Dec 26, 2024  
Fall 2016 Catalog 
    
Fall 2016 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

CH 180 - University Chemistry I


Credit Hours: 3

The first course of a two-course sequence; detailed introduction to chemistry for science, engineering, or health-related majors. Example topics include: dimensional analysis, chemical nomenclature, states and classes of matter, atomic theory, quantum theory, gas laws, chemical equations and stoichiometry, periodicity, chemical bonding and thermochemistry.

Fulfills SUNY General Education – Natural Sciences.

Course Outcomes
At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • describe the scientific method and the evolution of scientific knowledge, including fundamental principles of chemistry;
  • categorize matter according to state (solid, liquid or gas) and class (pure substance or mixture), and distinguish between physical and chemical properties and changes;
  • solve measurement problems using mathematical fundamentals including uncertainty in measurements (precision and accuracy), the metric (SI) system, English-metric conversions and dimensional analyses;
  • relate the properties of compounds to the ionic or covalent nature of their chemical bonds;
  • name simple inorganic compounds and simple organic functional groups;
  • use atomic theory to describe the periodic relationships among the elements, and interpret the descriptive chemistry of the groups of the periodic table;
  • write and balance molecular and ionic chemical equations and use them to solve stoichiometric problems;
  • calculate and manipulate solution of stoichiometry problems;
  • apply a simple quantum mechanical approach to atomic structure in order to describe stable electronic configurations of atoms and common ions;
  • explain the relationship between electronic configuration, the periodic table and the properties of the elements;
  • solve enthalpy problems;
  • predict the structure, geometry, and polarity of molecules using the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR), valence bond and molecular orbital theories of chemical bonding; and
  • apply the empirical gas laws and the kinetic molecular theory to solve problems involving the parameters of the gaseous state.


Prerequisites: Math Placement MT 126 (or higher) and high school (Regent’s) chemistry or CH 010
Corequisites: CH 181
F/S (C, N, S)