The following syllabus provides a general guide to the topics to be discussed:

Chemistry of the elements: periodicity exemplified, descriptive chemistry of non-metallic groups VII, VI and V, silicates - structural variety, close packing geometries, transition metals, coordination chemistry - ligands, isomerism, stability, biological examples.

Intermolecular forces, states of matter, liquefaction, vapour pressure, molar heat capacity, phase diagrams (one component), melting, boiling, critical phenomena and lattice energies.

Solutions: solubility, phase diagrams of multicomponent systems, colligative properties, Raoult’s law, deviations from ideality, mp depression/bp elevation, osmosis.

Introductory kinetics: reaction rates - 1st, 2nd and 3rd order; molecularity, Arrhenius equation.

Advanced Kinetics: activation energies, elementary steps in reaction mechanisms, catalysis, Michaelis-Menten kinetics, radioactive decay (as an example of exponential decay).

Spectroscopy: absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation, applications of spectroscopy, especially UV-Vis, AAS, IR & NMR, Beer-Lambert law, colorimetry. Biologically active compounds, chemical communication, drugs, synthesis and spectroscopy: drugs, pharmaceuticals and synthesis, reaction mechanisms, alcohols, ethers and carbonyl compounds, structural determination by spectroscopy.

Laboratory: Exercises illustrating the simpler principles of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. The apparatus used in the course is supplied by the RSC. Attendance at laboratory classes is compulsory.

Honours Pathway Option (HPO)

Replacement of 12 tutorials with 12 additional lectures at a more advanced level.  The HPO is designed for students with a strong interest in chemistry from school, Science Summer School, Olympiad or equivalent. It is expected that all students in the PhB or Honours degree programs enrolled in CHEM1201 will complete the HPO.

25% by laboratory work and 75% by exam.

Proposed Assessment HPO: The standard course will count 90% towards the final grade and the Honours Pathway Option 10%.

A maximum of 48 hours of lectures/tutorials and 27 hours of laboratory classes.

CHEM1101 Chemistry 1

Chemistry Cubed: Introducing Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry by Burrows, Parsons and Price