Chemical Principles I (CHEM 1211K) is the first course of our two-semester sequence for majors requiring a minimum of three semesters of chemistry (BIOL, BCHM, CHBE, CHEM, EAS, MSE, etc.). The course uses the Interactive General Chemistry textbook from Macmillan.

Course Objectives

  • Identify steps in the scientific method.
  • Apply concepts of measurement and significant figures to laboratory practices and chemical problems.
  • Correlate position on the periodic table to properties of elements and bonds.
  • Calculate amounts of chemical species using information from chemical formulas and chemical equations.
  • Correlate information from balanced chemical equations to the microscopic scale.
  • Explain atomic structure using the quantum mechanical model of the atom.
  • Explain periodic trends using theories of electronic structure.
  • Predict molecular properties and behavior based on molecular structure and bonding theories*.
  • Interpret thermochemical equations and data and evaluate energies of systems.
  • Infer changes in enthalpy and entropy during chemical processes and relate these to free energy change.
  • Summarize the behaviors of gases and explain them using the kinetic molecular theory.
  • Correlate the molecular level process that occur during heating, cooling, and phase changes to the amount of energy removed or added to a system during each process.

* Please note that valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory are topics that many students do not see in high school chemistry, even in AP and honors courses. They are also areas of utmost importance to understanding material in CHEM 1212K.  Please carefully consider your background in these areas as you decide whether to use your AP / SAT II / IB credit for CHEM 1211K.