UAR 45CH: Foundational Concepts for General Chemistry

This course will focus on building fluency in the language of chemistry and confidence with foundational prerequisite skills so that students will be prepared for General Chemistry (Chem31A - B) in the fall or Chem11 in spring, and for further study in related STEM fields.  A large emphasis will be placed on developing critical problem-solving and study skills that are essential in making a successful transition to university-level Chemistry at Stanford. 

Topics include the periodic table (basic trends in atomic properties and compound formation), naming conventions,  unit conversions (with emphasis on SI prefixes), writing and balancing different types of chemical reactions, determining empirical formulas, molecular weights, mass percentages, and stoichiometry. Students will build a problem solving tool-kit and apply chemical and mathematical concepts to solve problems related to energy, climate change, water resources, and nutrition. Students will read and make a first attempt at practice problems before lecture.  Lectures will then provide active individual and group practice with these concepts specifically focused on problem solving as a process.  

This course is intended primarily for students planning to enroll in Chem31A in the fall quarter or Chem11 in spring. Students with AP or IB experience will generally find this course redundant with skills they have already mastered. For additional information on How to Choose your first Chemistry course at Stanford, please visit https://chemistry.stanford.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/how-choose-your-first-class