Chemical Principles II

CHEM 31B is the second half of a two-part course, therefore only students who have completed CHEM 31A may enroll in 31B. As with 31A, students will continue to engage in group problem-solving activities throughout class and participate in weekly laboratory activities. Labs will allow students to more deeply explore and observe the different facets of chemical reactivity, including rates (kinetics), energetics (thermodynamics), and reversibility (equilibrium) of reactions. Using these methods, we will estimate the possible levels of lead and other toxic metals in drinking water. We will also explore the role of buffers and antacids in our bodies, as well as ocean acidification and the impact on coral reefs. Finally we will explore how we harness work from redox reactions, building both voltaic cells (i.e. batteries) and electrolytic cells in the lab. We will look at the applications of redox chemistry in electric and fuel cell vehicles. The course's particular emphasis on understanding the driving forces of a reaction, especially the influence of thermodynamics versus kinetics, will prepare students for further study of predicting organic chemical reactivity and equilibria from structure in CHEM 33.