Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Over the seven weeks of Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios, you will be able to progress from a most basic knowledge of matter and energy to solving interesting real world chemical reaction stoichiometry problems. Each lesson in the course introduces some new concepts that allow you to build upon the material from previous lessons, so completing the coursework in the order that it is delivered will be most beneficial for developing a thorough understanding of synthesized information. This course is intended for students with very little background in the subject, but a strong foundation in algebra is needed to solve some of the problems.In the first unit, the course will first introduce the basic concepts of scientific methods and measurement. Then we will talk about matter, energy, and stoichiometry. Last, we prepared several lab demonstrations by Dr. Ken Lyle. I hope that you are as excited as I am to this amazing world of chemistry! Good luck!

Matter and Energy

If you are interested in significant figures in more detail, here are some good videos to follow on Khan Academy.

This week we will continue our explorations of matter and energy. We will discuss the sub-atomic particles that govern chemical reactions, isotopes, anions, and cations. We will learn how to name compounds, calculate formula masses, convert between grams and moles, examine periodic trends, and more! An advanced problems set is posted now; that is a longer assignment and is optional unless you would like to be eligible for the Honor’s Track. You can still earn a regular verified certificate without completing the advanced problem sets, so please be sure to keep working on the normal weekly exercises.

Compounds

In this week's videos and exercises (aka quizzes), we will learn how to name compounds, calculate formula masses, convert between grams and moles, examine periodic trends, and more!

I hope you enjoyed the last two weeks of learning chemistry. Great work on watching videos, posting on the discussion forum and submitting your exercises!

Chemical Composition and Reactions

Week 4 for Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios is about to begin! This week will be filled with introductions to chemical compositions, chemical reaction terminology, and reaction calculations.

If any of the following questions interest you, then watching this week's videos and doing some practice problems are probably a good way to get started! How much sodium is in my diet? What amount of pollutants are in drinking water? How much iron is in iron ore for steel production? These of the types of problems you will be able to address this week.

Solutions and Solubility Rules

In the past five weeks of the course, we have learned concepts, rules, and skills, including but not limited to: the definitions of atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds; energy changes; Coulomb’s Law, molecular stoichiometry; atomic structures; periodic trends; the mole; compounds; atomic and molecular masses; molecular stoichiometry; balancing chemical equations.

In this coming week, we will be discussing aqueous solutions, solubility rules, precipitations and electrolytes! We are also going to learn the first type of chemical reaction equation in this course: Dissolutions.

Acid-base and Redox Reactions

We are almost at the end of our course! I hope this has been a rewarding experience for you because I know that the course is not an easy one and it is relatively long. So kudos to everyone who has made it this far!

Week 6 for Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios will include very basic introductions to acid-base and redox reactions. We will also practice combining what we know from previous weeks to complete reaction calculations.

Final Exam

Congratulations on making through to the final week of the course! It was not an easy journey for the past six weeks with dozens of videos, exercises, problem sets, and forum discussions. Kudos to the many of you who completed the honors lessons on top of the other work. I am proud of all of you!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

This course takes a creative approach to an otherwise established topic, field, or subject

Strong fit with a particular audience, either based on learners experience level, field, or interests

Develops professional skills or deep expertise in a particular topic or set of topics

Builds a strong foundation for beginners

Teaches skills, knowledge, and/or tools that are highly relevant to industry

If this course is explicitly requires learners to come in with extensive background knowledge first

Reviews summary

Well-received chemistry basics

Learners say this course provides engaging assignments and clear instruction. They largely agree that Professor Canelas is an excellent teacher who presents complex topics in an easy-to-understand and often humorous way. Several learners comment on the course's ability to refresh, reinforce, and introduce chemical concepts. The thorough explanations and helpful demonstrations are also well received. While the course is designed as an introduction to chemistry, some students with previous knowledge find it too basic, while others with little to no background find it helpful.

Course is a good review of high school chemistry concepts.

"This course was so much fun and extremely helpful. The instructor's delivery of the material was very clear and easy to understand."

"It helped me going in depth in many important topics that I got a chance to cover a bit in AP Chemistry, really helpful. Thank you so much for your lectures!"

"Amazing course, the instructor knows the material perfectly, the topics are really interesting, and the videos are adequate! Thank you so much!"

Course provides a clear and thorough introduction to chemistry concepts for beginners.

"Got a far better understanding of basic chemistry almost 20 years after finishing high school. Many thanks to Prof. Dorian Canelas and to Duke University for creating this course."

"A great revamp for those who want to reinforce Chemistry concepts"

"It is a wonderful course for Middle school students. A first course in Chemistry, for the gifted students who will do AP Chemistry. Not suitable for adult learners who need an advanced introduction."

Course reinforces previously learned chemistry concepts.

"Reinforced the basics of chemistry that I had already learned in Chemistry while also giving me to gain more in depth information from the teacher's videos."

"This course helped me to increase my knowledge in the chemical reactions and ratios. Thankyou to coursera for this course. It really helped me."

"I have never studied chemistry before. I enjoyed a lot. Thanks to Coursera, Duke University and the excellent and smiling Professor Dorian Canelas"

Assignments and quizzes are a good balance of theoretical and practical application.

"The course is both simple and informative. The instructor is very helpful in making us understand every small bits of information and she presented everything with examples which made me interested to this course."

"The course was interesting and the facilitator was very good."

"Very good exercises! Nice balance between lectures and assignments. Excellent course!"

Explanations are simple, detailed, and thorough.

"It helped me going in depth in many important topics that I got a chance to cover a bit in AP Chemistry, really helpful. Thank you so much for your lectures!"

"Excellent Professor Dorian Canelas! A very good introduction to Chemistry Reactions and Ratios. Incredibly understandable and explanatory."

