Electronic Elements

Introduction

Explore the intersection of chemistry and technology, where atomic concepts and chemical bonding power devices like computers and smartphones. Participants learn about atoms and molecules, and their role in forming materials essential for electronic components such as semiconductors and liquid crystals. The course delves into how chemical principles underpin functions in electronic devices, like activating screens or touch sensors, through complex reactions at the atomic level. Coding sessions enable students to manipulate these chemical properties in software, impacting hardware performance. 

This expedition not only teaches chemistry and coding but also encourages critical thinking about the materials science behind everyday technology. By the end, participants gain a deeper appreciation for the chemical innovations that drive modern electronics and the skills to explore these concepts further in their careers or studies.

Essential Questions

• What makes up an atom, and how are these pieces structured?

• How are elements classified and organized for study?

• What properties of chemicals or elements and how are these related to their use in electronic components?

• What are the functions that occur to bond atoms together into molecules?

• How do the bonds and arrangement of molecules impact the properties that make some of them ideal for electronics and computer science?

• What is the relationship between the physical/chemical properties of hardware to the functioning of coding in software?

Learning Objectives

• Describe the structure and function of atoms and subatomic particles.

• Describe the arrangement and organization of the Periodic Table.

• Identify the physical and chemical properties of certain types of matter that are relevant in electronics

• Describe and differentiate between Ionic, Covalent, and Metallic bonds, and analyze how could each type could be useful in electronics.

• Write a basic code in HTML or CSS and explain the relationship between code and electronics. 

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