Foundations of Chemistry An Introductory Course for Science Students

A foundation-level guide to chemistry for physical, life sciences and engineering students

Foundations of Chemistry: An Introductory Course for Science Students fills a gap in the literature to provide a basic chemistry text aimed at physical sciences, life sciences and engineering students. The authors, noted experts on the topic, offer concise explanations of chemistry theory and the principles that are typically reviewed in most one year foundation chemistry courses and first year degree-level chemistry courses for non-chemists.

The authors also include illustrative examples and information on the most recent applications in the field. Foundations of Chemistry is an important text that outlines the basic principles in each area of chemistry - physical, inorganic and organic - building on prior knowledge to quickly expand and develop a student's knowledge and understanding.

Key features include:

• Worked examples showcase core concepts and practice questions.
• Margin comments signpost students to knowledge covered elsewhere and are used to highlight key learning objectives.
• Chapter summaries list the main concepts and learning points.

Chapter 0: Fundamentals

0.1 Measurement in chemistry and science – SI units

0.2 Expressing large and small numbers using scientific notation

0.3 Using metric prefixes

0.4 Significant figures

0.5 Calculations using scientific notation

0.6 Writing chemical formulae and equations

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Chapter 1: Atomic Structure

1.1 Atomic Structure

1.2 Electronic Structure

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Chapter 2: Chemical Bonding

2.1 Bonding

2.2 Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (VSEPR)

2.3 Polar bonds and polar molecules

2.4 Intermolecular forces

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Chapter 3 Masses of atoms, molecules and reacting substances

3.1 Masses of atoms and molecules

3.2 Amount of substance

3.3 Calculations with moles

3.4 Solutions; concentrations and dilutions

3.5 Titration calculations

3.6 Calculations with gas volumes

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Chapter 4: States of Matter

Introduction

4.1 Solids

4.2 Liquids

4.3 Gases

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Chapter 5 Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions

5.1 Redox Reactions

5.2 Disproportionation Reactions

5.3 Redox titrations

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Chapter 6 Energy, Enthalpy and Entropy

6.1 Enthalpy Changes

6.2 Entropy and Gibbs Free Energy

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Chapter 7 Chemical Equilibrium and Acid-Base Equilibria

Introduction

7.1 Equilibria and reversible reactions

7.2 Acid – base equilibria

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Chapter 8 Chemical Kinetics – The Rates of Chemical Reactions

Introduction

8.1 The rate of reaction

8.2 Determining the rate of a chemical reaction

8.3 The rate expression

8.4 The half-life of a reaction

8.5 Reaction mechanisms

8.6 Effect of temperature on reaction rate

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Chapter 9 Electrochemistry

Introduction

9.1 Redox reactions – a reminder

9.2 Redox reactions and electrochemical cells

9.3 Using redox reactions – Galvanic cells

9.4 Using redox reactions – Electrolytic cells

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Chapter 10: Group trends and periodicity

10.1 The Periodic Table: Periods, Groups and Periodicity

10.2 Trends in properties of elements in the same vertical group of the periodic table

10.3 Trends in properties of elements in the same horizontal period

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Chapter 11: The Periodic Table – chemistry of Groups 1, 2, 7 and transition elements

Introduction

11.1 Group 1 – The Alkali Metals

11.2 Group 2 – The Alkaline Earth Metals

11.3 Group 7 (17) The Halogens

11.4 The Transition Elements

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Chapter 12: Core Concepts and Ideas Within Organic Chemistry

12.1 Types of molecular formula

12.2 Nomenclature of simple alkanes

12.3 Isomers

12.4 Drawing Reaction Mechanisms

12.5 Types of reaction

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Chapter 13: Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes

13.1 Alkanes: an outline

13.2 Alkenes: an outline

13.3 Alkynes: an outline

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Chapter 14: Reactivity of Selected Homologous Series

14.1 Alcohols

14.2 Aldehydes and ketones

14.3 Carboxylic acids

14.4 Esters

14.5 Amides

14.6 Amines

14.7 Nitriles

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Chapter 15: The Chemistry of Aromatic Compounds

15.1 Benzene

15.2 Reactions of benzene with electrophiles

15.3 Aniline

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Chapter 16: Substitution and elimination reactions

16.1 Substitution reactions

16.2 Elimination reactions

16.3 Comparison of substitution and elimination reactions

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Chapter 17: Bringing it all together

17.1 Functional group interconversion

17.2 Bringing it all together

Chapter 18: Polymerisation

18.1 Polymerisation

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Chapter 19: Spectroscopy

19.1 Mass Spectrometry

19.2 Infrared Spectroscopy (IR)

19.3 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)

19.4 Bringing it all together

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Philippa B. Cranwell is Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Reading. She has extensive experience of teaching students chemistry, ranging from A-level to Foundation level and higher. She has co-authored several texts relating to both practical and theoretical organic chemistry. She actively undertakes research in the field of chemistry education and regularly publishes her work. She was awarded a University of Reading Teaching Fellowship in 2016 for her contribution to teaching and learning.

Elizabeth M. Page is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry Education at the University of Reading. She has over 30 years experience of teaching chemistry at Foundation level and higher. She is author of several text books for life-sciences and chemistry students. Elizabeth has been an examiner for A level chemistry and helped in the design of the revised A level specifications in chemistry. During her time at Reading she established a strong network of chemistry teachers, providing a forum for discussions and guidance in teaching GCSE and A level chemistry. Elizabeth was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Education prize for her work with chemistry teachers and is a National and University of Reading Teaching Fellow.