"Everything was great, the instructor took her time and gave explanations that broke down the topic in a way that made it easy to understand."

Professor Canelas is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and presents material in a clear and engaging manner.

"The best chemistry course for the beginners.And Prof. Dorian is a good teacher in my opinion. She taught everything perfectly. "

"Professor Dorian is awesome!! Loved the course. Specially for chemistry enthusiasts. Helps students gain interest in chemistry!!"

"Fantastic course! Videos were informative at were conducted at a steady pace. A good introduction to chemistry, especially for people who are new to the subject."

Course content is too basic for learners with prior knowledge of chemistry.

"Good for whom knew something about chemistry and wants to refresh it and learn some new information. Fits for beginners"

"I did not like chemistry because I had failed my previous chemistry 114 class in college. Taking this course have help me to understand the basics of chemistry. I'm grateful. Thank You."

"This course reinforced the basics of chemistry that I had already learned in Chemistry while also giving me to gain more in depth information from the teacher's videos."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios with these activities:

Chemistry lab safety workshop

Show steps

Understanding proper laboratory safety protocols is essential for students taking chemistry courses. This workshop will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to work safely in the lab.

Show steps

Attend the workshop and take notes.
Participate in the hands-on activities.
Ask questions and clarify any doubts.

Review algebra skills

Show steps

A strong foundation in algebra is essential for solving stoichiometry problems accurately. This activity will help you brush up on your algebra skills.

Browse courses on Algebra

Show steps

Review the order of operations.
Practice solving algebraic equations.
Apply your algebra skills to solve simple stoichiometry problems.

Chemistry: The Central Science

Show steps

Reading a textbook can provide you with a more in-depth understanding of the concepts covered in this course.

View Chemistry on Amazon

Show steps

Read the assigned chapters.
Take notes and highlight important concepts.
Answer the end-of-chapter questions.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Khan Academy: Acids and Bases

Show steps

The Khan Academy tutorials provide clear and concise explanations of acids and bases, which can help you understand this topic more easily.

Show steps

Sign up for a free Khan Academy account.
Search for and watch the videos on acids and bases.
Take the practice quizzes to test your understanding.

Balancing chemical equations worksheet

Show steps

Balancing chemical equations is essential to solving stoichiometry problems, which is a core topic in this course. This activity will help you gain proficiency in this skill.

Browse courses on Stoichiometry

Show steps

Review the rules for balancing chemical equations.
Work through practice problems on your own or with a tutor.
Check your answers against the provided answer key.
Redo any problems that you get wrong.

Dimensional analysis worksheet

Show steps

Dimensional analysis is a valuable tool for solving stoichiometry problems. This activity will help you develop proficiency in this technique.

Browse courses on Stoichiometry

Show steps

Review the steps of dimensional analysis.
Work through practice problems on your own or with a tutor.
Check your answers against the provided answer key.
Redo any problems that you get wrong.

Create a concept map of chemical reactions

Show steps

Creating a concept map can help you visualize the relationships between different types of chemical reactions and their stoichiometric principles.

Browse courses on Chemical Reactions

Show steps

Identify the main concepts related to chemical reactions.
Draw a diagram that connects these concepts.
Add details and examples to illustrate the relationships.

Attend a chemistry club meeting

Show steps

Attending chemistry club meetings can provide you with opportunities to discuss course material with peers, ask questions to experts, and learn about career paths in chemistry.

Show steps

Find a chemistry club at your school or in your community.
Attend a meeting and introduce yourself.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chemist

Chemists study the composition, structure, properties, and change of matter. They use their knowledge to develop new products and processes, and to solve problems in a variety of fields, such as medicine, agriculture, and energy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemist

Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers design, build, and operate chemical plants and processes. They use their knowledge of chemistry and engineering to develop new products and processes, and to solve problems in a variety of industries, such as pharmaceuticals, food, and energy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Materials Scientist

Materials Scientists study the properties of materials and develop new materials for use in a variety of applications, such as electronics, aerospace, and medicine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Biochemist

Biochemists study the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. They use their knowledge to develop new drugs and treatments for diseases, and to understand how living organisms function.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biochemist

Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense medications and provide information about their use. They also work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to develop and manage medication plans for patients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacist

Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientists typically work with law enforcement agencies. These workers analyze evidence from crime scenes and apply scientific methods to reach conclusions. They may use tools like chromatography, microscopy, and spectroscopy to analyze samples.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Scientist

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and its components: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere. They focus on how these components interact with each other, and how that interaction affects human health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Science Teacher

Science Teachers teach science at the elementary, middle, or high school level. They develop and implement lesson plans, and assess student learning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Laboratory Technician

Laboratory Technicians conduct experiments and tests in a laboratory setting. They may work in a variety of fields, such as chemistry, biology, or environmental science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Laboratory Technician

Quality Control Analyst

Quality Control Analysts ensure that products meet safety and quality standards. They may work in a variety of industries, such as food, pharmaceuticals, or manufacturing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Control Analyst

Sales Representative

Sales Representatives sell products or services to businesses or consumers. They may work in a variety of industries, such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or scientific equipment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Representative

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and edit technical documentation, such as manuals, reports, and proposals. They may work in a variety of fields, such as software, engineering, or science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Patent Attorney

Patent Attorneys help inventors obtain patents for their inventions. They may also represent clients in patent infringement lawsuits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Patent Attorney

Science Policy Advisor

Science Policy Advisors advise policymakers on scientific issues. They may work for government agencies, think tanks, or advocacy groups.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Policy Advisor

Science Journalist

Science Journalists write about science and technology for the general public. They may work for newspapers, magazines, or websites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Journalist