More About Our Course

Official Course Information

Catalog Description

A course in chemistry designed for the nonscience student who wishes to discover how chemistry is an intricate part of our everyday life. Students will become acquainted with basic chemical principles and practices, fundamental concepts, and modern implications of chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on environmental applications of topics covered, including the study of environmental issues such as ozone depletion, global warming, air and water pollution, and radioactivity. Demonstrations and hands-on in-class experiments involving student participation take the place of a laboratory.
This is a 3 unit course; 3 hours lecture.

Course Objectives

Recognize and differentiate between chemical and physical properties used to define and describe a substance.
Categorize matter by learning to distinguish elements from compounds, pure substances from mixtures, and homogenous matter from heterogenous matter.
Describe the scientific method as a way of knowing about the natural world, and further differentiate the process from methods used in other academic areas.
Compare and contrast the cycles of four particularly important elements--carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen--as they interact to allow the flow of energy and materials through our ecosystems.
Examine critically the experimental evidence that led to our present knowledge of atomic theory and structure of the atom.
Construct a correct Lewis dot structure and assess the type of chemical bonding as ionic, covalent, or polar covalent, given a simple chemical species.
Explore and appraise the processes, risks, and benefits of nuclear radiation.
Gain a basic understanding of chemical equations, symbols, and simple chemical nomenclature.
Compare and contrast important types of reactions in solution, including simple acid base and very simple oxidation-reduction reactions that occur in our environment.
Apply the skills given in objectives above, as well as recall and relate the basic facts, to critically evaluate the applied areas of the course as given in the course content list.
- Scientific methodology and categorization of matter.
- Ecosystems and nutrient cycles.
- Atomic theory and atomic structure.
- Introduction to chemical bonding, equations, and nomenclature.
- Introduction to nuclear chemistry.
- Elementary acid-base and oxidation reduction reactions.
- Simple organic chemistry.
- Water resources and water pollution.
- The atmosphere and air pollution.
- As many of the following applied areas (possibly 3 or 4), as class time and student/instructor interest allow:
  - Biochemistry.
  - Polymers and plastics.
  - Fossil fuels as our major source of energy.
  - Energy sources for the future.
  - Chemical toxicology.
  - Food and nutrition.
  - Agricultural chemistry.
  - The disposal of dangerous wastes.
  - Pharmaceutical chemistry.

Student Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a working knowledge of the language of chemistry.
Read and evaluate chemistry in scientific journals designed for the general population.
Analyze periodic trends to predict physical and chemical properties of compounds and elements.