General Chemistry

CHEM111 consists of 4 blocks aligned with the exams taken over a 3-week period.

The blocks cover 12 modules aligned with chapters of the text as follows:

1. – Introduction to Chemistry. An overview of the field of chemistry, accuracy, and precision of numbers.
2. – Atoms, Molecules, and Ions. Naming atoms, molecules and ions, common ionic charges.
3. – Equations, the Mole, and Chemical Formulas. Chemical stoichiometry, measuring chemical amounts, common types of chemical reactions.
4.  – Chemical Reactions in Solution. Solutions, concentrations, solution stoichiometry, titrations, gravimetric analysis, electrolytes.
5.  – Thermochemistry. Enthalpy, calorimetry, exothermic and endothermic reactions, reaction enthalpy, standard states.
6. – The Gaseous State. Gas laws, pressure, stoichiometry of gases, kinetic molecular theory, molecular speed, gaseous mixtures, partial pressures, nonideality.
7.  – Electronic Structure. Origins of quantum theory, optical spectroscopy, quantum numbers in H atoms, multielectron atoms, valence electrons and orbitals, electron configurations.
8. – Structures and Trends in the Periodic Table. Periodic trends in ionic radii, ionization energy, electron affinity, isoelectronic series.2
9. – Chemical Bonds. Lewis structures, the octet rule, multiple bonds, electronegativity,formal charges, resonance structures, electron rich molecules, electron deficient molecules, odd-electron molecules, bond order, bond dissociation energies
10.  – Molecular Structure and Bonding Theories. Valence shell electron pair repulsion model, steric number, molecular geometry, molecular polarity, valence orbital theory, hybridization, molecular orbital theory
11.  – Liquids and Solids. Maxwell Boltzmann distribution, vapor pressure curves, heating curves, phase diagrams, dipole-dipole interactions, London dispersion forces, hydrogen bonding, surface tension, molecular solids, network solids, ionic solids, crystal structures and packing.

Learning Outcomes

All learning outcomes in this course are equivalent to face-to-face versions of this course. After completing CHEM 111, students will be able to:

• Define and employ chemical language and symbolism (CCSL LO2).
• Summarize the important scientific discoveries that led to the development of modern chemistry (CCSL LO3).
• Recognize that the natural world has an atomic and molecular basis which successfully explains its physical phenomena (CCSL LO2).
• Explain the fundamental principles of molecular structure and shape (CCSL LO2).
• Use dimensional analysis with proper attention to units and significant figures, and name and classify inorganic compounds (CCSL LO1).
• Balance chemical equations and use stoichiometric relationships and the mole concept to calculate product and reactant amounts (CCSL LO1, LO2).
• Identify different types of reactions (precipitation, neutralization, and oxidation-reduction) and predict the outcome of these reactions (CCSL LO1, LO2).
• Explain the first law of thermodynamics and the role of energy and enthalpy in chemical reactions and perform thermochemical calculations (CCSL LO1, LO2).
• Explain the basic concepts of quantum theory, determine the electron configurations of atoms, and use periodic trends to make predictions about atomic properties (CCSL LO1, LO2).
• Explain theories of chemical bonding and determine the molecular geometry of molecules using VSEPR theory (CCSL LO1, LO2).3
• Apply gas laws and kinetic molecular theory to processes involving gases. (CCSL LO1)
• Explain the intermolecular attractive forces that determine the properties of the states of matter and phase behavior (CCSLLO1).
• Discuss the importance of chemistry in our everyday lives and the financial realities of a global economy (CCSL LO3).
• Discuss, through examples, the impact of chemical phenomena on the fields of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, biology, and physics (CCSL LO3).