This course covers the basic concepts of chemistry leading to an understanding of atomic structure of the elements and periodic table. The study of chemical bonding, nomenclature, chemical equations, formula calculations and stoichiometry is undertaken.

This Introductory Chemistry textbook was developed by the Chemistry faculty at Montgomery College, and provided by Professor Patricia Takahara. The book is meant for students with very little or no background in chemistry. Concepts here are presented at a very basic level in order to provide the foundation for college-level general chemistry. This book is used in Introductory Chemistry, a non-credit, preparatory course at Montgomery College (Maryland).

An exercise in which students apply limiting reactants, mass ratios and percent yields to suggest an optimum industrial process. Cost figures are provided but students are told to come up with, and defend, their own criteria for their recommendation.

In this activity, students use the virtual lab to create stock solutions starting from solid salts. Students must first calculate the correct amount of solid to make the solution. Next, they prepare the solution using the appropriate glassware. Students can check to see if their procedure was correct using the concentration viewer in the solution info panel.

This activity investigates the molar conversions used in a single replacement reaction between copper and iron.

Create your own sandwich and then see how many sandwiches you can make with different amounts of ingredients. Do the same with chemical reactions. See how many products you can make with different amounts of reactants. Play a game to test your understanding of reactants, products and leftovers. Can you get a perfect score on each level?

Students are introduced to statics and dynamics, free-body diagrams, combustion and thermodynamics to gain an understanding of the forces needed to lift rockets off the ground. They learn that thrust force is needed to launch rockets into space and the energy for thrust is stored as chemical energy in the rocket's fuel. Then, using the law of conservation of energy, students learn that the chemical energy of the fuel is converted into work and heat energy during a rocket launch. A short PowerPoint® presentation is provided, including two example problems for stoichiometry review. An optional teacher demonstration is described as an extension activity.

This activity is a lecture where students learn the basic concept behind stoichiometry, mole ratios.

The following OER resources have been created by Mike Cross for Chemistry I:Stoichiometry classroom presentationThese presentation slides are meant to be used by an instructor to introduce the concept of stoichiometry in the classroom.  The problems involved can be solved by the instructor on the board or solved by students individually or in groups. The presentation should take approximately 2 ½ hours of class time.Stoichiometry problems (5)These videos show solved the process of solving stoichiometry problems.  The first problem is the simplest and the problems increase in difficulty.  The video links can be given to students in order to help them learn how to complete these types of calculations.

Three different resources to help you learn about stoichiometry including some background and examples of problems.

This textbook was developed as a result of a Round 12 Textbook Transformation Grant.

This project is a classroom investigation where students design a chemical torpedo out of pipettes, baking soda and vinegar to travel down a rain gutter. While working on the project the students will have to analyze their design, interpret their success and failures, adapt their creation and compete against other students in distance and velocities of their launched torpedo.

A variety of fuels are evaluated for the amount of heat they liberate upon burning. This includes a discussion of how different criteria can influence the evaluation of what makes a "good" fuel.

Building on an introduction to statics, dynamics free-body diagrams, combustion and thermodynamics provided by the associated lesson, students design, construct and test their own rocket engines using sugar and potassium nitrate an opportunity to apply their knowledge of stoichiometry. This activity helps students understand that the energy required to launch a rocket comes from the chemical energy stored in the rocket fuel. The performance of each engine is tested during a rocket launch, after which students determine the reasons for the success or failure of their rockets.

Students learn how common pop culture references (Harry Potter books) can relate to chemistry. While making and demonstrating their own low-intensity sparklers (muggle-versions of magic wands), students learn and come to appreciate the chemistry involved (reaction rates, Gibb's free energy, process chemistry and metallurgy). The fun part is that all wands are personalized and depend on how well students conduct the lab. Students end the activity with a class duel a face-off between wands of two different chemical compositions. This lab serves as a fun, engaging review for stoichiometry, thermodynamics, redox and kinetics, as well as advanced placement course review.