20806209College Chemistry 1
Course Information
Description
The first semester of a two-semester sequence in college chemistry that includes the topics of measurement, chemical nomenclature, chemical reactions and stoichiometry, atomic structure, gas laws, thermochemistry, chemical bonding and solution chemistry. This course is for students who need one or two semesters of what is typically considered freshman college chemistry. Laboratory work assists in understanding chemical concepts and developing problem-solving skills. Students may complete the year of general college chemistry with 20-806-212.
Total Credits
5
Course Competencies
  1. Demonstrate proficiency with unit-cancellation
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you produce a valid unit-cancellation setup for a given problem
    your answer is mathematically correct, includes the correct unit(s), and contains the proper number of significant figures

  2. Validate solutions to mathematical problems
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you check the validity of a solution by correctly applying an appropriate technique
    you explain your validation process

  3. Use mathematical formulas correctly
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you choose the correct formula for a given problem
    you rearrange the formula, as needed, correctly substitute values in the formula and correctly solve for the missing quantity

  4. Generate and interpret graphs
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you choose appropriate scales for axes and accurately plot data points
    you label and title the graph appropriately
    you determine coordinate values and/or slope of a line from the graph
    you correctly interpret the correlation coefficient to determine if a set of data is linear to a high degree of certainty
    you interpret the correlation coefficient to determine if a set of data is linear to a high degree of certainty
    you interpret important features of the graph such as trends, fit of the data, etc

  5. Convert among various units of measurement
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    your relationships used in the solution are correct
    you convert the measurements involved

  6. Contrast the composition and properties of each of the following types of matter: elements, compounds, pure substances, mixtures
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you identify whether a single type of atom or more than one type of atom is present
    you state whether the substance can be broken down into simpler substances or not
    you indicate whether the proportions of various components are fixed or variable
    you determine whether chemical or physical processes are necessary to separate the components

  7. Describe the composition of matter from the subatomic level to the macroscopic level, using any of the following tools as appropriate: isotopic notation, atomic diagrams, chemical formulas, models, and drawings
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you relate the subatomic composition of a given atom or ion to an atomic diagram and to its isotopic notation
    you interpret the composition of a compound from its chemical formula
    you build a model or make a pictorial representation of a given element, ion, ionic compound, covalent compound, pure substance or mixture

  8. Predict general physical and chemical properties of an element from the position of that element on the Periodic Table
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you use the concept of chemical families for groups to relate the behavior of a given element to others that behave similarly
    you predict metallic or nonmetallic behaviors from the position of an element on the Periodic Table
    you recognize elements with little or no reactivity (the rare gases)
    you recognize elements that exist as diatonic molecules

  9. Describe the type of chemical bonding that will occur between a given pair of atoms and explain the basis for your decision
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you determine whether a compound will be ionic or covalent based on the types of atoms in the compound
    you summarize the general behavior of the bonding electrons for the major types of compounds, ionic and covalent

  10. Interconvert the formulas for binary and ternary ionic compounds and binary covalent compounds with their names.
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    your formula contains the correct symbols and subscripts
    your cation is written first for ionic compounds
    your name of compound includes correct spelling and use of Roman numerals where required

  11. Interconvert the formulas for binary and ternary acids with their names
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    your formula contains the correct symbols and subscripts
    you identify an acid as binary or ternary
    your name of compound includes correct spelling and capitalization

  12. Describe and use the relationship amongst number of particles, moles and mass of a substance
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you interconvert moles, atoms, and mass for an element, and moles, formula units and mass for a compound
    you judge the magnitude of an answer for reasonableness

  13. Empirical & Molecular Formulas
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you solve for the empirical formula of a compound given appropriate data
    your relationships or conversion factors used are true and contain the correct number of significant figures
    your problem-solving process is clearly documented, including units of quantities involved

  14. Calculate the amount of any reactant or product in a chemical reaction using stoichiometry principles
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you solve for grams, moles, atoms, or molecules of any substance in a reaction when provided with the quantity of a different substance in that reaction
    your relationships or conversion factors used are true
    your problem-solving process is clearly documented, including units of quantities involved
    you build a model or make a pictorial representation of a given element, ion, ionic compound, covalent compound, pure substance or mixture
    you determine the percent yield for a given reaction when provided with actual yield data

  15. Describe the solution process that occurs when a substance is dissolved in water
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you describe or diagram the species present in a given aqueous solution
    you indicate the relative proportions of species present for the solution of a given electrolyte
    you indicate, using words or a diagram, the interaction between the solute and water that is responsible for the solution process

