ages 15–1833 lessons6 chapters

High school

The high-school program covers Seconde, Première and Terminale (the chemistry side of the French physics-chemistry specialism): structure of matter, transformations, thermochemistry, kinetics, organic chemistry. Six chapters to move from qualitative to quantitative, predictive chemistry. The last chapter bridges to undergraduate-level work.

Chapter 1

Constitution of matter

From atom to bond: atomic structure, electron configuration, periodic classification, trends, covalent/ionic/metallic bonding, VSEPR geometry.

  1. Atomic structure
  2. Electron configuration
  3. Periodic classification
  4. Periodic trends
  5. Covalent bonding
  6. Ionic bonding
  7. Metallic bonding
  8. Molecular geometry (VSEPR)
Chapter 2

Amount of substance and solutions

The mole, molar mass, molar concentration, dilutions. Stoichiometry — what makes chemistry quantitative.

  1. Mole and molar mass
  2. Molar concentration
  3. Dilutions and dilution factor
  4. Stoichiometry
Chapter 3

Chemical transformations

Acid-base, oxidation-reduction, precipitation, complexation, equilibria. The major reaction families to master in high school.

  1. Acid-base: Brønsted model
  2. pH and acid/base strength
  3. Oxidation-reduction
  4. Precipitation reactions
  5. Complexation reactions
  6. Chemical equilibria
  7. Le Chatelier's principle
Chapter 4

Thermochemistry and kinetics

Energy exchanged by a reaction, its rate, orders, and catalysis. When and how a reaction proceeds.

  1. Chemical reaction energy
  2. Reaction enthalpy
  3. Reaction rate
  4. Rate laws and reaction orders
  5. Catalysis
Chapter 5

Organic chemistry

Carbon and its molecules: skeletons, functional groups, reactions. The basics for biochemistry and pharmacy.

  1. Carbon skeletons
  2. Functional groups
  3. Alcohols and aldehydes/ketones
  4. Carboxylic acids and esters
  5. Addition, substitution, elimination
  6. Stereoisomerism
Bridge

Toward undergraduate chemistry

Three opening lessons: detailed atomic orbitals, spectroscopies (NMR, IR), reaction mechanisms. Material to enter undergraduate chemistry confidently.

  1. Introduction to atomic orbitals
  2. NMR and IR spectroscopy (intro)
  3. Introduction to reaction mechanisms