General Chemistry

Here is an overview of general chemistry topics:

1. Atomic Structure

  • Atoms and elements
  • Subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, electrons)
  • Atomic number and mass number
  • Isotopes

2. Periodic Table

  • Periodic trends (atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity)
  • Groups and periods
  • Metals, nonmetals, and metalloids

3. Chemical Bonds

  • Ionic bonds
  • Covalent bonds
  • Metallic bonds
  • Lewis structures
  • Molecular geometry and VSEPR theory
  • Polarity

4. Stoichiometry

  • Mole concept
  • Molar mass
  • Avogadro’s number
  • Balancing chemical equations
  • Empirical and molecular formulas
  • Limiting reactants
  • Percent yield

5. States of Matter

  • Solids, liquids, and gases
  • Kinetic molecular theory
  • Phase changes (melting, boiling, sublimation)
  • Heating curves

6. Solutions and Solubility

  • Solvents and solutes
  • Concentration units (molarity, molality)
  • Solubility rules
  • Colligative properties (boiling point elevation, freezing point depression)
  • Saturated, unsaturated, and supersaturated solutions

7. Thermochemistry

  • Energy and heat
  • First law of thermodynamics
  • Enthalpy (ΔH)
  • Exothermic and endothermic reactions
  • Hess’s law
  • Calorimetry

8. Chemical Kinetics

  • Reaction rates
  • Rate laws and reaction order
  • Activation energy
  • Catalysts
  • Reaction mechanisms
  • Collision theory

9. Chemical Equilibrium

  • Dynamic equilibrium
  • Equilibrium constant (K)
  • Le Chatelier’s principle
  • Reaction quotient (Q)
  • Calculating equilibrium concentrations

10. Acids and Bases

  • Definitions (Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, Lewis)
  • pH and pOH
  • Strong and weak acids/bases
  • Acid-base titrations
  • Buffers

11. Redox Reactions

  • Oxidation and reduction
  • Oxidation states
  • Balancing redox equations
  • Electrochemical cells (galvanic and electrolytic)
  • Standard reduction potentials

12. Electrochemistry

  • Electrolytes
  • Faraday’s laws of electrolysis
  • Nernst equation
  • Applications (batteries, fuel cells)

13. Nuclear Chemistry

  • Radioactivity
  • Types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma)
  • Half-life
  • Nuclear reactions (fission, fusion)
  • Applications and effects of radiation

These topics provide a solid foundation in general chemistry and are essential for understanding more advanced concepts in the field.