General Chemistry
Prof. Bob Baker
Learning Objectives:
Students should gain an interest in and understanding of basic concepts in chemistry; application of chemical and physical units; understanding of the building principles of matter and the principle of the periodic table; basic understanding of different types of chemical bonds, balancing of chemical reactions, understanding of the characteristics of acid base reactions, precipitation reactions and redox reactions; very basic understanding of coordination compounds
Lecture 1:
Motivation for studying chemistry; physical states of chemical matter; classification of matter, physical and chemical properties of pure substances and mixtures; extensive and intensive properties; chemical analysis.
Lecture 2:
Measurements and units; the international system of units; derived units, the reliability of measurements and calculations; significant figures in simple calculations.
Lecture 3:
Structure and building principles of atoms; element symbols; masses and the mole; introduction to the periodic table; brief introduction into the structure of the electron shell; ionisation energy and electron affinity.
Lecture 4:
Law of conversion of mass; law of definite composition; bonding in chemical substances; ionic bonding; covalent bonding; weak bonding; molecules and solid state structures; electronegativity; the periodic table.
Lecture 5:
Chemical nomenclature of inorganic compounds; stoichiometry; mole, molarity and concentration; interpreting stoichiometric coefficients; sample calculations.
Lecture 6:
Chemical reactions; symbolizing reactions; balancing equations; limiting reagents and yields; role of water in chemical reactions; important classes of chemical reactions; precipitation reactions; examples of precipitation reactions in chemistry net ionic equations.
Lecture 7:
Introduction to acid and base reactions; acid-base titration, introduction to oxidation and reduction reactions; oxidation number and electron transfer; oxidizing and reducing agents; half-reactions.
Lecture 8:
Oxidation and reduction reactions, electron transfer; oxidizing and reducing agents; half-equations; very brief introduction to coordination compounds (related to practical course)
+ 2 Tutorials