Chemistry 1 for Foundation Year, 8 fup

Aim

The aim of the course is to give students a foundation in chemistry and preparation for further university studies in technology and natural science. Upon completion, the course provides eligibility equivalent to Chemistry 1.

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of chemical concepts, models, and theories
• analyse and interpret chemical questions and relationships
• solve problems, perform calculations, and engage in scientific reasoning regarding chemical reactions, including acid–base, redox, and precipitation reactions, and their applications
• systematically plan and perform experimental chemical investigations according to safety regulations, as well as report the results of the investigations and discuss methods and results

Content

Introduction to the subject of chemistry: What is chemistry? The nature of chemistry and its methods. Basic laboratory techniques and chemical safety including risk assessments. Planning, performing, analysing, and interpreting systematic investigations. The role of chemistry in society and for sustainable development, green chemistry, and the importance of chemistry for human living conditions and societal development.

The structure of the atom and the periodic table: atomic model, chemical symbols, atomic mass, metals and nonmetals, groups and periods, electron distribution, excitation, isotope, mass number, valence electrons, noble gas configuration, ion.

Chemical bonding and compounds: elements and chemical compounds, chemical bonds and aggregation states, ionic compounds and molecular compounds, electronegativity, dipole, polarity, compound and hydrated ions, chemical name giving, melting and boiling points, single/double/triple bonds, water of crystallization.

Chemical reactions: chemical reaction formulas, balancing of chemical reactions, equivalent quantities of substances, precipitation reactions, combustion reactions, decomposition reactions, gas phase reactions, acid-base reactions and redox reactions.

Chemical calculations (stoichiometry): amount of substance, molar mass, Avogadro's constant, accuracy and value figures, preparation of solutions and concentration of solutions, limiting reactant, excess reactant, yield, molar volume of gases.

Acids and bases: protolysis reactions, acid-base pairs, autoprotolysis of water, pH calculations, strong and weak acids, neutralization, pH indicator.

Thermochemistry: energy conversion, enthalpy, entropy, exothermic and endothermic reactions, mean bond enthalpy, spontaneous reactions, activation energy, specific heat capacity, calorimetry.Oxidation and reduction: electrochemical series of metals, complete and incomplete electron transfer, oxidation numbers, balancing redox reactions, electrochemistry, standard electrode potentials, galvanic cells, batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis and corrosion. Chemical engineering applications in the energy and environmental sectors.

Organic chemistry: molecular formulas, structural formulas, functional groups, nomenclature, isomerism, substance classes (alkanes, alcohols, carboxylic acids), synthesis reactions.

Analytical chemistry: an introduction to analytical chemistry, qualitative and quantitative analysis, titration, chromatography, reagents.