KE501: Basic chemistry

• Have knowledge of mathematics equal to A-level in high school
  
• Have knowledge of chemistry corresponding to minimum B-level in high school

The overall purpose of KE501 is to introduce chemistry at a university level and to bridge the gap between high school and university education. The course will focus on general, physical and organic chemistry through a broad introduction to the most important topics and principles within these parts of chemistry. In the course, emphasis is placed on applying the chemical theory to solve problems and explain chemical processes and phenomena.

The course builds on the skills that the students have with them from high school and provides the necessary chemical foundation to be able to recognise, explain and reproduce reaction types, energy relationships, structure and geometry in relation to the properties of substances. The course will thereby form the basis for advanced chemical, biological and molecular and cell biology studies as well as for the integration of chemistry in other subject areas.

Knowledge

• link relevant areas of knowledge in general, inorganic and organic chemistry so that the theory of these areas has mutually explanatory value
• use the content of the course to identify and explain fundamental chemical connections, bonding conditions and reaction types within inorganic and organic chemistry.
• explain and work with equilibria and pH calculations in acid/base systems.
• use electronegativity to explain processes in both inorganic and organic chemistry
• use the basic and more advanced terms regarding energy relationships in a molecular context to explain reaction types and processes within general, inorganic and organic chemistry
• explain the meaning of different types of chemical bonds
• read and record organic chemical structural formulas and recognize basic structures and functional groups
• apply the nomenclature rules for simple organic molecules and recognize common trivial names.
• recognize functional groups in organic chemistry and be able to explain their acid/base and physical properties as well as simple reactions for these
• apply the basic concepts within stereochemistry and isomerism as well as the concepts of configuration and conformation.
• apply stereochemical nomenclature to organic molecules
• explain the most important aspects of nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition, elimination, condensation, hydrolysis, oxidation and reduction.
• explain and apply mechanisms within nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition and elimination
• propose simple organic syntheses based on basic structure and functional groups

Skills

• outline connections and differences between general, inorganic and organic chemistry and explain the interfaces between these
• select and apply chemical theory to explain phenomenas both in the laboratory and in the surroundings
• carry out simple experiments in the chemistry laboratory

Competencies

• work with a university study process, i.e. build independent competence to study English-language nonfiction and participate in an active learning process, personally and together with fellow students
• prepare, implement and evaluate systematic professional work in the laboratory
• register own status and progress and be able to seek help to solve problems
• work safely in a chemical laboratory and take into account both your own safety and that of other users
• systematize knowledge and choose relevant explanatory models for issues at a fundamental chemical level
• translate theoretical knowledge into relevant practical experiments
• make observations and set up relevant explanatory models with the inclusion of theory at the molecular and atomic level
• have an impression of how chemistry can contribute to explaining basic phenomena in the other natural science disciplines

• Atomic structure in relation to the configuration of the periodic table
  
• Concepts regarding chemical bonding and molecular structure as well as Lewis structures and geometry
• Chemical equilibrium, including acids and bases and heterogeneous equilibria
• Thermodynamics, including its 1st law, energy and enthalpy, and 2nd law, entropy and free energy
• Reaction kinetics and activation energy, including zero, first and second order reaction types
• Naming of organic molecules and functional groups (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatics, haloalkanes, alcohols, ethers, amines, thiols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, acid anhydrides, esters and amides)
• Conformations and stereochemistry (configuration)
• Hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties
• Aromaticity and resonance
• Nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition, elimination, condensation, hydrolysis, oxidation and reduction

Within natural science, the teaching is organized according to the three-phase model, i.e. intro, training and study phase.

• Intro phase: 39 hours

• Training phase: 48 hours, of which: Tutorial: 40 hours and laboratory exercises: 8 hours

The intro phase consists of lectures, where an introduction is given to the topics, an overview is created and the topics are put into perspective. Dialogue for lectures is created primarily by using a "classroom response system" such as Poll Everywhere.

The training phase consists of partly tutorial hours and partly laboratory exercises in smaller groups. Priority is given in tutorial classes "active learning", where the students are involved and encouraged to participate actively in the teaching to the highest possible degree, eg by problem solving in groups or independent work. For laboratory exercises, students work in pairs or small groups with practical exercises within the course's subject areas.

In the study phase, the aim for the students is to work with the subject in a different way than the tutorial teaching. The study phase can possibly be used as preparation for tutorial classes. Cooperative learning is considered as part of the study phase.

Activities in the study phase:

• Work in study groups (scheduled study phase), including the use of cooperative learning

• Project work in study groups

• Preparation of project report