Explore UCD

UCD Home >

CHEM00010

Academic Year 2025/2026

Introductory Chemistry (CHEM00010)

Subject:
Chemistry
College:
Science
School:
Chemistry
Level:
0 (Foundation/ Access)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Tony Keene
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module can only be taken by students without a strong background in Chemistry at second level. It is a pre-requisite for such students who plan to pursue any programme in Chemistry or Biology, but may also be taken as elective by students with an interest in learning the basic principles of chemistry. It will provide an overview of the subject, with an emphasis on fundamental principles and on understanding the structures and properties of familiar substances. Topics will include: atomic structure and the periodic table; chemical bonding; shapes of covalent compounds; Lewis structures; chemical reactions, including balancing chemical equations, calculating chemical amounts as moles; oxidation and reduction reactions and acid base reactions; the properties and structures of carbon compounds. The principles will be illustrated by examples of the chemistry of common elements including nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and the halogens.


About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

Describe the nuclear and electronic structure of atoms.
Describe the bonding between atoms in polyatomic substances.
Account for the chemical and physical properties of compounds in terms of their structures.
Balance chemical equations and carry out stoichiometry calculations.
Identify simple organic compounds and predict their chemical properties.
Carry out simple laboratory procedures safely.

Indicative Module Content:

Lecture 1: In The Beginning…
What is chemistry; societal role of chemistry; nature of matter.
Lecture 2: States and classification of matter
States of matter; kinetic-molecular model of matter; classifying matter; the elements
Lecture 3: Chemical reactions; atomic theory; isotopes and mass
Chemical reactions; balancing equations; atomic structure; atomic number; isotopes; abundances; atomic weights and masses.
Lecture 4: Moles and yields
The mole; molar mass; interconverting amounts (moles, mass, volumes); yields and limiting reagents;
Lecture 5: Atomic structure and orbitals
The shape of the periodic table; atomic structure and quantum numbers; rules for filling orbitals; notation for electronic configurations using noble gases.
Lecture 6: Orbital energies and valence electrons
Orbital energy levels; effect of nuclear charge; valence electrons; average valence electron energy;
Lecture 7: Covalent bonding and Lewis structures
Octet and duet rule; covalent bonding; Lewis structures; MO theory
Lecture 8: Covalent bonding and hypervalency
Higher-order bonds; Lewis structures; dative bonds; formal charges; hypervalency
Lecture 9: Covalent bond strengths and molecular shapes
Bond dissociation energy; VSEPR; electron domains; molecular shapes;
Lecture 10: Electronegativity, bond polarity and ionic bonding
Electronegativity; bond polarity; ionic bonding; Haber cycles; ionic packing and structure.
Lecture 11: Ion formation, ionic bonding, metallic bonding and structure determination
Ion formation; cations and anions; properties of ionic compounds; ionic bonding and the bonding continuum; metallic bonding; bonding triangle; structural characterization techniques.
Lecture 12: Intermolecular forces, the case of water, solvation/solutions
Boiling point trends reveal interactions, including dipolar and dispersion. H-bonding dissolution and entropy.
Lecture 13: Amounts, concentrations and stoichiometry
Moles, Avogadro’s number, calculation of amount/concentrations in pure and dilute substances and following simple reactions.
Lecture 14: Reaction rates, self-ionisation of water and dynamic chemical equilibria
Idea of instantaneous rate and rate constants and their temperature dependence, reaction profiles and transition states, catalysts, concept of equilibria.
Lecture 15: Equilibrium systems
Equilibrium expressions and constants; ionic product of water; introduction to acids.
Lecture 16: Acids, bases and pH
Examples of weak and strong acids and bases, pH scale; pOH.
Lecture 17: Conjugate acid/base pairs
pH calculations for weak and strong acids and bases; concept of pKa; conjugate pairs .
Lecture 18: Lewis acids and bases/introduction to inorganic chemistry
Lewis concept; metal complexes; solubility of ionic substances; precipitation reactions.
Lecture 19: Oxidation-reduction reactions
Oxidation and reduction examples; calculating oxidation states; oxidising and reducing agents; examples.
Lecture 20: States of matter; solids, liquids and gases
Revision of states of matter; measurement of pressure; Gas Laws; Ideal gas law calculations.
Lecture 21: Introduction to organic chemistry
Why is carbon special; line structures; hydrocarbons; alkanes; alkenes; aromatics; functional groups.
Lecture 22: Recap
Question and answer session, revisiting calculations from throughout the second part of the course.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

5
Laboratories

6
Specified Learning Activities

24
Autonomous Student Learning

48
Total

107

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
24 Lectures, including in-class activities such as problem solving and small-group discussions.
Problem solving in 4 interactive tutorials.
4 Laboratory practicals, including risk assessment and submission of lab reports.
Independent learning in advance of lectures.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Exclusions:

Students in the Science Programme with Grade H5 or above in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Higher Level, or Grade O1 in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Ordinary Level, or equivalent, are excluded from taking CHEM00010.

Learning Recommendations:

Students enrolled in Programmes other than Science who have Grade H5 or above in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Higher Level, or Grade O1 in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Ordinary Level, or equivalent, are recommended to take CHEM10040 (The Molecular World) and not CHEM00010.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
BIOC00010 - Chemistry-Biochemistry, CHEM00020 - Introductory Chemistry (Ag), CHEM10030 - Chemistry for Engineers, CHEM10040 - The Molecular World, CHEM10130 - Applied Intro. & Phys Chem

Additional Information:
Students that have completed CHEM 10050 should not register for this module.

Equivalents:
Introductory Chemistry (CHEM0901)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Online): An in-person online Brightspace exam lasting two hours. Students will be allowed to access the lecture notes on Brightspace, but no other material may be used except that provided in the hall. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
45
 No
Practical Skills Assessment: 4 lab experiments and report submissions. Report submission is 9 pm of the day after the lab session. Week 5, Week 7, Week 9, Week 11 Graded No
20
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Five tutorials - an at-home Brightspace quiz followed by an in-person session with a tutor. Please note, the weeks indicated here are the weeks of the in-person session - the quiz will be set the week Week 4, Week 6, Week 8, Week 10, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: In-class MCQ test. This test will be a Brightspace quiz on content from the first half of the course. Week 6 Graded No
15
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on laboratory reports will be provided when the report is returned at the start of the next laboratory class. Feedback on tutorial assignments will be provided in the tutorials. Whole class feedback will be provided after the midterm MCQ examination.

A free online textbook for general chemistry:
Chemistry: The Central Science (Brown et al.)
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Map%3A_Chemistry_-_The_Central_Science_(Brown_et_al.)

Name Role
Professor Dermot Brougham Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Tony Keene Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Olivia Breen Tutor
Ms Viktorija Mikaite Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Tues 17:00 - 17:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Wed 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Wed 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Wed 17:00 - 17:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Fri 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 8 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Fri 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 9 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Fri 17:00 - 17:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 10 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Mon 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 11 Week(s) - 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Mon 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 5, 7, 9, 11 Tues 15:00 - 17:50
Autumn Laboratory Offering 2 Week(s) - 5, 7, 9, 11 Mon 15:00 - 17:50
Autumn Laboratory Offering 7 Week(s) - 5, 7, 9, 11 Wed 15:00 - 17:50
Autumn Laboratory Offering 13 Week(s) - 5, 7, 9, 11 Fri 15:00 - 17:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.