Chemistry

Course summary

Have you ever wondered how we know that a multivitamin tablet contains, say, 200 mg of Iron and how you could check? Or why bleach is so good at killing bacteria? Maybe the fact that the smell of caraway seeds and mint is due to compounds with the exact same chemical (and structural) formula makes you wonder... Chemistry is the study of atoms and how they join together to make the huge variety of materials we see around us, providing us with both the theoretical understanding to explain why things work the way they do. From how and why enzymes function in biological systems, to the factors that affect the properties of the plastics that cover almost everything we use, chemistry provides the answers. Moreover, we’ll provide you with the skills you need to make and analyze some of these chemicals! Course Content • Fundamentals: moles, structure and bonding, and the periodic table. • How far, How fast? - Rates and equilibria. • Organic chemistry. • Acids, Buffers, and pH. • Analysis: IR, Mass Spectroscopy & NMR. • Transition metals. • Practical design and evaluation Opportunities and experiences in Chemistry • Extensive practical development program throughout the course to provide the skills. • Full practical day to carry out a longer synthesis. • Experimental design and evaluation integrated part of the course.