Unit 01 · Chemistry of Life
This unit rests on a few big ideas: the special properties of water and hydrogen bonding, the meaning of pH, the four families of macromolecules — carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids — and how enzymes speed the reactions of living systems. Mastery here means you can connect a molecule's structure to what it does, and explain why that chemistry matters to a living cell.
| Criterion | Not yet | Approaching | Mastered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macromolecule structure & function | Confuses the four macromolecule families. | Names families but links structure to function loosely. | Links monomer structure to each family's biological function. |
| Enzyme behavior & factors | Cannot describe what an enzyme does. | Knows enzymes speed reactions; vague on factors. | Predicts effects of temperature, pH, and concentration on activity. |
| Water & hydrogen bonding | States water is important without reasons. | Names a property but not the bonding cause. | Traces cohesion, polarity, and heat capacity to hydrogen bonds. |
| Connecting chemistry to living systems | Treats chemistry as separate from biology. | Makes one connection with prompting. | Explains how molecular behavior drives cell-level function. |
| Lab technique (food-test indicators) | Misuses or skips indicator tests. | Runs tests but misreads or mislabels results. | Performs indicator tests cleanly and interprets results correctly. |
| Integration (cross-domain) | Treats the science as isolated facts; makes no cross-domain connection. | Names a link to history, reading, or writing but cannot defend why it matters. | Connects the unit to its anchor across History · Reading · Writing (plus chosen electives) and defends why the connection matters. |
“My Benedict’s test turned orange, so a reducing sugar is present — which fits, because the enzyme broke the starch down into glucose. And water climbs the tube and resists temperature swings because its polarity lets it hydrogen-bond.”
“The test changed color, so there’s something there. Water is important for life. Enzymes help reactions, I think.”
You demonstrate this unit through hands-on indicator labs and short oral checks where you explain your molecular reasoning aloud — not a multiple-choice test. A criterion counts as mastered only when you can both do the technique and justify the chemistry behind it.
A 5-page clipboard packet — unit overview, key terms, the mastery rubric, anchor examples, and a score sheet you can print and grade against.