Credit Hours - 2

This course introduces students to some fundamental principles of analytical chemistry. The course begins with an introduction to analytical chemistry, the analytical process, units, concentration, and stoichiometry. Calibration curves and their use in estimating concentrations, experimental errors, and statistical analysis for evaluating the data are explored. Finally, sampling techniques, quality assurance, and quality control, as well as gravimetric analysis and applications are discussed. 

Credit Hours - 2

This course builds on the knowledge gained in CHEM 111 and involves the quantitative treatment of ampholytes, (salts and amino acids), Buffer solutions, and very dilute solutions (≤ 10¯6M) of Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases. The Method of Successive Approximations; Electrochemistry-Electrode and galvanic cells; Nernst Equation; Concentration cells; applications of emf measurements in the determination of e.g. standard potentials, solubility and Ksp, dissociation constants; Potentiometric titrations; Conductance and applications of conductivity measurements are discussed.

Credit Hours - 2

This course deals with the systematic chemistry of the s-block elements namely the main group elements. Group 1A (the alkali metals, Group IIA (the alkaline Earth Metals), and Group IIB (Zinc, Cadmium, and Mercury) including their organometallic compounds will be covered.   Physical and chemical periodic trends including atomic and ionic size, ionization energies, electronegativity, and metallic character will be discussed. The anomalous position of Hydrogen on the periodic table and the properties of its isotopes will be covered. The properties of compounds of these elements including, oxides, hydroxides, halides, carbonates, and carbides will also be highlighted.

Credit Hours - 2

This course introduces the student to the carbonyl and amine functional groups in Organic Chemistry. It involves the treatment of the structures and naming systems of these functional groups. The course also treats the properties of these compounds, their preparations, reactions including mechanisms, and some applications. Simple identification tests for these functional groups are also considered. The similarities and differences between the aldehydes and ketones on one hand and the carboxylic acids and their derivatives on the other are extensively looked at.

Credit Hours - 2

This course builds on the knowledge gained in CHEM 114 by providing students with a sound understanding of some important concepts in Organic Chemistry. The phenomenon of Stereochemistry which plays a very vital role in Organic Chemistry is extensively treated.  The treatment includes an in-depth review of Stereochemistry both configurational and conformational. In addition, compounds with more than one chiral center, pairs of Enantiomers, diastereomers, Meso compounds, Racemic mixtures, and Stereoisomerism of disubstituted cycloalkanes are considered. Some important classes of Organic Compounds such as alkenes, alcohols, and ethers are discussed with special emphasis on their nomenclature, properties, preparations, and reactions.

Credit Hours - 2

This course seeks to provide students with fundamental knowledge of atomic structure and bonding in elements and molecules. A qualitative treatment of the Quantum Mechanical Model of the atom is introduced and discussed. Other topics will include: quantum numbers; the shape of orbitals; the electronic configuration of atoms; chemical periodicity; and models of chemical bonding. Valence Bond concepts such as orbital overlaps; electron-pair sharing; sigma- and pi-bonds; hybridization (as a mathematical combination of atomic orbitals LCAO); Valence bond description of simple molecules; VSEPR; as well as qualitative Molecular Orbital model are discussed.

Credit Hours - 2

This course is designed to introduce students to some fundamental concepts in physical chemistry with a focus on chemical equilibrium and the kinetics of reactions. Topics to be considered under Chemical Reactions and equilibrium will include the enthalpy of reactions; heat capacities; Born-Haber cycle (Hess’ law); Bond energies, standard enthalpies of formation; Entropy; Gibbs free energy and spontaneity; the relationship between free energy, enthalpy and entropy. Under kinetics, topics to be considered will be: differential rate law, rate constants, order of reactions, effects of concentration, temperature (Arrhenius equation); mechanical slope method (No integrated rate laws); and the concept of reaction mechanism.

Credit Hours - 2

As a follow-up to structure and bonding, this course looks at the binding forces in various solid materials including metals, alloys, molecules, covalent and ionic crystals, and their related properties and internal structures. The geometric and energetic factors affecting ionic crystals are discussed, together with the effects of polarization, and the changes that result in the introduction of complex ions - the latter illustrated with silicates. The structure and properties of glasses, polymers, and composites, as well as new materials such as nanomaterials, are also discussed.

Credit Hours - 1

This laboratory-based course seeks to complement theoretical lectures in basic organic chemistry. Here students are taught skills such as synthesis of organic compounds (e.g. esters, acids, ketones) requiring basic heating under reflux, distillation, crystallization, extraction, filtration, melting point determination and spectroscopic (UV) analysis. Additionally, students are made to engage in the qualitative analysis of alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, amines and phenols.

Credit Hours - 1

This laboratory-based course is designed to complement theoretical lectures in quantitative analytical chemistry. This component provides students with experience in the analysis of environmental samples. Students are introduced to safety in the analytical laboratory, titration of acid-base mixtures, total alkalinity, hydrolysis of salts, pH of buffer solutions and solubility products; rates of chemical reactions, iodometric titrations, determination of hardness in varied water samples, analysis of commercial bleaching products and silver in alloys (Volhard’s method). Additionally, solution preparation, basic skills in titrimetry, pH measurements, etc are surveyed at the beginning of the course.