James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

CH1001:03

Introductory Chemistry A

Townsville, Cairns

Prerequisites: Senior Chemistry and Maths B

Townsville campus:
39 lectures, 12 tutorials, 36 hours practicals. First semester. Repeated in second semester via approximately 40 hours of self-paced Computer-Aided-Learning modules. The 36 hours practical work will be held in block mode over a period of one week.
Cairns campus:
30 hours computer aided modules, 24 lectures, 12 tutorials, 36 hours practicals. First semester.

Available to students who have successfully completed Senior Chemistry and Maths B.

Staff: Professor R Keene, Assoc. Professor G Meehan, Dr M Ridd, Dr B McCool (Townsville campus); Dr M Liddell (Cairns campus).

Atomic structure, Bonding and Periodicity. Chemistry as a central scientific discipline. Atomic and electronic structure. Chemical Periodicity: Chemical bonding and molecular shape.

Classification of Chemical Reactions. Chemical equations. Molar stoichiometry.

Organic Chemistry. Diversity of carbon compounds. Functional groups and nomenclature. Characterisation of pure organic compounds: chromatography; microanalysis, spectroscopy. Structures, properties and typical chemical reactivity of the major classes of organic compounds, isomerism. Introduction to naturally occurring compounds (e.g. lipids, carbohydrates, peptides, proteins) of biological and/or environmental importance will be given by way of illustrative examples.

Physical chemistry. Gaseous state, intermolecular forces. Thermochemistry. Chemical equilibrium. Acid-base equilibria, pH, buffers, carbonate equilibria. Chemical kinetics, catalysis.

Learning Objectives:

  1. have been introduced to basic chemical principles and characteristic chemical reactions;
  2. appreciate the application and relevance of these principles and reactions to a range of scientific disciplines, including the biological, biomedical, earth and environmental sciences;
  3. be familiar with, and competent in the application of, simple laboratory techniques in chemistry.

Townsville campus:

Assessment by laboratory work and reports (25%); a three-hour examination (75%).

Cairns campus:

Assessment by laboratory work and reports (20%); CAL modules (5%); tests (15%); a three-hour examination (60%).