SUBJECT: CHEMISTRY
Module Name: General Chemistry
Module Code: CH102
Level: 1 Semester: 2
Credit Weighting: 7.5
Pre-requisite(s): CH101
Teaching Methods: 34 lecture hours, 7 practical hours, 2 workshop hours, 10 tutorial
hours.
Responsible Department: Chemistry
Module Objective: Introduction to Inorganic, Physical and Organic Chemistry.
On completion of this module students should be able to:
Understand the importance of heat energy changes in chemical reactions, Hess’s
law and be able to work with bond energies.
Describe the concept of chemical equilibrium and the equilibrium constant.
Understand the importance of kinetics in chemistry.
Know how to calculate the rate of a reaction, the rate constant and the reaction
order.
Describe the influence of temperature on the rate of a reaction.
Predict chemical reactivity trends of elements in relation to outer electronic
configuration and position of elements in the Periodic Table (s- and p-block
elements).
Name simple organic compounds, using the IUPAC nomenclature.
Understand bonding in alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, benzene and cycloalkanes.
Understand the mechanisms of SN1, SN2, E1 and E2 reactions.
Module Content: Thermodynamics and equilibrium. Kinetic Theory and chemical
kinetics. Chemical trends in the Periodic Table. Introduction to Organic Chemistry and
the IUPAC nomenclature.
This module explores four important areas in chemistry:
(i) Thermodynamics and Equilibrium.
The course starts with the concept of internal energy and changes in the internal
energy of reactants and products as a reaction proceeds. The enthalpy function,
exothermic and endothermic reactions, Hess’s law and bond energies are
introduced. The concept of chemical equilibrium and the equilibrium constant is
then introduced.
(ii) Chemical Kinetics.
This course starts with the introduction of the rate of a reaction and how this can
be measured. Then, material on the rate law, reaction order, the Arrhenius
equation, the activation energy and the influence of temperature on the rate of a
reaction is covered.
(iii) Chemical Trends in the Periodic Table.
Hydrogen: electronic structure, preparation and properties.
s-Block: electronic structure of Group 1 and 2 elements, reactions, flame tests.
p-Block: Group 13 - electronic configuration, chemistry of aluminium; Group 14 -
electronic configuration, allotropes of C, hydrides, halides, oxides; Group 15: -
electronic configuration, N and P hydrides; Group 16 - electronic configuration,
preparation of oxygen, oxygen and sulphur allotropes, manufacture of sulphuric
acid, hydrides and hydrogen bonding, hydrogen peroxide; Group17 - electronic
configuration, structures and physical properties, oxidizing power, reaction with
metals and non-metals, interhalogens; Group 18 - electronic configuration, xenon
tetrafluoride.
(iv) Organic Chemistry.
Material covered includes: Chemistry of alkanes, alkenes and alkynes;
Cycloalkanes; Nucleophilic substitution reactions; Elimination reactions;
Chirality and the CIP rules; Alcohols, ethers and amines.
Assessment: Total Marks 100%. Two-hour written examination at the end of Semester 2,
70%. Practicals (including workshops) 20% marks, tutorials 10% marks.
Pass Standard: 40% subject to satisfactory performance in practical class and in tutorial
work.
Autumn Supplemental Examination: Two-hour written examination. Continuous
assessment mark is carried forward to the Autumn.