This course is no longer offered
20477 General Chemistry (Year-long format: Fall) 1
Credits: 6 intermediate credits in Chemistry
Prerequisites: none
Recommended: Background in Chemistry on a 3-point matriculation level, or The World of Chemistry. This course is not recommended as a first course in Chemistry for students lacking such background.
The course is based on a translation of the first 13 chapters of Chemical Principles: The Quest for Insight (3rd ed.), by P. Atkins and L. Jones (W. H. Freeman, 2005).
The course is intended for students who are focusing on the Natural and Life Sciences and require comprehensive knowledge of Chemistry. It deals with the main principles underlying chemical processes and the problems of structure, energy, dynamics and chemical mechanisms, together with descriptive chemistry, bringing examples from Chemistry, Biology, Geology and Physics. The course includes two mandatory laboratory sessions.
Topics: Atoms – the quantum world; Chemical bonds; Molecular shape and structure; The properties of gases; Liquids and solids; Thermodynamics – the first law, the second and third laws; Physical equilibria; Chemical equilibria; Acids and bases; Aqueous equilibria; Electrochemistry; Chemical kinetics.
Formats: The course is offered in three versions:
20437 – single-semester format
20477 – year-long format (Fall semester + half of the Spring semester)
20487 – year-long format (Spring semester + Summer semester)
In the year-long format, chapters 1-9 will be taught in the first semester, and chapters 10-13 in the second semester. Students will be tested on the relevant material at the end of each semester.
1There is some overlap in the content of this and other courses. For details, see Overlapping Courses.