Unit 3101: General Chemistry Fundamentals

1. Introduction to General Chemistry

• Overview of chemistry and its importance
• Basic concepts: matter, elements, compounds, mixtures
• The periodic table: groups, periods, and element classification
• Chemical bonding overview
• Applications of chemistry in medicine, environment, engineering, and industry

2. Atomic Structure

• Atoms and subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, electrons
• Atomic number, mass number, isotopes
• Atomic models: Dalton, Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr, Quantum mechanical model
• Electron configurations and orbital diagrams
• Periodic trends and their relation to atomic structure

3. Chemical Bonding

• Types of chemical bonds:
  • Ionic bonding
  • Covalent bonding
  • Metallic bonding
• Lewis structures: drawing and interpretation
• Molecular geometry and VSEPR theory
• Polarity of molecules
• Intermolecular forces: dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding, London dispersion forces

4. Stoichiometry

• Balancing chemical equations
• Mole concept and Avogadro’s number
• Molar mass and its calculation
• Mole ratios in reactions
• Percent composition and empirical/molecular formulas
• Limiting reactants and theoretical yield

5. Gases and Kinetic Molecular Theory

• Properties of gases
• Gas laws:
  • Boyle’s Law
  • Charles’s Law
  • Avogadro’s Law
  • Combined gas law
• Ideal Gas Law: PV=nRT
• Kinetic Molecular Theory and assumptions
• Real gases vs ideal gases

6. Solutions and Concentrations

• Definition and types of solutions
• Solubility and factors affecting solubility
• Concentration units:
  • Molarity (M)
  • Molality (m)
  • Percent composition
• Colligative properties:
  • Boiling point elevation
  • Freezing point depression
• Preparing solutions and dilution calculations

7. Acids and Bases

• Properties of acids and bases
• pH and pOH scales
• Strong vs weak acids and bases
• Acid-base neutralization reactions
• Titration techniques and calculations
• Buffers and their importance

8. Chemical Reactions

• Classification of reactions:
  • Synthesis (combination)
  • Decomposition
  • Single replacement
  • Double replacement
• Balancing chemical equations (review)
• Reaction stoichiometry
• Factors affecting reaction rates

9. Thermochemistry

• Heat and temperature basics
• Endothermic and exothermic reactions
• Enthalpy (ΔH) and standard enthalpy changes
• Calorimetry and heat capacity
• Hess's Law
• Energy changes and chemical reactions

10. Electrochemistry

• Redox reactions: oxidation and reduction
• Electrochemical cells: galvanic and electrolytic
• Standard electrode potentials and electrochemical series
• Faraday’s laws of electrolysis
• Applications: batteries, corrosion, electroplating

11. Organic Chemistry Basics

• Introduction to organic compounds
• Hydrocarbons: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes
• Functional groups: alcohols, carboxylic acids, amines, etc.
• Nomenclature basics
• Isomerism: structural and stereoisomers
• Basic organic reactions: substitution, addition, elimination