202-101 Chemistry for Land and Food Resources

Students intending to subsequently undertake Chemistry 610-142 must achieve a high level in the examination component of this subject. They will also be required to complete additional computer-aided learning tasks during the winter break.

The subject will cover areas including:

• nature of matter: elements, atoms, ions and molecules;

• electronic structure of atoms and ions;

• bond formation including covalent, ionic, metallic, hydrogen bonding, van der Waal's;

• solubility and the solution state; ions and hydration;

• the behaviour of gases;

• the mole concept, concentrations and stoichiometry;

• acids, bases, neutralisation reactions and salt formation;

• acid/base strength and the pH scale;

• energy and chemical systems;

• rates of reaction and reaction order;

• catalysis and enzymes;

• chemical equilibrium: the equilibrium constant, Ka, Kb, stability constants and solubility products;

• redox reactions and redox potentials;

• organic molecules: structure, nomenclature and functional groups;

• hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity; and

• biologically significant macromolecules.

One 3-hour examination at the end of semester (65%); three tests during semester (15%); practical work (20%). Pass in practical component required.

• S S Zumdahl and S A Zumdahl, Chemistry, 6th edn. Houghton Mifflin, 2003.