The content, assignments, and assessments in Chemistry for Majors are aligned to the following learning outcomes. A full list of course learning outcomes can be viewed here: Chemistry for Majors Learning Outcomes.

Module 1: Essential Ideas

Utilize the essential concepts of chemistry that will serve as foundation blocks to learning chemical components and processes

• Describe chemistry in context
• Classify the properties of matter
• Identify physical and chemical properties of matter
• Report measurements properly
• Measure uncertainty, accuracy, and precision
• Apply dimensional analysis involving two or more properties

Module 2: Atoms, Molecules, and Ions

Understand fundamental chemical principles related to the composition of matter and the concept of molecular identity

• Explain the postulates of Dalton’s atomic theory
• Apply the results of early atomic experiments to define the three subatomic particles and isotopes
• Interpret the atomic structure and determine atomic mass
• Express chemical formulas in molecular, empirical, and structural form
• Interpret the periodic table
• Recognize and predict ionic and covalent compounds
• Derive names for common types of inorganic compounds using a systematic approach

Module 3: Composition of Substances and Solutions

Make quantitative calculations and determinations about the composition of substances and mixtures

• Relate formula mass, moles, and the numbers of atoms or molecules
• Determine empirical and molecular formulas
• Use molarity to calculate solution concentrations and perform dilution calculations
• Calculate various units of solution concentrations

Module 4: Stoichiometry of Chemical Reactions

Determine the quantitative connections between the amounts of substances involved in chemical reactions and symbolize with chemical equations

• Write and balance chemical equations
• Classify chemical reactions
• Apply stoichiometry concepts to problems involving mass, moles, and solution molarity
• Calculate theoretical and percent yield
• Describe titrations and gravimetric data and apply stoichiometry to both

Module 5: Thermochemistry

Describe the relationships between chemical changes and thermal energy

• Apply thermochemistry equations involving heat, specific heat, and temperature change
• Use calorimetry data to solve problems
• Describe and quantify enthalpy

Module 6: Electronic Structure and Periodic Properties of Elements

Identify forms of electromagnetic radiation and how they are related to the electronic structure of atoms

• Interpret waves and the nature of light
• Explain the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom
• Apply quantum mechanics to the electrons in an atom
• Predict electron configurations of atoms and the association to element classifications
• Describe and explain the observed trends in atomic size, ionization energy, and electron affinity of the elements

Module 7: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry

Explain how individual atoms connect to form more complex structures

• Express the electron structures of cations, anions, and ionic compounds
• Define covalent bonds and electronegativity
• Create Lewis symbols and structures
• Quantify formal charges and resonance using the Lewis structure
• Understand bond strength and lattice energies
• Interpret VSEPR theory and polarity

Module 8: Advanced Theories of Covalent Bonding

Understand valence bond theory, orbital hybridization, and molecular orbital theory in order to interpret unpredictable substance behaviors

• Summarize valence bond theory
• Describe atomic orbital hybridization
• Describe multiple covalent bonding and resonance
• Interpret the molecular orbital theory to determine bond orders and molecular electron configurations

Module 9: Gases

Explain the behaviors of gases by the relationships between gas temperature, pressure, amount, and volume

• Define pressure and pressure units
• Apply the ideal gas law
• Use the ideal gas law and Dalton’s law to make calculations
• Compute rates of effusion
• Explain the postulates of the kinetic-molecular theory
• Understand non-ideal gas behaviors and their association to van der Waals equation

Module 10: Liquids and Solids

Explain how the interactions of atoms and molecules affect various physical properties in the liquid and solid phases

• Explain the types of intermolecular forces within a substance
• Summarize the properties of a liquid
• Understand the changes that occur at phase transition temperatures
• Interpret phase diagrams
• Describe the properties and bonding of the main types of crystalline solids
• Analyze crystalline structures

Module 11: Solutions and Colloids

Describe the properties and formation of solutions and colloids

• Determine if and how a solution will form
• Describe the physical and chemical changes that accompany the dissolution of electrolytes
• Examine the effects of various conditions on solubility
• Explain colligative properties and the processes of distillation and osmosis
• Describe the properties and applications of colloids

