Introduction to Chemistry (2024/2025: Semester 2 – Spring)

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Course aim

After completing this course students:
  1. are able to describe bonding in molecules in terms of orbitals and electron configurations, construct energy level diagrams and relate molecular structure and properties to chemical bonding.
  2. have insight into energy effects associated with chemical and physical processes, are able to calculate equilibrium constants and equilibrium compositions for chemical reactions, and have knowledge of elementary mechanisms of organic reactions.
  3. have insight into spectroscopic techniques, their relation with molecular properties and their use in structure elucidation.


Relationship between assessment and learning goals:

Mid-term written examination (weight 35%): this tests your knowledge of, and ability to apply the topics and concepts covered in the first six weeks of the course (course goal 1).
Final written examination (weight 35%): this tests your knowledge of, and ability to apply the topics and concepts covered in the second part of the course (course goal 2).
Written essay (weight 20%):this tests your ability to grasp and apply experimental techniques to obtain information about molecular structure and properties covered in the course as well as your ability to transfer the knowledge in writing (course goal 3).
Class participation (weight 10%)

Course content

Chemistry is the science which describes the composition of matter and its transformations. For the simple reason that everything consists of matter, knowledge of chemistry enables us to understand the world around us and beyond. This does not only concern lifeless matter; the living world is also regulated by chemical processes. As a science, chemistry firstly deals with the description and understanding of the structure, function, and properties of matter. In addition to this descriptive part, chemical sciences involve the development of novel compounds, materials, processes and methods.
This introductory course presents an overview of chemistry and lays the foundations by considering its central concepts. It starts with the quantum world in which the structure of atoms and elements and the role of electrons in chemical bonding are described. Then the energetics associated with chemical processes and chemical equilibria are studied, a discipline called thermodynamics. It is shown that processes can occur when the entropy (disorder) of a system and its surroundings increase. This allows to calculate equilibrium constants and equilibrium compositions. The course ends with the treatment of some basic organic (i.e., carbon based) chemical reactions.
When possible, attention is paid to the connection of the subject matter with materials science and/or the biochemical relevance.
Format
There are two meetings each week, which combine lecturing and problem solving. Instrumental techniques which are important within chemistry are addressed by means of a written essay.

Instructional formats

UCU SCI 1 course

Examination

Class participation

Required | Weight 10% | ECTS 0.75

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Not required

Mid-term written examination

Required | Weight 35% | ECTS 2.63

End-of-term written examination

Required | Weight 35% | ECTS 2.63

Written essay

Required | Weight 20% | ECTS 1.5

Entry requirements and preknowledge

Entry Requirements

No data about mandatory entry requirements is available.

Preknowledge

Higher level secondary school chemistry, physics and mathematics are highly recommended. Students can check whether their chemistry knowledge is adequate by studying the introductory Fundamentals Chapter of the Chemistry 3 course book. Otherwise, consider taking the UCSCICHE01 course which does not require prior knowledge.

Languages

  • English

Course Iterations

Related studies

Exams

There is no timetable available of the exams

Required Materials

  • BOEK
    Andrew Burrows, John Holman, Andrew Parsons, Gwen Pilling, and Gareth Price; Chemistry 3 Introducing inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, Third Edition, Oxford University Press, 2017 ISBN 9780198733805, or Fourth Edition, Oxford University Press, 2021 ISBN 9780198829980. Please note that the second edition of the Chemistry 3 text book will not be used anymore.

Recommended Materials

No information available on the recommended literature

Coördinator

dr. C.A. van Walree C.A.vanWalree@uu.nl

Lecturers

dr. M. Barroso Silva da Cruz m.barrososilvadacruz@uu.nl
dr. C.A. van Walree C.A.vanWalree@uu.nl

Enrolment

Attention: this course is not open to students from other faculties, so subsidiary students can't enroll for this course.

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