Chemistry 31E, Fall 2025: Course Calendar Overview

Chemistry 31E, Fall 2025: Course Calendar Overview

Course Structure and Topics

This course calendar outlines the weekly topics, readings, and important dates for Chemistry 31E, a General Chemistry course. The schedule covers foundational and advanced topics in chemistry, following a logical progression from atomic structure to chemical thermodynamics and nuclear chemistry.

• Electronic Structure of Atoms: Introduction to atomic theory, electron configuration, and quantum mechanics. Example: Understanding how electrons are arranged in atoms and how this affects chemical properties.

• Chemical Bonding: Exploration of ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds, including Lewis structures and molecular geometry. Example: Drawing Lewis structures for molecules like H2O and CO2.

• Chemical Thermodynamics: Study of energy changes in chemical reactions, enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy. Example: Calculating the enthalpy change ($\Delta H$) for a reaction using standard enthalpies of formation.

• Chemical Kinetics: Examination of reaction rates, rate laws, and factors affecting reaction speed. Example: Determining the rate law for a reaction from experimental data.

• Chemical Equilibrium: Analysis of reversible reactions, equilibrium constants, and Le Châtelier's principle. Example: Calculating the equilibrium constant ($K_{eq}$) for a reaction.

• Acid-Base Chemistry: Concepts of acids, bases, pH, and buffer solutions. Example: Using the formula $pH = -\log[H^+]$ to calculate the pH of a solution.

• Electrochemistry: Study of redox reactions, electrochemical cells, and standard electrode potentials. Example: Calculating cell potential using $E_{cell} = E_{cathode} - E_{anode}$.

• Nuclear Chemistry: Overview of radioactive decay, nuclear reactions, and applications. Example: Balancing nuclear equations for alpha and beta decay.

Weekly Organization

• Week-by-week breakdown: Each week focuses on a specific topic, with assigned readings from the textbook chapters (e.g., Ch. 6, Ch. 8, Ch. 9, etc.).

• Midterm and Final Exams: Scheduled midterm and final exams assess understanding of the material.

• Thanksgiving Week: No classes scheduled.

Key Formulas and Concepts

• Atomic Structure: $E = h\nu$ (energy of a photon)

• Chemical Bonding: $\Delta EN = |EN_{atom1} - EN_{atom2}|$ (difference in electronegativity)

• Thermodynamics: $\Delta G = \Delta H - T\Delta S$ (Gibbs free energy)

• Kinetics: $\text{Rate} = k[A]^m[B]^n$ (rate law)

• Equilibrium: $K_{eq} = \frac{[products]}{[reactants]}$

• Acid-Base: $pH = -\log[H^+]$

• Electrochemistry: $E_{cell} = E_{cathode} - E_{anode}$

Course Calendar Table

The following table summarizes the weekly topics and readings:

Week	Date	Topic	Reading
1	W 9/24	Electronic structure of atoms	Ch. 6.4-6.7
2	W 10/1	Chemical bonding	Ch. 8.1-8.4
3	W 10/8	Chemical bonding	Ch. 8.5-8.7
4	W 10/15	Chemical thermodynamics	Ch. 9.1-9.7/Atkins Ch. 1
5	W 10/22	Chemical thermodynamics	Ch. 9.8-9.11/Atkins Ch. 1
6	W 10/29	Chemical thermodynamics	Ch. 10.1-10.7/Atkins Ch. 3
7	W 11/5	Chemical thermodynamics	Ch. 10.8-10.11/Atkins Ch. 3
8	W 11/12	Chemical kinetics	Ch. 14.1-14.6
9	W 11/19	Chemical kinetics	Ch. 14.7-14.14
10	W 11/26	Thanksgiving week	---
11	W 12/3	Chemical equilibrium	Ch. 15.1-15.8, 16.1-16.4, 17.1-17.2
12	W 12/10	Electrochemistry	Ch. 20.1-20.8
13	W 12/17	Nuclear chemistry	Ch. 21.1-21.6

Additional info: This calendar provides a comprehensive overview of the topics covered in a standard General Chemistry course, aligning with the chapters listed in the prompt. Students should refer to the assigned textbook chapters for detailed reading and preparation.