  16. Calculate the concentration of a solution in molarity
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you calculate the molarity of a solution when given information about the amount of solute and the volume of solution present
    you show the problem-solving process, including units on quantities used

  17. Describe how to prepare a given solution from a pure solute and solvent
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you calculate the mass of solute required to prepare the given solution
    you write one or more complete sentences describing how to prepare the desired solution using the calculated mass of solute, and the amount of water needed to reach the desired solution volume
    you show the problem-solving process, including units on quantities used

  18. Describe how to dilute a stock solution to prepare a more dilute solution of known concentration
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you calculate the volume of stock solution needed to prepare the desired diluted solution
    you indicate the problem-solving process
    you write one or more complete sentences describing how to prepare the desired solution using the calculated volume of stock solution and the amount of water needed to reach the desired solution volume

  19. Solve stoichiometry problems involving reactant solutions of known concentration and volume
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you determine the amount of a reactant required to react with a given volume of another reactant solution of known concentration

  20. Use the kinetic molecular theory to explain the general behavior of gases
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you determine the relative spacing and motion of particles in solids, liquids and gases
    you use the kinetic molecular theory to explain the relative densities, compressibilities, and diffusion rates in gases compared to the condensed states of matter
    you use the kinetic molecular theory to explain the effects of temperature, volume, and number of moles on gas pressure

  21. Solve problems involving the combined gas law, the ideal gas law, and Dalton's Law of partial pressures
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you use the combined gas law equation to calculate the volume for pressure of a gas under new conditions
    you use the ideal gas law equation to calculate one of the following variables when the others are specified: pressure, temperature, volume, number of moles
    you use Dalton's Law of partial pressures to determine either a missing partial pressure or the total pressure of a gas mixture

  22. Solve stoichiometry problems involving gases and predict behaviors based on limitations of ideal behaviors of gases
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you use the ideal gas law equation to determine the volume of a gaseous product collected under non-standard conditions
    you predict the conditions under which gases are not likely to have ideal behaviors

  23. Describe and explain the differences between exothermic and endothermic reactions
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you examine a thermochemical equation and determine if the reaction absorbs or gives off energy in the form of heat
    you explain what happens to the energy change when a thermochemical equation is reversed
    you contrast thermochemical equations with molecular equations in terms of what information is provided

  24. Student can do calorimetry problems
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain the differences in making measurements of energy changes under conditions of constant volume as opposed to conditions of constant pressure
    you explain the differences in design and operation between a bomb calorimeter and a styrofoam calorimeter
    you explain why calorimeters usually need to be calibrated including what the significance is of the heat capacity of a calorimeter

  25. Do enthalpy calculations, including those using Hess' Law
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain the set of standard conditions used in thermochemical calculations
    you explain what is meant by a state function and how that is used to calculate enthalpy changes indirectly
    you manipulate a set of "working equations" to arrive at a "target" equation that shows the required reaction and calculates the enthalpy change
    you work with standard heats of formation to find the enthalpy change for a given chemical reaction

  26. Explain how the modern theory of the atom developed, using probabilities to find the location of electrons
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain the reasons for the parallel understanding of the nature of light and the structure of the atom, using wave-particle dual descriptions
    you explain the contributions of important physicists and chemists in developing the model of the atom used today, focusing on the most probable location of electrons
    you compare the differences between microscopic particles such as electrons, and macroscopic particles, and why the Uncertainty Principle becomes important for electrons

  27. Writing ground state electron configurations
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain how ground state electron configurations give useful information that leads to predictions of chemical changes for atoms and ions
    you explain how the Periodic Table can be tied in to contributions of Quantum Theory for predicting electron configurations
    you differentiate between metals and non-metals in terms of trends in electron configuration

  28. Assigning quantum numbers to electrons in atoms and ions
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain how the solution of Schrodinger's wave equations lead to the first three quantum numbers
    you explain the selection rules for the principal quantum number, the angular momentum quantum number, the magnetic quantum number, and the spin quantum number
    you relate the values for the quantum numbers to the sizes and shapes of atomic orbitals
    you explain how the Hund's rule and the Paul Exclusion Principle are tied in to quantum numbers and predicting ground state electron configurations

  29. Explaining the sizes and shapes of atomic orbitals
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain how the values for the principle and angular momentum quantum numbers relate to the size and shapes of atomic orbitals
    you predict the number of atomic orbitals in a sublevel, and draw pictures of atomic orbitals through the d sublevel
    you relate orbital occupation to electron configurations

