You’ll learn about the composition of atoms and ways scientists measure and categorize these molecular building blocks

Topics may include:

• Moles and molar mass
• Mass spectroscopy of elements
• Elemental composition of pure substances
• Composition of mixtures
• Atomic structure and electron configuration
• Photoelectron spectroscopy
• Periodic trends
• Valence electrons and ionic compounds

You’ll discover the range of chemical bonds and how their structure can affect the properties of the molecules created.

Topics may include:

• Types of chemical bonds
• Intramolecular force and potential energy
• Structure of ionic solids
• Structure of metals and alloys
• Lewis diagrams
• Resonance and formal charge
• VSEPR and bond hybridization

You’ll explore how atoms come together to create solids, liquids, and gases, and how subatomic forces govern the properties of everything around you.

Topics may include:

• Intermolecular forces
• Solids, liquids, and gases
• Kinetic molecular theory
• Solutions and mixtures
• Photoelectric effect

You’ll learn how to differentiate physical and chemical processes, and how to measure and express chemical reactions via chemical equations.

Topics may include:

• Introduction for reactions
• Net ionic equations
• Representations of reactions
• Physical and chemical changes
• Stoichiometry
• Types of chemical reactions

You’ll explore various methods to observe the changes that occur during a chemical reaction and the effects of a series of reactions.

Topics may include:

• Reaction rate
• Introduction to rate law
• Elementary reactions
• Collision model
• Introduction to reaction mechanisms
• Multistep reaction energy profile
• Catalysis

You’ll learn about energy changes in chemical reactions and how a transfer of energy can change a substance’s physical qualities.

Topics may include:

• Endothermic and exothermic processes
• Heat transfer and thermal equilibrium
• Heat capacity and calorimetry
• Energy of phase changes
• Introduction to enthalpy of reaction
• Enthalpy of formation
• Hess’s law

You’ll chart how chemical reactions change over time, what causes substances to reach equilibrium, and how systems react when that equilibrium is disturbed.

Topics may include:

• Introduction to equilibrium
• Calculating the equilibrium constant
• Calculating equilibrium concentrations
• Introduction to Le Châtelier’s principle
• Introduction to solubility equilibria
• pH and solubility
• Free energy of dissolution

You’ll learn more about pH, the qualities and properties of acids and bases, and how they interact in chemical reactions.

Topics may include:

·       Introduction to acids and bases

·       pH and pOH of strong acids and bases

·       Acid-base reactions and buffers

·       Molecular structure of acids and bases

·       pH and pK_a

·       Properties of buffers

You’ll be introduced to the concept of “thermodynamic favorability” for reactions, meaning how likely they are to occur given energy changes and environmental factors.

Topics may include:

·       Introduction to entropy

·       Gibbs free energy and thermodynamic favorability

·       Thermodynamic and kinetic control

·       Free energy and equilibrium

·       Galvanic (voltaic) and electrolyte cells

·       Electrolysis and Faraday’s law