UCSCICHE017.5 ECTSEnglishBachelor
What’s the matter? Elementary Chemistry
Faculteit—
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:
- demonstrate a basic knowledge of chemistry, in particular of the following topics:
- Atomic structure and chemical elements.
- Formation of chemical bonds.
- Structure and properties of molecules.
- Energy effects associated with chemical and physical processes.
2. apply chemical knowledge in a non-science discipline.
3. demonstrate insight in the relation of chemistry with other scientific disciplines.
4. demonstrate insight in the role of chemistry in society.
| Description of assignment | Assesses which learning goals? |
|
1 1 4 1, 2, 3, 4 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Content
A priori knowledge in chemistry, physics or mathematics is not required to enroll in the course. This course is designed for students in the Humanities or Social Sciences with no previous education in Chemistry. It may also serve as a remedial course for students wishing to proceed to a regular level 1 Chemistry course.
Chemistry involves the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Chemistry plays an important role in everyday life, as matter is everywhere and everything around us consist of chemicals. This includes humans, fauna, flora, stars and planets, and from a somewhat different perspective food, clothes, buildings, vehicles, computers, drugs and art. Also, all human activity involves chemical processes. In fact, just by staying alive every organism practices chemistry!
The reliance of humanity on chemistry comes with a price. Because of the overabundant use of natural resources and chemical products, humans are confronted with problems like exhaustion of natural resources, environmental pollution and global warming. Chemistry is indispensable in the solution of these problems.
Because of its omnipresence and its connections to a wide range of other disciplines, any liberal arts and sciences student should have some basic knowledge of chemistry. This beginner course in chemistry provides non-science students with such knowledge. In the first part of the course an overview of the composition, structure and transformations of matter is given, while the second part is devoted to a project in which students apply chemical knowledge in a non-science discipline. Students are supposed to conceive their own project.
Chemistry involves the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Chemistry plays an important role in everyday life, as matter is everywhere and everything around us consist of chemicals. This includes humans, fauna, flora, stars and planets, and from a somewhat different perspective food, clothes, buildings, vehicles, computers, drugs and art. Also, all human activity involves chemical processes. In fact, just by staying alive every organism practices chemistry!
The reliance of humanity on chemistry comes with a price. Because of the overabundant use of natural resources and chemical products, humans are confronted with problems like exhaustion of natural resources, environmental pollution and global warming. Chemistry is indispensable in the solution of these problems.
Because of its omnipresence and its connections to a wide range of other disciplines, any liberal arts and sciences student should have some basic knowledge of chemistry. This beginner course in chemistry provides non-science students with such knowledge. In the first part of the course an overview of the composition, structure and transformations of matter is given, while the second part is devoted to a project in which students apply chemical knowledge in a non-science discipline. Students are supposed to conceive their own project.
Format
The course is divided into two parts. The first part (ca. 11 weeks) is devoted to the basics of chemistry: the periodic system of the elements, properties of the elements and their compounds, molecules, chemical reactions and associated energy effects. This part involves lectures, text book reading and exercises. Attention is also paid to how chemistry appears in the media. The second part (ca. 4 weeks) involves a project in which students apply their acquired chemical knowledge in a topic of their choice, in a non-science discipline. Herewith the students should get insight into the role which chemistry plays in this discipline. Results are communicated in the form of presentations and posters.
Reviews0 reviews
Nog geen reviews voor dit vak. Wees de eerste!
Heb jij dit vak gevolgd?
Deel je ervaring met toekomstige studenten. Inloggen met je Universiteit Utrecht mailadres duurt één minuut.
Schrijf een review