is wonderful! It is very easy to read -- almost conversational -- as though he is anticipating your questions. Definitely user-friendly. The standard of this book is very high. It would be a wonderful text to prepare a student for college chemistry. It is definitely one of the best texts I have seen.” -- parent
• “We're enjoying using your course. I think it's the best available! Your response time to our questions is incredible.” -- parent
• “Thank you x 10 ¹⁰⁰ !! . . . Chemistry seemed to be an enigma for only elite minds to understand, but you made it understandable!” -- parent
• “As a parent and teacher, I have been very satisfied with your Chemistry curriculum. It is the simplest to understand that I have seen . . . Again I think you are doing an outstanding job.” -- parent
• “God Bless You! Thank you for developing this science curriculum with 'us' in mind! I have never had chemistry, so my daughter and I will learn together. We have approached high school feeling very overwhelmed, but God's grace has been so abundant. Thank you for being a minister of grace to us.” -- parent

1. The first book, hardbound, is the student text, which contains all student material, on-your-own questions and solutions, laboratory exercises, and chapter study guides. Color illustrations and diagrams.
   
2. The second book, softbound, is the solutions and tests manual, which contains answers to chapter study guides, tests, and test solutions. B&W.