Topics

• Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry The course begins with a review of redox reactions and advances into electrochemical principles, focusing on electron transfer, voltaic and electrolytic cells, and the relationship between redox processes and energy.
• Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms Students explore the factors that influence reaction rates, including concentration, temperature, and catalysts, and analyze stepwise reaction mechanisms to understand how molecular events govern chemical change.
• Organic Chemistry Foundations An introduction to carbon-based compounds and isotopes provides students with foundational insight into organic structures, bonding, and reactivity relevant to broader chemical and biological systems.
• Phase Changes and Solution Behavior The course covers the energetics of phase transitions and solution formation, including colligative properties such as boiling point elevation and freezing point depression, highlighting the physical behavior of substances in different states.

Expected Effort

At UC schools, 1 credit hour typically requires about 3 hours of student work per week. Actual class meeting times may vary by course.