General Chemistry at Widener University

Dr. Scott Van Bramer, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013
svanbram@science.widener.edu.

Introduction

This page contains a collection of handouts, spreadsheets, programs, and Mathcad documents for general chemistry (Chem 097, 145 and 146) at Widener University. You are free to use this material for educational purposes. Commercial use of these materials is strictly prohibited. If you find any of this information useful or you have any other comments, please let me know. Many of these files require helper applications, additional information is available.

Course Web Pages

  • CHEM 097. Developmental Chemistry. This course is designed for students with weak math and problem solving skills. It is intended to prepare students for CHEM 145. The development of problem solving skills and the introduction of basic chemical concepts is emphasized. Does not satisfy the general education or distribution requirement in science. 1.5 semester hours

  • CHEM 145. Fundamentals of Chemistry I. and CHEM 146. Fundamentals of Chemistry II. This introduction to the fundamental concepts of chemistry stresses quantitative aspects. Included are the following topics: atomic and molecular structure, bonding theories, states of matter, thermodynamics, chemical equilibria, kinetics and the physical and chemical properties of selected elements and their compounds. Three class hours and an hour of recitation each. Prerequisite: high school chemistry or permission of the instructor. CHEM 145 is a prerequisite for CHEM 146. CHEM 149/150 and CHEM 147/148 must be taken concurrently with CHEM 145/146. 6 semester hours.

    • General Chemistry Homework Problems

    Homework Problem sets developed for general chemistry. These are keyed to Kotz & Treichel, but are appropriate for any text.

    General Chemistry Problem Sets

    A set of problem sets developed for students to work in groups during class.

    Visualizing Molecules

     A set of Lewis Dot structures, Hyperchem figures, and Protein Databank Files (*.pdb) used to introduce molecular geometry.

    Plagiarism

    An essay about plagiarism and the importance of references in scientific writing. Written in response to student's copying information from textbooks and working together (and claiming to have worked alone).

    The Periodic Table

    The periodic table in several different formats. This includes a blank table (for students to fill in), a long table to show how the f-block fits in, a version with large fonts for projecting in class, and a version with the latest IUPAC atomic weights. All tables include the most recently discovered elements (currently 112).

    Chemical Nomenclature.

    This handout to help students determine how to name chemical compounds (typical inorganic compounds introduced in general chemistry).

    Stoichiometry.

    This problem set uses hamburgers as an analogy to develop balanced reactions, limiting reagents, and the mole.

    Electrochemistry

    Introduction to Greenhouse Gases

    An introduction to the greenhouse effect and IR spectroscopy. Used in general chemistry to show the importance of molecular vibration (that they are not ridged structures).

    Acid Base Chemistry

  • General Outline for solving acid base problems

  • Flow chart to identify hydrolysis products, Acrobat document (11k)

  • Calculating pH of a solution. Mathcad document (25k)
  • Strong acid titration.
  • Weak acid/Strong base titration.
  • Solving the Quadratic Equation, Replica document (10k)

    • This page is maintained by Scott Van Bramer

    Please send any comments, corrections, or suggestions to svanbram@science.widener.edu.

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    Last Updated 1/5/96