Module Search

CHEM1078: Core Chemistry 1

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Type	Open
Level	1
Credits	30
Availability	Available in 2025/2026
Module Cap
Location	Durham
Department	Chemistry

Prerequisites

A-level or equivalent in Chemistry AND Mathematics

Corequisites

Practical Chemistry 1A (CHEM1087)

Excluded Combinations of Modules

None.

Aims

To teach the fundamentals of Chemistry and to provide a foundation on which later courses can be based.
Some of the material in this module aims to ensure that students from different pre-university backgrounds reach a common base level.

Content

Structure and bonding: structure of the hydrogen atom, introduction to orbitals, Aufbau principle, multi-electron atoms, valence bond and MO theories.
Chemical periodicity. Evaluation of how elements and compounds vary with relation to the periodic table. Rationalisation and prediction of properties based upon periodic position.
Coordination chemistry. Isomerism, nomenclature and stability of complexes. Hard and soft acids and bases. Introduction to crystal field theory.
Organic chemistry. Nucleophiles and electrophiles. Organic synthesis, mechanism, reactivity and stereochemistry. Descriptive chemistry of selected organic functional groups.
Thermodynamics of ideal chemical systems: first and second laws of thermodynamics, U (Internal integral energy), H (Enthalpy), S (Entropy), and G (Gibbs free energy), equilibrium constants. Introduction to phase diagrams and phase rules.
Chemical kinetics. Reaction profile and measuring reaction rates. Rate laws, coefficients, order of reaction, integrated rate expressions and half-lives. Arrhenius equation, steady state approximations.
Units and dimensions. Conventions and handling thereof.
Spectroscopy and proof of structure: molecular structure analysis by NMR and IR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

To draw the graphical forms of hydrogenic wavefunctions, and describe their importance in determining the form of the periodic table;
To describe the hybrid orbital method of bonding in sp, sp2 and sp3 configurations;
To describe the molecular orbital theory of bonding in 1st row homo and hetero diatomics;
To describe trends in properties of elements and compounds throughout the periodic table, and account for why these trends occur;
To determine the co-ordination geometries of simple inorganic and organic molecules and ions and account for the bonding in them;
To describe the difference between electrophiles and nucleophiles, accounting for their differing behaviour;
To describe the key aspects of stereochemistry and be able to appreciate and exemplify the three major types of isomer (constitutional, diastereoisomer, enantiomer);
To rationalise the chemistry of alkanes, alkyl halides, alkenes and carbonyl compounds;
To describe, including the use of curly arrows, the fundamental organic reaction mechanisms of nucleophilic substitution at sp3 carbon, elimination, electrophilic addition to alkenes and simple aromatics, and nucleophilic addition and substitution at carbonyl groups and apply this understanding to simple transformations;
To describe the basic principles underlying spectroscopy, and be able to deduce the structure of simple organic species from spectra;
To describe the fundamental thermodynamic parameters and calculate their values from physical data, relate changes in the parameters to phase changes and use them to calculate equilibrium constants for chemical reactions;
To relate an equilibrium constant to fundamental thermodynamic parameters;
To manipulate rate equations and analyse experimental kinetic data in chemical and biochemical applications;
To relate reaction mechanism to rate laws and use kinetic data to draw mechanistic conclusions.

Subject-specific Skills:

Solve basic chemical problems.

Key Skills:

Work effectively in a tutorial group to solve chemical problems;
Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

A progress test is held in January for students to assess their own learning and performance to improve their examination technique. It is an opportunity for them to assimilate the work completed in the first term. Papers are returned to students with model answers so that they can learn from the experience.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total	Monitored
Lectures	72	4 per week	1 hour	72
Tutorials	13	1 per week	1 hour	13	Yes
Workshops	4	1 in Term 2, 3 in Term 3	2 hours	8	Yes
Progress Test	1	1 per year	1 hour	1	Yes
Meetings with Departmental Advisor	4	Induction, and 1 per Term	1 hour	4	Yes
Preparation and Reading				202
Total				300

Summative Assessment

Component: Examinations		Component Weighting: 90%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
On Campus Written Examination	2 hours	50
On Campus Written Examination	2 hours	50

Component: Coursework		Component Weighting: 10%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Progress test	1 hour	100	Online exercise during July/August

Formative Assessment

Set work in preparation for tutorials. Set work in preparation for workshops.

More information

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.