Module 12: Kinetics

Understand the factors that influence chemical reaction rates, reaction mechanisms, and the quantitative techniques used to describe those rates

• Interpret chemical reaction rate expressions
• Describe the factors that affect reaction rates
• Apply rate laws
• Make integrated rate law calculations
• State the postulates of collision theory and their relationship to activation energy and transition states
• Explain the rate law for a given reaction mechanism
• Understand how catalysts function

Module 13: Fundamental Equilibrium Concepts

Identify the essential aspects of chemical equilibria and analyze a stressed equilibrium system

• Describe equilibrium systems
• Make calculations with reaction quotients and equilibrium constants
• Apply Le Châtelier’s principle to predict the response of a stressed equilibrium system
• Calculate changes in equilibriums concentrations or pressures

Module 14: Acid-Based Equilibria

Explore acid-base chemistry with a focus on the equilibrium aspects of these reactions

• Describe the behavior of Brønsted-Lowry acids and bases
• Apply an understanding of pH and pOH to characterize aqueous solutions and determine ion concentrations
• Perform equilibrium calculations for Brønsted-Lowry acid-base systems
• Understand hydrolysis in salt solutions
• Apply equilibrium concepts to acids and bases
• Explain acid-base buffers
• Describe the important stages of acid-base titrations

Module 15: Equilibria of Other Reaction Classes

Develop a more in-depth understanding of equilibrium, including precipitation and coupled equilibrium reactions

• Use the solubility product in equilibrium problems
• Apply knowledge of Lewis acids and bases to equilibrium problems
• Evaluate coupled equilibrium systems

Module 16: Thermodynamics

Evaluate possible chemical or physical changes to a reaction under a given set of thermodynamic conditions

• Understand both spontaneous and nonspontaneous processes
• Predict entropy changes
• Explain the second and third laws of thermodynamics
• Calculate free energy change

Module 17: Electrochemistry

Explore the fundamental aspects of redox chemistry and the technologies made possible from discoveries in the field of electrochemistry

• Balance oxidation-reduction reactions
• Interpret cell notation of galvanic cells
• Explain electrode and cell potentials
• Relate potential, free energy, and equilibrium through calculations
• Describe the differences between batteries and fuel cells
• Identify examples of corrosion
• Make stoichiometric calculations for electrolytic processes

Module 18: Representative Metals, Metalloids, and Nonmetals

Identify the important properties of representative metals, metalloids, and nonmetals in the periodic table

• Classify and make predictions about the representative elements
• Describe the occurrence and preparation of the representative metals
• Describe the structure and general properties of the metalloids
• Describe the structure and general properties of nonmetals
• Describe the properties, preparation, and uses of hydrogen compounds
• Describe the properties, preparation, and uses of some representative metal carbonates
• Describe the properties, preparation, and uses of nitrogen
• Describe the properties, preparation, and uses of phosphorus
• Describe the properties, preparation, and uses of oxygen compounds
• Describe the properties, preparation, and uses of sulfur
• Describe the properties, preparation, and uses of halogens and halogen compounds
• Describe the properties, preparation, and uses of the noble gases

Module 19: Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry

Explore the unique behaviors exhibited by transition metals due to their complex valence shells

• Describe the properties, preparation, and occurrence of transition metals
• Identify the properties, structures, names, and occurrence of coordination compounds
• Understand crystal field theory concepts

Module 20: Organic Chemistry

Explain why the element carbon gives rise to a variety of compounds, and how those organic compounds are classified and used

• Discuss the important properties of hydrocarbons
• Describe, identify, and draw alcohols and ethers
• Describe the structure and properties of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and esters
• Describe the structure and properties of amines and amides

Module 21: Nuclear Chemistry

Understand how the discovery of radioactivity led to the creation of crucial technologies in the fields of energy, medicine, geology, and more

• Describe nuclear structure and stability
• Summarize nuclear reactions as equations
• Perform radioactive decay calculations
• Discuss nuclear fission and fusion reactions
• Summarize the common uses of radioactive isotopes
• Explain the biological effects of radiation exposure