Introduction to Chemistry

After completing this course students:

1. are able to describe bonding in molecules in terms of orbitals and electron configurations, construct energy level diagrams and relate molecular structure and properties to chemical bonding.
2. have insight into energy effects associated with chemical and physical processes, are able to calculate equilibrium constants and equilibrium compositions for chemical reactions
3. have knowledge of the reactivity of organic compounds and insight into elementary mechanisms of organic reactions.

Chemistry is the science which describes the composition of matter and its transformations. For the simple reason that everything consists of matter, knowledge of chemistry enables us to understand the world around us and beyond. This does not only concern lifeless matter; the living world is also regulated by chemical processes. As a science, chemistry firstly deals with the description and understanding of the structure, function, and properties of matter. In addition to this descriptive part, chemical sciences involve the development of novel compounds, materials, processes and methods.
This introductory course presents an overview of chemistry and lays the foundations by considering its central concepts. It starts with the quantum world in which the structure of atoms and elements and the role of electrons in chemical bonding are described. Then the energetics associated with chemical processes and chemical equilibria are studied, a discipline called thermodynamics. It is shown that processes can occur when the entropy (disorder) of a system and its surroundings increase. This allows to calculate equilibrium constants and equilibrium compositions. The course ends with the treatment of some basic organic (i.e., carbon based) chemical reactions.
When possible, attention is paid to the connection of the subject matter with materials science and/or the biochemical relevance.

Format
There are two meetings each week, which combine lecturing and problem solving. Instrumental techniques which are important within chemistry are addressed by means of a written essay.