Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, students will be able to...
>explain the significance of studying chemistry,
by relating the importance of problem solving to all future endeavors
>define/describe energy, matter, and their changes, and the corresponding role of chemists,
by citing examples
>solve numerical problems involving SI measurements,
by employing related formulae
>explain historical models of the atom,
by interpreting historical experimental designs and data, and creating related illustrations
>predict and describe chemical bonding,
by constructing modern atomic models/diagrams and evaluating related electronic factors
>evaluate the modern periodic table,
by identifying trends due to periodic properties, and relating chemical bonding to same
>describe/explain molecular structures,
by comparing bond type with molecular shape and symmetry
>write and name chemical formulae,
by employing information from the periodic table and corresponding rules of nomenclature
>calculate formula mass, percent composition, empirical and molecular formulae,
by employing Avogadro's number, the factor-label method, and related equations
>describe chemical reaction type,
by evaluating written chemical equations
>write and balance chemical equations,
by interpreting word problems and employing proper subscript numbers and coefficients
>solve stoichiometry problems,
by utilizing balanced equations and periodic information
>compare/contrast the phases of matter,
by listing descriptors, citing examples, and creating phase diagrams
>solve gas law problems,
by employing ideas from the kinetic theory and utilizing gas law equations
>describe solutions and solubility, and interpret related solubility curve graphs,
by employing knowledge of physical and chemical composition, and manipulating numerical proportions
>determine solution concentration,
by employing the most appropriate equation for the available data, in five different cases, and construct/interpret related graphs
>describe and determine the extent of colligative effects in solutions,
by creating diagrams and employing related equations
>calculate and explain pH and pOH in terms of ion concentrations and in comparison to the old and new definitions of acids and bases,
by employing molarity measurements and analyzing chemical equations
>determine acid/base strength, and identify neutrality/associated salts,
by interpreting titration data
>interpret and solve redox equations by either acceptable method, and explain related electrochemistry,
by diagramming related redox cells
>describe the driving forces behind chemical reactions,
by constructing and interpreting reaction diagrams involving enthalpy and entropy, and evaluating delta G, Keq and Le Chatelier's Principle
>explain nuclear decay in terms of transmutation,
and by solving half-life problems
>describe and name organic compounds,
by citing examples for comparison and employing the rules of nomenclature
>describe/predict organic reactions,
by constructing diagrams and considering both steric and electronic factors