General Chemistry I

Catalog description

This lecture and laboratory course is the first of a two-semester sequence designed specifically for students majoring in chemistry, physics, biology, or pre-engineering. It is a mathematically rigorous course that assumes the entering student has a strong background in algebra and finite mathematics. Students will learn concepts specific chemical information that will be applied within the context of a variety of chemistry applications. Many of the applications that will be investigated highlight contemporary social and scientific issues. Through participation in course activities, each student should expect to improve her/his knowledge of chemistry and to develop improved qualitative and quantitative problem-solving skills. Hands-on experience with laboratory experiments will allow students to learn proper procedures, to gather meaningful data, and to draw logical and appropriate conclusions based on the laboratory data. Content will include chemical equations, stoichiometry, gases, thermochemistry, equilibrium, electronic structure of atoms, periodic trends, molecular bonding and structure, intermolecular forces, and nuclear chemistry.