Ministry of Higher Education

College of Applied Sciences – Sohar

Course Description

Catalog Description 

This is a second of two general chemistry courses which is aimed at introducing engineering students to fundamental chemical concepts and principles. The major topics covered in this course include liquids and solid states, properties of solutions, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, thermodynamics and electrochemistry.

Course Pre-requisite, Topics and Skills

Chemistry I and the topics covered therein.

Course Learning Objectives

This course seeks to:

·         Lay a solid foundation in general chemistry for engineers.

·         Bring about awareness of the diverse roles chemistry plays in everyday life.

·         Motivate students to take responsibility for their learning.

·         Promote development of problem solving skills.

·         Enable students to apply chemical concepts and principles to chemical and mechanical processes in engineering.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

·         Discuss the differences and interconversions among the three states of matter

·         Explain and apply the properties of solutions: solubility, vapor pressure and colligative properties.

·         Determine the rate laws and describe the conditions that affect the rate of a reaction.

·         Employ the Arrhenius equation to determine the activation energy of a chemical reaction

·         Explain how a catalyst accelerates a chemical process

·         Describe Le Chatelier's principle, write expressions for equilibrium constants and predict the position of the equilibrium for a given chemical process

·         Discuss the factors that affect an equilibrium state of a chemical reaction

·         Correlate the acid or base dissociation constant with the strength of an acid or base, respectively

·         Measure and calculate the pH of a given solution

·         Derive the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, explain how a buffered solution works and be able to prepare a desired buffer solution

·         Carry out an acid-base titration and be able to choose an appropriate acid-base indicator.

·         Explain the laws of thermodynamics and be able to predict whether a chemical process is spontaneous by considering the entropy and free energy change.

·         Construct an electrochemical cell of a redox reaction, measure the standard cell potential and be able to calculate the standard cell potential from the relevant standard reduction potentials of the cell constituents

·         Correlate the galvanic cell potential with Gibb's free energy and predict the spontaneity of a chemical process

·         Apply electrochemical concepts and principles to everyday redox processes, particularly those related to constructions in engineering, such as fabrication of batteries, corrosion, electro-refining and electroplating of metals

·         Work in a team to solve a common problem

·         Think independently, logically and critically.

·         Collect, manipulate and interpret scientific data.

·         Manage their time and organize their work efficiently.

Course Learning Strategies

In order to achieve the objectives of the course, lectures will be supplemented by:

·         Laboratory sessions that translate what is learned in the classroom into practical skills.

·         Tutorials that alternate with the labs on a weekly basis.

·         Quizzes that illustrate examples of typical problem solving situations.

Course Contents

·         Liquids and Solids

·         Properties of Solutions

·         Chemical Kinetics

·         Chemical Equilibrium

·         Acids and Bases

·         Applications of Aqueous Equilibria 

·         Spontaneity, Entropy and Free Energy

·         Electrochemistry

·         Experimental Work

Course Assessment

Practical component:     15%

Two tests:                    15% each

Quiz:                            5%

Lab exam (written):        5%

Final exam:                    45%

Recommended Textbook(s)

·         Zumdahl & Zumdahl, Chemistry, 7^th edition, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 2003.

Contribution to ABET Categories

Chemistry II Laboratory

Lab Manual:

A Lab manual shall be prepared and made available to all students taking the course.

The lab manual should contain the following:

1- Laboratory safety rules and equipment

2-Fire regulations

3-Aim of each practical

4-Safety precautions for each practical

5-Instructions for each practical (experiments)

List of practicals:

1-Molar mass of a Volatile liquid

2-Determining the molar volume of hydrogen gas

3-Effect of temperature on solubility

4-Determination of molar mass by freezing point depression

5-Chemical kinetics

6-Chemical equilibrium

7-Buffer solutions and hydrolysis of salt

8- Electrochemistry

Course Contents

·           Liquids and Solids

·         Properties of Solutions

·         Chemical Kinetics

·         Chemical Equilibrium

·         Acids and Bases

·         Applications of Aqueous Equilibria 

·         Spontaneity, Entropy and Free Energy

·         Electrochemistry

·         Experimental Work