General Chemistry at Penn State
CHEM 110
FALL HOME PAGE
Syllabus
2006
Instructor Information
Background for CHEM 110
[numbers in brackets refer to textbook pages which will help you review]
Chemistry the Central Science, 10th ed. by Brown, Lemay, and Bursten
Success in chemistry is dependent not only on knowledge of chemical principles but on mathematical skills as well. A solid foundation of algebra is essential. Students entering CHEM 110 should have the ability to:
A-1. Solve “word problems,” i.e., translate words into algebraic expressions
A-2. Relate functions and graphs (rectangular coordinates) [1121]
A-3. Manipulate logarithmic expressions and solve equations involving logarithms [1118]
A-4. Manipulate algebraic fractions
A-5. Manipulate algebraic expressions involving exponents and radicals
A-6. Understand and use exponential notation [1116]
A-7. Do numerical calculations involving these concepts with a calculator
A-8. Understand and manipulate standard units of physics and chemistry, including unit conversions and dimensional analysis [14-29]
What is expected in the way of chemistry background is really better described as knowledge or understanding, as opposed to skill. It is expected that a prepared student will know, or will once have known and be able to relearn quickly, the following:
B-1. The meaning of the terms atom, molecule, element, compound, mixture, ion, electron, proton, neutron, metal, and nonmetal [Ch. 2]
B-2. What the periodic table is, and where one finds metals, nonmetals, and inert gases [49]
B-3. The symbols for the following elements: hydrogen, helium, neon, argon, lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, iron, copper, zinc, silver, mercury, chromium, manganese, boron, carbon, silicon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, sulfur, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine
B-4. The symbols (or formulas) and charges on ions such as: sodium ion, magnesium ion, iron(III) ion, copper(I) ion, fluoride ion, chloride ion, bromide ion, iodide ion, nitrate ion, sulfate ion, carbonate ion, bicarbonate (or hydrogen carbonate) ion, hydroxide ion, ammonium ion, hydronium ion, and phosphate ion [60-66]
B-5. Formulas for compounds such as water, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate, calcium chloride, ammonium chloride, and zinc nitrate [60-66]
B-6. What an acid, base, and salt are [131]
B-7. What a chemical equation is, and how to balance simple ones [80-84]
B-8. How to calculate molecular mass from atomic masses [88]
B-9. What a “mole” is in chemistry and how it is used to solve problems relating amount of product to amount of reactant [90]
While all of these items are encountered in CHEM 110, it is assumed that they have been encountered and understood previously, and so little time is devoted to explaining them anew. Students who do not recognize these basic aspects of chemistry should realize that this indicates an insufficient background and portends trouble. Such students should take CHEM 101 before CHEM 110.