General Chemistry

CRN: fall: 10208; winter: 20156
Note: This 8-credit program will meet from 6 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fall quarter will also include labs on two Saturdays (Oct. 10 and 24). First class will meet in LAB 2 3216.

This two-quarter program in general chemistry provides prerequisites for many studies in science, health, and medicine as well as basic laboratory science for students seeking a well-rounded liberal arts education.

Emphasis in fall quarter will be placed on calculations involving conversions, molar quantities and thermodynamics. Understanding atoms in terms of subatomic particles, chemical reactivity of inorganic compounds and the gas laws will also be covered. We will end with a thorough investigation of how atoms unite to form molecules with a focus on covalent bonding. In the laboratory, students will routinely utilize a variety of scientific glassware and equipment and be taught how to handle chemicals safely. Students will also learn to be observant of chemical changes and to make precise physical measurements. Relevant scientific literature is introduced and often used to retrieve needed physical data.

Winter quarter will start with a study of intermolecular forces, the properties of solutions, and chemical kinetics. This will be followed by an in-depth investigation of equilibrium, pH and buffers. We then will cover entropy and free energy, followed by an introduction of electrochemistry. Our final topic will be transition metals and the crystal field model. Labs will include titrations, crystal growth, pH titrations, absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements. An introduction to chemical instrumentation will be incorporated into lab exercises, and students will be required to utilize chemical drawing programs.