The B.Sc. 1st-year Chemistry course typically provides foundational knowledge in chemistry and includes a mix of theoretical and practical components. The curriculum may vary slightly depending on the university, but it generally includes the following core areas:
1. Inorganic Chemistry
- Atomic Structure: Quantum numbers, orbitals, electronic configurations, periodic properties (atomic size, ionization energy, electronegativity).
- Chemical Bonding: Ionic bond, covalent bond, VSEPR theory, molecular orbital theory, hybridization.
- Periodic Table Trends: Periodicity of elements, properties of groups.
- Acids and Bases: Theories of acids and bases, pH, buffer solutions.
- Hydrogen and s-Block Elements: Properties, compounds of alkali and alkaline earth metals.
- p-Block Elements: Overview of elements in Groups 13–18.
2. Organic Chemistry
- Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry: Structure and bonding in organic molecules, hybridization, resonance, hyperconjugation.
- Reaction Mechanisms: Nucleophilic substitution, elimination reactions, free-radical reactions.
- Stereochemistry: Optical isomerism, geometrical isomerism, chirality, enantiomers.
- Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes: Preparation, reactions, and properties.
- Aromatic Compounds: Benzene structure, resonance, electrophilic substitution reactions.
3. Physical Chemistry
- States of Matter: Gas laws, kinetic molecular theory, deviations from ideal behavior, van der Waals equation.
- Thermodynamics: First law, enthalpy, Hess's law, entropy, Gibbs free energy.
- Chemical Equilibrium: Law of mass action, Le Chatelier's principle, equilibrium constants.
- Solutions: Concentration terms, colligative properties, Raoult's law.
- Electrochemistry: Conductance, electrolysis, Nernst equation, galvanic cells.
- Kinetics: Rate of reaction, order, molecularity, Arrhenius equation.
4. Practical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry Practicals: Qualitative analysis of salts, preparation of inorganic compounds.
- Organic Chemistry Practicals: Identification of organic functional groups, preparation of organic compounds.
- Physical Chemistry Practicals: Conductometric titrations, determination of viscosity, surface tension, and reaction rates.
Skills Developed
- Analytical and laboratory skills.
- Understanding of chemical principles and their application in real-world problems.
- Proficiency in chemical calculations and data analysis.
- Teacher: Dr Suraj Deshmukh