BCB I: General Chemistry Practical Course

Abstract

In the General Chemistry Practical Course, students are introduced to the work in a modern chemistry laboratory. Conceptually, the course addresses three major topics: (i) inherent risks in the chemistry laboratory, (ii) common equipment and techniques, (iii) basic classes of reactions and chemical equilibrium.

Objective

The objectives of the practical course are: 1. Understanding and applying safety regulations and safe practices in a chemistry laboratory; 2. Confident and responsible handling of chemical substances and laboratory glassware; 3. Accurately documenting experiments and observations in a laboratory notebook; 4. Performing basic chemical reactions and correctly writing corresponding reaction equations; 5. Preparing thoroughly for experiments, including performing necessary pre-lab calculations and planning steps of the experiment; 6. Planning and managing experimental procedures and time effectively.

Content

The practical course covers the following key topics: - Safe conduct and adherence to safety regulations in the chemistry laboratory; - Planning experimental procedures guided by a virtual learning tool; - Best practices for common laboratory techniques, such as filtration, purification, and recrystallization; - Acid-base equilibria, acid and base strengths, pH and pKa values, titrations, and buffer systems; - Precipitation equilibria, with applications in gravimetric analysis, potentiometric methods, and conductivity measurements; - Oxidation states and redox reactions, including redox titrations and galvanic cells; - Chemistry of metal complexes, synthesis of inorganic compounds, and complexometric titrations;

Resources