General Chemistry for TEE

1) Thermodynamics and Chemical Equilibrium (27 hours)

1.1 Course (15 hours): Fundamentals of thermodynamics (concepts of energy and entropy), chemical and equilibrium potentials; degree of reaction; equilibrium shift; applications to solution chemistry and phase transitions

 1.2 Tutorials (1:00 p.m.):

Focusing on the concept of energy to clearly establish the relationships between different forms of energy; focusing on the concept of entropy: the connection between microscopic and macroscopic states, and the concepts of reversibility, irreversibility, and equilibrium; focusing on the concept of chemical potential: application of the law of mass action (equilibrium in solution and phase transitions)    

2) Introduction to Chemical Kinetics (6 hours)

 2.1 Lecture (2 hours): The relationship between thermodynamics and kinetics: Transition State Theory/Activated Complex Theory; Definitions: rate, order, and rate constant; half-life; Examples of simple kinetics; Thermal activation: Arrhenius law

2.2 Lab sessions (4 hours): determining the order of a reaction; using parameters

properties (_t1/2, k...); determination of an activation energy

3) Introduction to Radioactivity (3 hours)

3.1 Lecture (1.5 hours): History ; structure of the nucleus; particles and forces involved; nuclear reactions: fusion/decay and radiation; isotopes and stability; natural radioactivity; E_D =^Dmc² 

3.2 Lab Sessions (1.5 hours): Energy: Comparison of Chemical Reactions and Nuclear Reactions; Decay Time;^Carbon-14 Dating

to establish and reinforce the fundamental concepts necessary for a general understanding of the energetic and entropic phenomena that govern chemical reactions (concepts of chemical potential, heat of reaction, equilibrium, reversibility, and reaction rate), and more specifically those that will be covered in Course HAT403C

Basic mathematical functions; first- and second-degree equations; systems of equations (2 equations with 2 unknowns); simple integrals and derivatives.

Basic concepts in chemistry: identifying the fundamental characteristics of atoms (electronic structures, electronegativity, etc.) and of different types of chemical substances (organic vs. inorganic, ionic solids, molecular solids, state under standard conditions,

•  Be able to predict and calculate the equilibrium conditions of a chemical reaction and how that equilibrium can be altered.
•  Be able to make the connection between thermodynamics and kinetics: understand the complexity of a reaction mechanism at the molecular level.
•  Learn the basics of nuclear reactions and radioactivity