General Chemistry

The course gives an introduction to basic concepts and models used in chemistry. It includes chemical nomenclature; chemical formulas and chemical equations; chemical reactions and stoichiometry; chemical equilibrium; atoms, molecules, and crystalline compounds; atomic structure, electron configurations, and chemical bonds; molecular structures; the periodic system; introduction to organic chemistry; acids, bases, and buffers; properties of gases and solutions; intermolecular forces; basic thermodynamics; reaction kinetics; redox reactions; electrochemistry; and basic nuclear chemistry.

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student can:

• Identify different chemical reactions and name common chemical compounds.
• Describe chemical equilibrium and how this is influenced by changes, e.g. in concentration, pressure, and temperature.
• Describe colligative properties.
• Describe the principles for galvanic cells/batteries and electrolysis, and give examples of how electrolysis is used in industry.
• Describe different types of chemical bonding, explain how such bonds are formed, and explain the basis for the different structures and geometries of small molecules.
• Explain the kinetics for simple chemical reactions and recognize different types of reaction mechanisms from rate laws and reaction orders.
• Explain the concept of catalysis and how catalysis affects reaction rates.
• Recognize the most important compounds and functional groups in organic chemistry (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, and amines), and give examples of reactions for the most important functional groups in organic chemistry.
• Explain the fundamentals of nuclear chemistry and understand and describe different radioactive processes.

Skills

After completing the course, the student can:

• Perform stoichiometric calculations and balance chemical reaction equations.
• Perform calculations for equilibria in gaseous mixtures and aqueous solutions, including calculations of pH, solubility, and colligative properties.
• Perform basic thermodynamic calculations based on knowledge about entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy, and relate these properties to chemical equilibria.
• Draw electrochemical cell diagrams, calculate the voltage for simple galvanic cells and relate this to Gibbs free energy and chemical equilibria.
• Predict molecular geometry using the VSEPR model.
• Draw organic structural formulas, identify structural isomers, and name alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.
• Define the rate of reactions, determine the rate law from experimental data for 0., 1., and 2. order reactions and use the integrated raw laws for 0., 1., and 2. order reactions.
• Execute simple chemical experiments in the laboratory safely and securely.

General knowledge

After completing the course, the student can:

• Give examples of the central role of chemistry in the development of a sustainable society.
• Disseminate results from their laboratory work both written and graphically in laboratory reports.
• Understand and interpret assessment of risks for simple laboratory experiments, in the form of standardized Safe Job Analysis forms.

Lectures, exercises, and laboratory work:

• The laboratory course is compulsory and must be completed to take the written exam. A compulsory HSE module (HMS0001), and a course-specific digital HSE lecture, must be completed before admission to the laboratory.
• A certain number of the exercises (specific details will be given at the start of the course) have to be completed and approved to take the written exam.

Information about the start of lectures and compulsory activities will be given via Blackboard.

Please note that the laboratory course is a prerequisite for admission to several other chemistry courses. It is therefore highly recommended to complete the laboratory course even if the other parts of the course are not completed.