Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description In this module, first year students are introduced to the key fundamental concepts of chemistry - including the structure of atoms, electronic configuration, and orbital shapes. Following this course, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between electronic configuration and chemical properties, and chemical bonding (both ionic and covalent). In this module, first year students are introduced to the main concepts of physical chemistry - the energetics of physical and chemical change (chemical thermodynamics) and rates of reaction (chemical kinetics). Following this course, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between temperature, pressure and concentration of ideal and non-ideal gases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Derive the electronic structure of the elements 2. Predict the chemical and physical properties of the elements based on their position in the periodic table 3. Describe in terms of electronic structure the nature of the chemical bond 4. Perform qualitative and quantitative analysis relating to the gas laws, gas diffusion and effusion, and non-ideal gases. 5. Predict and make suitable calculations dealing with internal energy, heat transfer, work, enthalpy, heat capacity (Thermochemistry) 6. Predict and make suitable calculations dealing with entropy, Gibbs Free Energy and spontaneity of a chemical process 7. Distinguish between rate of reaction and spontaneity of reaction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
1. Electrons, protons, neutrons Models of the structure of the atom (Dalton, Rutherford). Atomic number, mass number, charge (ionisation) 2. Line nature of H2 spectrum. Bohr model and it's significance and limitations 4. Wave nature of the electron. Wave-particle duality 5. Quantum mechanical description of atom. 6. Shapes of orbitals. 7. Electronic configuration of the elements. 8. The electron configuration - chemistry relationships. 9. Chemical bonding – hybridisation 10. Chemical bonding - Molecular orbitals and bond order. 11. Gas laws, gas diffusion and effusion, and non-ideal gases 12. Thermochemistry - internal energy, heat transfer, work, enthalpy, heat capacity 13.Thermodynamics – introduction to entropy, Gibbs Free Energy and spontaneity of a chemical process 14. Introduction to reaction kinetics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minor tweaks for the 10 week semester I CS101 module | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||