CHEM& 121 Introduction to Chemistry

5 credits

This course meets the Natural Science  with lab general education distribution requirement.

Prerequisites: ENGL 93  (or placement into ENGL 99  or higher) and MATH 98  or MATH 99  (or placement into MATH& 107  or higher)

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• Apply the basic principles of science including theory, observation, hypothesis, and experimentation
• Calculate using metric measurements, scientific notation, significant figures and conversion factors
• Differentiate between atoms, elements, mixtures, compounds, energy,  and states of matter
• Identify the general structure of atoms and ions including protons, neutrons, and electrons, their properties and locations; determine the electron configuration of atoms, and state how energy and locations of electrons are related
• Examine the arrangement of the periodic table and be able to use the table to predict information about the elements
• Explain the concept of the mole and be able to perform a variety of calculations involving moles, Avogadro’s number, and mass
• Explain the relationship of compounds within a chemical equation and relate this to mass and molar ratios of a balanced equation
• Differentiate between an ionic bond/compound and a covalent bond/compound and be able to correctly name each compound
• Demonstrate various chemical reactions, relationships, principles, and laws using laboratory experiments
• Describe and understand the forces driving chemical and physical processes, including thermodynamics and kinetics and understand the basic principles of equilibrium
• Draw Lewis structures of molecules and determine the three-dimensional shapes of molecules using VSEPR theory
• Distinguish between the different types of intermolecular and intramolecular forces and understand their role in determining physical and chemical properties of substances
• Apply Kinetic Molecular Theory to understand the behavior of gases described by Gas laws
• Calculate and prepare solutions of various concentrations and know how the properties of solutions differ from those of pure substances
• Define acids and bases and determine the products of their reactions; understand buffer solutions and explain how they work
• Examine and communicate the relationship between chemistry and living systems including the role of chemistry in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, cellular physiology, metabolism, and health

• Use the scientific method to analyze natural phenomena and acquire skills to evaluate the accuracy of data/information relative to the natural world
• Identify and locate appropriate resources to answer questions concerning living systems and/or matter 
• Apply principles of science in our daily lives