The course consists of a theoretical part and a project work. The theoretical part presents and discusses basic chemistry on the basis of objective criteria in both the lectures and subsequent exercises. In project work, which runs parallel to the theoretical part, the students gather information and compile a report. Responsibilities include literature search, report writing and oral presentation.
The course is examined by project work and partly through two exams, a mid-course and one at the end.
After the course the student should be able to
- Perform stoichiometric calculations
- Explain the differences in characteristics between different compounds based on the structures of atoms and molecules and on chemical bonding.
- Use the periodic table to predict differences in the basic chemical properties of substances.
- Explain differences in reactivity and properties of organic and bio-molecules based on functional groups.
- Explain the reaction mechanisms of various organic reaction types with the help and predict the stereochemistry of the products.
- Use the equilibrium concept in order to perform basic calculations of the solubility, complex formation and calculation of pH values in buffers.
- Use redox potential to explain the corrosion process.
- Use projections of the unit cell to calculate the density, bond lengths and coordination numbers for solid compounds
- Interpret simple phase diagrams
- Seek information from the scientific literature and from own work and summarize it into an oral and written report.
