Energy & Reactivity

All it takes is 60-seconds to learn more about this course at Macalester, taught by Professor Susan Green. Labs are part of the class and students are encourage to attempt everything.

Why should I take this course? 

Learn about the application of basic chemistry concepts to everyday life. This course is divided into four units to give you a solid foundation in chemistry. Unit one introduces the molecular nature of matter and important concepts such as moles and writing balanced reactions. Unit two is devoted to atomic structure and periodic trends. Unit three introduces bonding and molecular and intermolecular structure. Unit four is devoted to equilibrium concepts and applications to acid/base chemistry. Quantitative problem solving is emphasized throughout and many concepts will be introduced via worked examples and homework sets. 

Projects 

There are two projects in this course. In the Acids, Bases and Salts project you apply your knowledge of acids, bases, and salts to everyday items. The Chemical Safety Project focuses on determining the hazards of chemicals we will be using in the lab. 

Attempt everything 

This course can be fast-paced and difficult and approaching it with the expectation that it will be challenging (but doable!) is important for your success. One tip is to ATTEMPT EVERYTHING. When tackling a new question, attempt to solve the problem before asking for help—even if that attempt is just writing down anything you think might be useful. You don’t have to do everything on your own, but don’t give up before you’ve started.

The write stuff 

A major focus of this course is developing your skills as a writer. The majority of the writing in this course centers on your lab work. You will produce three formal reports. We will work reports as part of our lab time and spend significant time on revisions and rewriting.