The course will be implemented as follows:
The course in General Chemistry is taught in the spring semester, starting immediately after the New Year.

The course consists of four parts:

• Lectures (self-study)
• Study groups (self-study)
• Calculation exercises (self study)
• Lab exercises

In lectures at the college the main features of the various course topics will be reviewed; this includes the use of blackboard teaching and overhead transparencies. Lectures are usually of five hours duration per week; for online students, this part of the course will involve self-study.
At the college, student groups will work two hours per week on textbook assignments based on the material that was assigned the week before. Online students will find information concerning which assignments need to be completed, as well as the answers to these assignments, online. It is strongly recommended that students work regularly on the student group work, as this will enable them to check that they have understood the content of the various chapters.
Two hours of reviewing textbook calculation exercises will be offered each week. The first hour will be used to review the assignments of the previous week; in the second period students may work on the following week’s assignments. Online students will find information concerning which exercises need to be completed online, together with the complete solutions.

In the lab sessions, chemistry theory is applied in practice. The lab sessions begin with a brief review in the morning. The sessions are of 1½ to 3 hours duration. A joint review of the results will be carried out, and any exercise calculations will be done later the same day. Each student will provide a written report from all the lab sessions. All the lab sessions are mandatory. The lab sessions are of a more analytical nature than is usual in a course in general chemistry, because chemical analysis will be important in several of the courses that are given later in the study programme. Online students will carry out the lab sessions in three workshops that will be held at the college.

Workshops for online students
The workshops, which will be held at the college in Bø will focus on lab sessions. Information will be given later regarding the specific days when the workshops will be held; however, normally the first workshop will be held before the first part-examination (which is held in February). At the workshops, 3-4 lab sessions will be carried out. It is recommended that students assimilate the theoretical knowledge before attending the lab sessions. Students will need a lab coat and calculator for the lab sessions.
In addition to the lab sessions, students are of course allowed to take up other issues with the teacher by phone or email.

Course description

General Chemistry: Stoichiometry, gases, chemical equilibrium, atomic structure, chemical bonding, intermolecular forces, Lewis notation, VSEPR theory, acids and bases, buffers, titration, solubility, thermal chemistry, electrochemistry, phase diagram, solutions, colligative properties and reaction speed.

Organic Chemistry: Different groups of substances such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, phenols, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and esters. Organic reaction types and different isomer forms.

Biochemistry: Structure of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Enzyme and enzyme inhibition. Simple description of the breakdown of glucose in the body. Nucleic acids and protein synthesis.

Nuclear Chemistry: Radioactive radiation, absorption, half life, fission and fusion.
The laboratory course includes exercises of a general nature and chemical analysis of materials from nature and everyday life.

Examinations

The examination in general chemistry is divided into three parts. The first and second part-examinations each count for 30% of the final grade, while the third part-examination counts for 40% of the final grade.

All the part-examinations will be assessed internally at the college by the teacher. The final grade for the course is calculated as the average of the three part-examinations.

The first part-examination is held in mid-February, covering topics in organic chemistry, biochemistry and nuclear chemistry.
The second part-examination is held in March / April and covers stoichiometry, gases, chemical equilibrium and binding theory.
The third part-examination is held in June and covers acid-base, solubility, electro-chemistry, VSEPR, solids, liquids, salt solutions and reaction kinetics.

Students who do not have sufficient background in science will find the course quite demanding.

Application deadline
1 January 2011

Books

The following textbooks will be used for the course:
Bjørn Gunnar Steen: Himmelsk kjemi. Høyskoleforlaget 2006, ISBN 13 978-82-7634-680-0

Bjørn Gunnar Steen: Laboratorieøvinger i generell kjemi, Telemark University College, 2009.

The laboratory booklet may be purchased at the copy centre at the Bø campus, Telemark University College, tel. 35952833.

Contact:

Senior Engineer Bjorn Steen, tel. 35952774.
Links to examples of teaching:
Examples of teaching materials are provided via the links below:

• Example of group assignment (Eksempel på kollokvieoppgave.pdf)
• Answer to group assignment (Svar på kollokvieoppgave.pdf)
• Answer to calculation exercise (Eksempel på regneøvingssvar.pdf)