Discovering Design with Chemistry

Exploring Creation Science

by Jay L. Wile

Discovering Design with Chemistry is a high-school, college-prep chemistry course by Dr. Jay Wile. Designed for homeschooled students to use independently, this course features at-home experiments, a simple format, and thorough text that provides extensive coverage of chemistry from a Christian, creation-based perspective.
This course includes sixteen chapters that together cover topics such as the classification of matter, atomic structure, spectroscopy, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, physical change, chemical change, stoichiometry, solutions, ideal gases, acid/base chemistry, reduction/oxidation reactions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. Concepts are woven together with their mathematical applications to help students learn to think like chemists.

In the Discovering Design with Chemistry textbook, each of the sixteen chapters contains the main text with important information and definitions to be memorized highlighted. "Comprehension Check" questions and examples are included throughout, and each chapter ends with a review, which is to be completed before taking the chapter test (included in the test book). Each chapter has at least one experiment; forty-six experiments are included in total, and students will average three experiments every two weeks.

Access to a course website is included with this kit; this website includes videos that show how to work the kinds of problems found in the chapter, videos of experiments that illustrate topics but might be too difficult to actually conduct at home, and more detailed discussions of various topics.

The Answer Key & Tests Book includes answers to the chapter reviews in the student text, chapter tests & test answers, and two semester final exams and answers. The answers to the comprehension check questions are in the student text.

This course can be completed in one year at the pace of one chapter every two weeks, working approximately 45 minutes-1 hour per day. For those who'd like a more structured approach, an optional 36-week schedule with weekly assignment checkboxes is provided.

Prerequisite: Algebra 1. Grades 9-12.

Genres: School, Science, Nonfiction, High School

557 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

Jay Wile learned about his love for chemistry when his dedicated parents bought him his first chemistry set. Many stink bombs and a few explosions later, he was hooked! Although he loved chemistry, he also had many other interests. For a while, he thought about becoming a concert pianist, but unfortunately, his fingers were not long enough (no kidding!). As he was finishing up his high school years, he became extremely interested in the theater and began to pursue a career in acting. Partly because he learned the science behind some of the special effects of the plays in which he performed, he eventually went back to his first love: chemistry.

He went to the University of Rochester in upstate New York to study chemistry, and while he was there, he began working on nuclear chemistry experiments. He became so fascinated with nuclear chemistry that he stayed at the University of Rochester and got a Ph.D. in that field. For several years, he did research in the field under the auspices of the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. This research led to several grants and many publications. While doing research, Dr. Wile was also an assistant professor of chemistry.

Dr. Wile's love of science is demonstrated by the many awards he has won for excellence in teaching and research. He has also presented numerous lectures on the topics of Nuclear Chemistry, Christian Apologetics, Homeschooling, and Creation vs. Evolution. He has published 30 articles on these subjects in nationally-recognized, peer-reviewed journals, and has 9 books to his credit, most of which belong to the award-winning "Exploring Creation with" series of junior-high and high-school science courses.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually mark a text book as read, nor do I ever review them but I wanted to with this one because it was just an exceptional course. Almost makes me want to take more chemistry. Almost.

[Maria Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am, surprisingly, loving Chemistry. It makes so much sense and I love figuring out all the equations and then performing them. ...Only serves to prove once again that math isn't my enemy *glances at Saxon math books*.

[Chloé W.]

I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry, but finally, finally, Chemistry is DONE!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I read another textbook. Every...single...word. In order to teach a dozen mostly reluctant scientists. What a privilege.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie read for y10...krb 7/7/24

[Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a high school chemistry book, this is well done.

[Emma Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, wasn't planning to put this on my goodreads but... I did read it. And I'm sure I'm slightly better for having read it. Just.... I don't like chemistry.

[Annabelle Eckert]

School.....I may not live.🤣