Introductory Chemistry

The module can only be taken by students without a strong background in Chemistry at second level. It is a pre-requisite for such students who plan to pursue any programme in Chemistry or Biology, but may also be taken as elective by students with an interest in learning the basic principles of chemistry. It will provide an overview of the subject, with an emphasis on fundamental principles and on understanding the structures and properties of familiar substances. Topics will include: atomic structure and the periodic table; chemical bonding; shapes of covalent compounds; Lewis structures; chemical reactions, including balancing chemical equations, calculating chemical amounts as moles; oxidation and reduction reactions and acid base reactions; the properties and structures of carbon compounds. The principles will be illustrated by examples of the chemistry of common elements including nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and the halogens.