Chemistry: Exploring Our Universe Through Chemistry

This course intends to introduce students to properties of material substances, under what conditions substantial change takes place, and the effects of such changes. The course places a significant emphasis on real-world examples, which allows students to discern the patterns of the natural world, which should lead to a strong conceptual understanding. This understanding is an end in and of itself, but also allows for students to make accurate predictions about the behavior of the physical world.

Theoretical concepts are presented and taught, usually within a laboratory-based context, which allows students to comprehend the chemical process more deeply. The three big questions that students will be addressing will be: 1) What drives a chemical reaction/what makes it go? 2) What determines the rate of a reaction/how fast does it go? 3) What determines the equilibrium point of a reaction/how far will it go before equilibrium is reached? To answer these questions, students will study, discuss, experiment with 1) atomic structure and bonding, 2) chemical energy, 3) reaction rates and equilibrium, 4) reaction types-proton types and electron transfer, 5) organic chemistry, 6) nuclear reactions.

Students gain experience and training in independent scientific inquiry through a yearly Independent Research Project– project creation and proposal, literature review, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of results – with the mentorship of faculty and other experts.