GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
Jim Davis, Harvard University (ret.)

Course Description
Everything we see, hear, taste, and touch on this earth, in our solar system, and in the universe is made up of matter. In General Chemistry I, students will study matter: its properties, composition, and the changes it undergoes. They will learn that the infinite variety of matter that exists is the result of 100 or so unique elements. These elements are actually composed of atoms, which themselves can be broken down even further into subatomic particles.

In this first semester course, students explore such topics as atomic structure; the periodic table; properties of solids, liquids, gases, and solutions; chemical bonding; chemical equations and stoichiometry; thermochemistry; and elementary quantum theory. Richly animated illustrations and exciting lab demonstrations enhance the lecture experience, while interactive exercises reinforce concepts essential to understanding chemistry.

About Jim Davis
Jim Davis is former Senior Lecturer in Chemistry and Biochemistry as well as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Chemistry at Harvard University, where he received the Petra Shattuck Award for Distinguished Teaching. Previously, he taught at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the "official" chemist for CarTalk on National Public Radio.