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General Chemistry I
CHEM101 | 3 Credits
General Chemistry I will get you familiar with the basic principles of chemistry. Learn all about the analysis of matter and its components, stoichiometry, intermolecular force, and phase changes.
Professor: Marcie Occhi
About This Course
What You’ll Learn
This is a comprehensive introductory course designed to familiarize students with the basic principles of chemistry. This course will provide the student with a solid foundation for further study into the sciences.
- Describe chemistry's historical development, the scientific method, classify states of matter, their properties, and the influence of chemical measurements on chemical calculations.
- Interpret Dalton’s atomic theory, calculate atomic mass and isotopic abundance, and analyze periodic table organization and trends in element properties.
- Describe the quantum mechanical description of electrons in atoms including electron configurations and their relation to the periodic table, and the observed trends in atomic size, ionization energy, and electron affinity of elements.
- Explain chemical bonding, Lewis structures, formal charges, bond polarity, and molecule structure prediction.
- Classify chemical reactions, comprehend mole concepts and stoichiometry, explain factors affecting reaction rates, net and elementary reactions with rate laws, and concentration units for solution calculations.
- Explain energy concepts, thermodynamics laws, enthalpy principles, and calorimetry techniques, enabling proficient calculation and interpretation of heat-related properties.
- Recognize gas property relationships, apply gas laws in calculations, explaining the postulates of kinetic-molecular theory.
- Describe intermolecular forces, crystalline structure types, defects, and phase transitions, aiding in the interpretation of phase diagrams.
- Describe temperature and pressure effects on solubility, solution concentration measures, and the impact of solute concentration on solution properties, including osmosis.
- Recognize Brønsted-Lowry acids and bases, evaluating aqueous solution acidity, pH and pOH calculations.
- Describe acid-base buffers, titration curves, and interpret chemical equations and equilibrium expressions for solubility equilibria.
- Describe entropy and Gibbs free energy, their changes, and correlate them with chemical and physical processes, spontaneity, and equilibrium constants.
- Illustrate nuclear structure, radioactive decay types, their biological effects, and radiation measurement units and detection tools.
- Explain methods for representing molecules in organic chemistry, and the difference between various types of organic compounds based on their characteristic properties.
- Apply theoretical concepts to real-life scenarios through case studies and practice sets designed to enhance problem-solving and analytical skills.
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WANT US TO CHECK?Course Details
This course provides a solid foundation in the core principles of chemical science. Beginning with atoms and the periodic table, it explores electronic structure, chemical bonding, and molecular geometry, linking atomic properties to behavior. Students will study reaction stoichiometry, kinetics, energy changes, and gas behavior, along with intermolecular forces affecting liquids and solids. The course covers solutions, acid-base concepts, equilibria, entropy, free energy, and nuclear energy, concluding with an introduction to organic chemistry. This foundation prepares students for advanced studies in chemistry and related fields.
ACE-Recommended
ACE Code:
OOSL-0015
Flexible Schedule
28-day Average Course Completion
Transferred 3,500 times
$3,900,000 Saved on Tuition
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to take General Chemistry.
Course Text
This course requires lab kit LP-5370-CK-01 from Science Interactive. This lab kit will be available for purchase for $138 (plus shipping) after you enroll.
Course Checkpoints
Checkpoint 1: Getting Started
- The Science Interactive Cloud
- Exploration, Experimentation, and Evaluation
- Science Interactive Resources
Checkpoint 2: Lab Safety
- Safety guidelines for using Science Interactive lab kits
- Terms associated with common laboratory safety equipment
Capstone 1: Lab Kit Inventory
- Kit contents list
- Reviewing your Science Interactive kit
Capstone 2: Molecular Modeling and Lewis Structures
- Allotropes, valence electrons, and lone pairs
- Duet rule and octet rule
- Lewis structures
- Valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) model
Capstone 3: Stoichiometry of a Precipitation Reaction
- Parts of a chemical reaction, including the reactants and products
- Defining characteristics of a precipitation reaction
- Stoichiometry
- Importance of accurate calculations
- How the molar quantity of a substance is related to its molecular weight
- Molar quantity of various substances
- How hydrated compounds influence precipitation reactions
Capstone 4: The Mole: Conversions, Mass Determination, and Hydrates
- The concept of a mole
- Atomic mass, molecular mass, and molar mass
- Conversion between mass, moles, atoms, and molecules
- Name hydrates by the number of moles of water held in a compound
Capstone 5: Ideal Gas Law
- Solids, liquids, and gases
- Ideal gas law
- Charles Law
- Avogadro's Law
- Gay-Lussac's Law
- Boyle's law using PV = k
- How data on force (kg•m/s²; N), mass (kg), and area (m²) can be used to calculate pressure (N/m²; Pa) in a closed system
Capstone 6: Introduction to the Periodic Table
- Origin of the periodic table
- Organization of the periodic table
- Period, group, metal, nonmetal, metalloid, and transition metal
- Proper format for symbols of elements
Capstone 7: The Scientific Method
- Steps of the scientific method
- Hypothesis, independent variable, dependent variable, and control
- Qualitative versus quantitative data
Capstone 8: Math and Graphing Prep
- Scientific notation
- Unit conversions
- Unknown variables in equations
- How graphs are used to illustrate and interpret data
Assignments & Grading
Your score provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
Assignments for this course include:
- 5 Benchmarks
- 1 Cumulative Benchmark
This course has an open-book Cumulative Benchmark. Scientific and/or graphing calculators are allowed throughout the course.
What You’ll Need
- A reliable computer or laptop
- Stable internet connection
- Web browser
- Basic computer skills
- Scientific or graphing calculator
- Any required course materials
- This course requires lab kit LP-5370-CK-01 from Science Interactive. This lab kit will be available for purchase for $138 (plus shipping) after you enroll.
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Course Professor
Marcie Occhi
M.S.
Marcie is a licensed, professional geologist, holding advanced graduate degrees in geology, with a focus on geochemistry. She was delighted to teach introductory chemistry labs, along with both low and high-temperature geochemistry classes as a graduate student at both the University of Maryland and University of Pennsylvania. She currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she makes detailed geologic maps for the Virginia Geological Survey and has a deep passion for citizen science and science literacy!
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Real, human feedback to help you ace your assignments
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Real, human feedback to help you ace your assignments
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Kickoff Your Career in Healthcare
Chemistry doesn't have to be complicated—it can be a great way to understand the world on a whole new level. Whether you’re preparing to become a nurse, medical assistant, physical therapist, or another hands-on medical role, General Chemistry will help you build the knowledge and confidence to succeed.
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3 Credits
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