The Open University of Israel

Course Catalog

This course is no longer offered

20108 Pathways in Chemistry 1

Credits: 6 intermediate credits in Chemistry

Prerequisites: none

Recommended: Fundamentals of Physics I and Fundamentals of Physics II

The course is intended for students primarily interested in the natural and life sciences who require a broad knowledge base in chemistry. The course is partially based on prior basic knowledge of chemistry which can be acquired by taking The World of Chemistry (20116). Background in calculus is not required.

The twelve units address the basic principles underlying chemical processes: structure, energy, dynamics, and chemical mechanisms, combined with descriptive chemistry for illustrative purposes. The examples and experimental methods related to these chemical principles were systematically selected to emphasize topics of interest to students oriented towards the life sciences, geology or physics.

The course includes two mandatory laboratory sessions.

The course acquaints students with important organic and inorganic compounds and chemical processes as well as methods for determining molecular structures and properties of substances and for tracing chemical processes. The molecular approach is used to facilitate students’ understanding of the principles underlying the many microscopic phenomena they encounter.

Topics: From atoms to molecules; Molecules, energy and radiation; The structure of solids; Liquids and solutions; Acids and bases; Laboratory I; Fundamentals of thermodynamics; Electrochemical processes; Chemical kinetics; Laboratory II; Organic reactions - tracking and mechanisms.

The book Chemical Data accompanies the units. Students will receive a home kit on loan.


1There is some overlap in the content of this and other courses. For details, see Overlapping Courses.