Laboratory course in which students are given the opportunity to carry out important synthetic reactions where products are purified, characterized, and identified using various physical and instrumental methods and techniques. A continuation of CHEM 0330. This course offers a general introduction to chemistry with an emphasis on basic chemical concepts. It starts by describing how atoms and molecules were discovered and how their properties are understood. Next, the process of a chemical reaction is described.
Emphasis is on understanding principles, rather than on mathematical theory or calculations.
There are no prerequisites or corequisites for this course. This course examines problems facing society where chemistry has immediate impact. Topics include such issues as environmental pollution, new vs. old sources of energy, new sources of raw materials, nuclear energy and associated problems, and development of new pharmaceuticals, drug and future needs in medicine, and the synthesis of new life forms. Controversial issues are presented and include debates between experts of competing viewpoints. The emphasis is scientific and the topics serve to increase the scientific depth of the students.