Browse Hierarchy SEF043: Foundations of Chemical Science

Introduction to atomic structure: electrons, protons and neutrons, mass and atomic numbers, isotopes The electronic structure of atoms: Bohr's model of the atom, quantum numbers and introduction to the concept of orbitals and orbital shape, electron configurations, Aufbau principle, Hund's rule and the Pauli exclusion principle, valence and core electrons. Stoichiometry and concentrations: empirical and molecular formulae, balancing chemical equations, the concept of moles and molarity. Chemical bonding: ionic, metallic and covalent bonding, polarisation of bonds, bond strengths and lengths. Properties of gases, liquids and solids: Interatomic and intermolecular forces and the ideal gas law. Introduction to organic chemistry: identification of functional groups and classes of organic compounds, organic nomenclature, the hybridisation approach to rationalising bonding and isomerism. Acids and bases: Brønsted¿Lowry theory of acids and bases, strong and weak acids, acid-base pairs, pH and pKa, buffers solutions, Lewis acids and bases Revision of some basic topics: units, significant figures; moles, molarities and dilutions. Chemical equilibria: equilibria as a dynamic phenomenon, definition of Kc and Kp, calculation of equilibrium concentrations, Le Chatelier's principle, relation between free energy changes and the equilibrium constant. Organic chemistry: specific examples of the structure and reactivity of selected organic compounds