CHEMISTRY (UNIVERSITY)

In this unit you will learn about Matter and Chemical Bonding. A chemical bond is a lasting attraction between atoms that enables the formation of chemical compounds. The bond may result from the electrostatic force of attraction between atoms with opposite charges, or through the sharing of electrons as in the covalent bonds.

The strength of chemical bonds varies considerably; there are “strong bonds” such as covalent or ionic bonds and “weak bonds” such as Dipole-dipole interaction, the London dispersion force and hydrogen bonding.

In this unit you will learn about chemical reactions. A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Classically, chemical reactions encompass changes that only involve the positions of electrons in the forming and breaking of chemical bonds between atoms, with no change to the nuclei (no change to the elements present), and can often be described by a chemical equation.

Nuclear chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that involves the chemical reactions of unstable and radioactive elements where both electronic and nuclear changes may occur.

Students will be introduced to the mole concept and how it can be used to describe chemical reactions quantitatively. They will also apply an understanding of quantitative relationships in determining the efficiency of chemical reactions and how such reactions can be optimized.

In this unit you will learn about Solutions and Solubility. In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In such a mixture, a solute is a substance dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent.

The solution more or less takes on the characteristics of the solvent including its phase and the solvent is commonly the major fraction of the mixture. The concentration of a solute in a solution is a measure of how much of that solute is dissolved in the solvent, with regard to how much solvent is present like salt.

In this unit you will learn about Gases and Atmospheric Chemistry. Atmospheric chemistry is a branch of atmospheric science in which the chemistry of the Earth’s atmosphere and that of other planets is studied.

It is a multidisciplinary approach of research and draws on environmental chemistry, physics, meteorology, computer modeling, oceanography, geology and volcanology and other disciplines. Research is increasingly connected with other arenas of study such as climatology.