  30. Predicting trends in several properties of elements in terms of the location of elements in the Periodic Table
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you predict changes in atomic size moving through a group or a period
    you predict changes in ionization energy upon moving through a group or a period
    you predict changes in electronegativity upon movement through a group or a period
    you predict changes in electron affinity upon movement through a group or a period

  31. Predicting changes in sizes of ions compared to the atoms they are formed from
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain what happens to the size of an atom changes when electrons are removed, forming a positive ion
    you explain what happens to the size of an atom changes when electrons are added, forming a negative ion

  32. Write electron dot structures (Lewis structures) for molecules and ions
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain which atom will be the central atom in a structure
    you draw the Lewis structure for a given ion or molecule
    you explain when more than one resonance structure is needed for a molecule or ion
    you explain when the octet rule will not be obeyed

  33. Predict the three dimensional geometry of molecules and ions
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you use VSEPR principles to determine the shape of a molecule
    you explain when a simple binary structure does not require use of VSEPR predictions

  34. Predict whether a given molecule will have a dipole moment
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain how differences in electronegativity allow predictions of polar and non-polar bonds
    you determine if there is a molecular dipole
    you categorize a molecule a polar or non-polar based on its molecular dipole

  35. Describe chemical changes using balanced chemical equations in the form of molecular equations
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you show particle drawings correctly illustrating the reactants and products
    your equation includes the formulas for reactants and products, is balanced in lowest terms and any additional symbols such as precipitates or physical states are used appropriately
    you identify equation type as combination, decomposition, single replacement, or double replacement

  36. Write net ionic equations from molecular equations
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you develop a net ionic equation from a molecular equation
    you predict when a precipitate is formed in a reaction in solution, given a table of solubility rules

  37. Assign oxidation numbers to elements in a molecule or ion
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you apply basic rules for assigning oxidation numbers
    you use oxidation numbers in developing Stock name for ionic compounds

  38. Apply definitions of oxidation and reduction to chemical systems
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explain oxidation and reduction in terms of transfer of electrons
    you explain the oxidation and reduction in terms of changes in oxidation number

  39. Describe the noncovalent interactions that can occur between given atoms, molecules, or ions
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you identify the following noncovalent attractions when present between given molecules: metallic bonding, ionic bonding, dipole-dipole attractions, hydrogen bonding and dispersion forces
    you diagram the noncovalent attractions between given molecules, including partial charges when applicable

  40. Use the kinetic molecular theory to explain the behavior in liquids and solids as compared to gases
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you explore the relative spacing and motion of particles in solids, liquids and gases
    you use the kinetic molecular theory to explain the relative densities, compressibilities and diffusion rates in solids, liquids and gases
    you explain at the molecular level the processes of melting, boiling, freezing, and condensing

  41. Predict relative melting points, boiling points or physical states of substances based on noncovalent attractions
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you determine the strongest noncovalent attraction for each substance
    you make a reasonable prediction of relative melting points, relative boiling points, or physical state, based on the strengths of the noncovalent attractions for each substance in a question

  42. Describe the solution process that occurs when a substance is dissolved in water or in a nonpolar solvent
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you summarize or diagram the species present in a given solution
    you indicate the relative proportions of species present for the solution of a given electrolyte
    you indicate, using words or a diagram, the interaction between the solute and water that is responsible for the solution process, and can contrast that with a solute dissolved in a nonpolar solvent

  43. Calculate concentrations of aqueous solutions on molarity or wt/vol %
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you calculate the wt/vol % or molarity of a solution when given information about the amount of solute and volume of solution present
    you convert concentration between wt/vol % and molarity
    you show the the problem-solving process, including units on quantities
    you interconvert

  44. Use appropriate scientific equipment and safety precautions
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you follow generally recognized safety practices
    you follow procedures as described by the instructor or laboratory manual

  45. Apply appropriate measurement principles
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you determine the increment value (scale) of a given graduated device
    you determine the appropriate number of digits and correct unit to use for a given observation
    you interpolates an estimated digit where appropriate

  46. Apply the scientific method by organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data appropriately
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you organize data in a fashion that can be understood by another person
    you develop a laboratory notebook for an experiment that outlines the procedure, data tables, other relevant information
    you develop a graph by hand or using a computer program to plot data, and determine if the data fits a straight line
    you use appropriate scientific reasoning when interpreting data

  47. Work effectively in groups as well as individually
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting homework
    on an exam
    Criteria
    you demonstrate respect for the rights, views and work of others
    you work with your group to divide up tasks so that the work can be formed efficiently
    you show responsibility in performing your role in the group
    you use appropriate scientific reasoning when interpreting data