Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y N
Course Code CHEM1041
Date2024/10/11 20:54
Enquiry for Course Details
CHEM1041 Foundations of chemistry (6 credits) Academic Year 2024
Offering Department Chemistry Quota 70
Course Co-ordinator Prof A P L Tong, Chemistry < apltong@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof A P L Tong,Chemistry)
Course Objectives The course aims to provide students who do not have HKDSE Chemistry or an equivalent background but are interested in exploring Chemistry further, with an understanding of the essential fundamental principles and concepts of chemistry.
Course Contents & Topics Topic 1: Chemical Compounds & Reactions (5 hours) Types of chemical compounds & their formulas; the mole concept; composition of compounds; chemical equations and stoichiometry; limiting reactants.

Topic 2:  Gases: Their Properties and Behaviour (6 hours) Gas pressure; the gas laws; the ideal gas law and reaction stoichiometry; the kinetic-molecular theory of gases.

Topic 3: Thermochemistry (6 hours) Heat & work; heats of reaction and calorimetry; the first law of thermodynamics; standard enthalpies of formation; Hess's law.

Topic 4:  Chemical Bonding and Structures (7 hours) Covalent, ionic and metallic bonds; bond energy and chemical change; electronegativity and bond polarity; Lewis structures of molecules and ions; resonance; exceptions to the octet rule.

Topic 5:  Intermolecular Forces: Liquids, Solids, and Phase Changes (6 hours) Intermolecular forces; some properties of liquids; some properties of solids; phase diagrams.

Topic 6: Chemical Equilibrium (6 hours) The equilibrium state and the equilibrium constant; the equilibrium law: calculation of equilibrium constants and reaction quotient; Le Chatelier's Principle.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 demonstrate knowledge and understanding in relation to some chemical vocabulary, terminology and conventions
CLO 2 demonstrate knowledge and understanding of chemical stoichiometry, the properties of liquids and solids, the nature of gases, phase changes, chemical bonding and structures, and the nature of chemical equilibria
CLO 3 apply the theories and concepts introduced in the course to solve problems, perform calculations, make predictions and rationalize trends
CLO 4 organize and present chemical ideas in a clear, logical and coherent way
CLO 5 demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the relevant applications of chemistry in society and in everyday life
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 No pre-requisite. This is a bridging course for students without high school chemistry background but are keen to equip themselves with a foundation of chemistry. Students taking this course are expected to work hard by doing active self-reading in order to be able to cope with this course which should not be seen as an easy course (for those with no chemistry background).

Not for students with Level 3 or above in HKDSE Chemistry or having taken any level 1 Chemistry course or above or any equivalent Chemistry course
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2024 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Minor in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Minor in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Minor in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Minor in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Minor in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2024 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 4 >
2024 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 2 >
2023 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 4 >
2023 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 2 >
2022 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 4 >
2022 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 2 >
2021 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 4 >
2020 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 4 >
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y        1st sem    Examination Dec     
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show thorough grasp of the subject. Demonstrate strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show substantial grasp of the subject. Demonstrate evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show general but incomplete grasp of the subject. Demonstrate evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show partial but limited grasp, with retention of some relevant information, of the subject. Demonstrate evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of little or no grasp of the knowledge and understanding of the subject. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36
Tutorials 12
Reading / Self study 100
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 30 CLO 1,2,3,4,5
Examination 50 CLO 1,2,3,4,5
Test 20 CLO 1,2,3,4,5
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 (Textbook for the course) Petrucci; Herring; Madura; Bissonnette: General Chemistry - Principles and Modern Applications, latest edition, Pearson.
(Other reference books) Brown; LeMay; Bursten; Murphy; Woodward; Stoltzfus: Chemistry - The Central Science, latest edition, Pearson.
Tro: Chemistry - A Molecular Approach, latest edition, Pearson.
Robinson; McMurry; Fay: Chemistry, latest edition, Pearson.
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information Suggested follow-up course: CHEM1042 General Chemistry I
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