General Chemistry 1 (Chem 1A)

Chem 1A covers the following topics: scientific measurement, the structure and properties of elements and compounds, chemical reactions and calculations, heat and thermochemistry, light and color, and states of matter.

Quiz Practice Problems – doing these practice problems and spreading them out over time are really good for active retrieval of information to improve your long term retention. Important: Try answering the questions first before you look at the solutions.

Objective 2: Classify substances as elements, compounds, mixtures. Relate substance type to properties. Use properties to identify substances and separate mixtures.

Objective 3: Write chemical formulas of ionic and molecular compounds. Determine mole ratio of elements in compounds. Name ionic and molecular compounds.

Objective 4: Perform mole-mass calculations with compounds and reactions. Determine chemical formula from elemental analysis (% composition). Determine masses of reactants/product from mass of products/reactants in chemical reaction.

Objective 5: Double replacement reactions 1: balancing precipitation reactions, applying solubility table, write net ionic equations to predict whether a reaction occurs, perform mole-mass and mole ratio calculations (gravimetric)

Objective 6: Double replacement reactions 2: balancing acid-base and gas forming reactions, identifying strong and weak acids, write net ionic equations to predict whether a reaction occurs, perform C-V-mole and mole ratio calculations (volumetric)

pH values of common foods and drinks (and what it does to your teeth)

Objective 7: Single replacement reactions: balancing, apply Activity Series, write net ionic equations to predict whether a reaction occurs, perform mole-mass and mole ratio calculations

Objective 8: Energy and heat 1: predict heat in a physical heat transfer. Apply heat equations (q = mΔT, heat gained = heat lost)

Objective 9: Energy and heat 2: predict heat and work in a chemical reaction and chemical heat transfer. Apply using Hess’ law.

Objective 10: Light and color: relate EM radiation properties (wavelength, frequency, energy). Describe how light is produced with energy level diagrams. Understand quantization.

Objective 11: Light and atomic structure: apply quantum numbers to write electron configuration of atoms, identify valence electrons, draw Lewis dot symbols. Draw Lewis structures, identify polar bonds, distinguish isomers, draw skeletal structures.

Objective 12: Apply VSEPR theory to determine shape. Determine polarity from shape. Determine IM forces from polarity.

Chemistry of Thanksgiving video

Objective 13: States of matter – gases: relate kinetic theory of gases to gas variables (P, V, T, and n). Apply ideal gas law.

Objective 14: States of matter – liquids and solids: relate liquid and solid types to chemical forces and properties. Use phase diagrams.

Objective 15: Apply chemistry lab skills, which include the proper use and operation of lab chemicals, equipment, instruments, lab techniques, and safety procedures, and critical thinking skills to experiments.

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you should be able to apply the course objectives to:

(i) Given information about a substance, a student will be able to apply chemical concepts, laws, and theories to describe and predict chemical phenomena, such as properties and reactivity.

(ii) Given a chemical problem, a student will be able to apply chemical concepts, laws, and theories to formulate a reasonable solution to this problem.

(iii) Given experimental data, a student will be able to analyze the data, calculate results from data, and interpret results to draw rational conclusions.