Conceptual Chemistry

Conceptual Chemistry is a one-year laboratory course that covers the foundational concepts of chemistry, exploring the composition of matter and the changes that it undergoes. The concepts of chemistry are essential to understanding all other sciences, so students are encouraged to build a “big picture” understanding of topics such as atoms and their structures, chemical reactions, and interactions between energy and matter. Students are challenged to develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for understanding the role of chemistry in practical applications: for example, chemistry’s role in climate change, recycling of plastics, art, and molecular gastronomy. This course is appropriate for students who are eager to interpret, analyze, and understand chemical reactions and processes with less of an emphasis on mathematics.