Chemistry

Chemistry is a science whose theories, principles and laws are based on many experimentally observed facts. Chemistry is concerned with the composition, structure and properties of substances, the reactions of substances with each other and the energy changes that occur in these reactions. The first-year chemistry program consists of a two-course option for those who are well prepared from high school, Chemistry 1050/1051 (St. John's) or Chemistry 1200/1001 (Grenfell Campus) or a three course stream for those less prepared, Chemistry 1010/1011/1031 (St. John's) or Chemistry 1810/1200/1001 (Grenfell Campus). Students who commence a sequence on one campus (e.g., 1200/1001 at Grenfell Campus) should complete the full sequence before transferring to the other campus due to differences in course content and the distribution of topics covered in each sequence of courses. See the notes at the end of the chemistry course descriptions for entrance criteria.

Chemistry at Memorial

The Department of Chemistry has state-of-the-art spectroscopic and other analytical instrumentation as well as the high performance computing facilities of ACEnet. The department also has extensive computing facilities for chemistry majors and honours students.

Careers

Job opportunities for students studying chemistry include but are not limited to:

art conservationist
brew master
chemical engineer
chemical laboratory technician
chemistry teacher
clinical chemist
environmental chemist
forensic chemist
geochemist
government
industrial research chemist
medical doctor
patent lawyer
petroleum chemist
pharmaceutical chemist

Chemistry 1010 and 1011

Introductory Chemistry I and II examines descriptive chemistry; atomic structure; chemical bonding; periodicity illustrated by the chemistry of selected elements; mole concept and stoichiometry; physical properties of matter; energetics; rates of reaction; chemical equilibrium; electrochemistry.
Lectures: Three hours per week
Laboratory/Tutorial: Four hours per week
Prerequisite: Chemistry 1010 has no prerequisite. Chemistry 1010 is a prerequisite for Chemistry 1011.

Chemistry 1031

Introductory Chemistry III prepares students who have completed Chemistry 1010 and 1011 for Chemistry 2210, 2301, 2302 and 2400. It augments the topics covered in Chemistry 1010 and 1011 with the greater depth and problem solving emphasis of Chemistry 1050 and 1051.
Lectures: Four hours per week
Laboratory: Three hours per week
Prerequisites: Chemistry 1011 and Mathematics 1000

Chemistry 1050 and 1051

General Chemistry I and II has topics that will be similar to Chemistry 1010/1011 but will be treated in greater depth with an emphasis on problem solving.
Lectures: Four hours per week
Laboratory: Three hours per week
Prerequisite: A grade of at least 75 per cent in Chemistry 3202. Mathematics 1000. Mathematics 1000 may be taken concurrently with Chemistry 1050. Chemistry 1050 and Mathematics 1000 are prerequisites for Chemistry 1051.

Notes:

Chemistry 1050 builds on basic chemistry concepts from high school. Topics include gases, thermochemistry, atomic structure, periodic properties; chemical bonding including valence bond theory, hybridization and molecular orbital theory, properties of liquids, solids and solutions.
Chemistry 1051 builds on Chemistry 1050 topics and on basic chemistry concepts from high school. Topics include kinetics, chemical equilibrium, equilibria involving acids and bases including polyprotic acids, buffers, acid-base indicators, titration curves, solubility and complex ion equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry and descriptive chemistry.

Chemistry 1200

General Chemistry I (available only at Grenfell Campus) is atomic structure and bonding, stoichiometry, reactions in aqueous solutions, gases, energetics of chemical reactions, the periodic table, chemical bonding and molecular geometry, intermolecular forces. This introductory course is intended for students who have a knowledge of high school chemistry.
Lectures: Four hours per week
Laboratory: Three hours per week
Prerequisite: Students should have Chemistry 3202 or at least 75 per cent in Chemistry 2202 or have successfully completed Chemistry 1810.

Chemistry 1001

Introductory General Chemistry II (available only at Grenfell Campus) is rates of reaction, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics and introduction to organic chemistry.
Lectures/Tutorials: Four hours per week
Laboratory: Three hours per week
Prerequisite: Chemistry 1200 or equivalent

Note: Credit may be obtained for only one of the following pairs of courses: Chemistry 1000 and 1001; Chemistry 1200 and 1001.

Chemistry 1810

Elements of Chemistry (available only at Grenfell Campus) is matter, scientific measurement, atomic theory, the periodic table, chemical compounds and elementary bonding theory, the mole, chemical reactions, the chemistry of selected elements, gases, solutions, stoichiometry. This course is specifically intended for those who have no background in chemistry.
Lectures: Four hours per week
Laboratory: Three hours per week
Prerequisite: None

Note: This course may not be used as one of the chemistry courses required for a B.Sc. degree with a specialization in environmental science at Grenfell Campus, nor for a major or honours in chemistry, nor towards fulfilment of the 78 credit hours in science courses required for the B.Sc. degree on the St. John's campus. Credit may be obtained for only one of Chemistry 1810 or the former Chemistry 1800.

Chemistry 1900

Chemistry in Everyday Life (available only at Grenfell Campus) is a course that shows the relevance of chemistry in our daily lives. Following an introduction to atomic structure and chemical bonding, the course will focus on some of the following topics: organic chemistry and fuels; redox processes and batteries; acids, bases and household cleaners; phases and detergents; the chemical components of foods; polymers and plastics; toiletries and pharmaceuticals.
Lectures: Three hours per week
Laboratory: Three hours per week
Prerequisite: None

Note: Chemistry 1900 may not be used as one of the required courses towards a minor, major or honours in any science degree program.

Notes:

For entry to Chemistry 1050, students must have achieved at least 75 per cent in high school Chemistry 3202 or an equivalent Grade 12 or Level III chemistry course.
Other students, including those with no high school chemistry background, will take Chemistry 1010 (or Chemistry 1810 at Grenfell Campus). It is recommended that students have at least 70 per cent in Level III Academic Math in high school or a pass in any non-foundation university level mathematics course.
Students who are required to drop from Mathematics 1000 to Mathematics 1090 as a result of their Mathematics Placement Test score should contact the Department of Chemistry immediately.
Students who have done well in Chemistry 3202 and who register for Mathematics 1000 are strongly advised to do Chemistry 1050 at Memorial and not Chemistry 1010. Chemistry 1050 and 1051 provide an excellent preparation for all subsequent programs at Memorial and at other Canadian universities.
Students completing Chemistry 1010 and 1011 must also complete Chemistry 1031 for some programs at Memorial. Students who plan to transfer to a program at another university are advised that they may not receive transfer credit for Chemistry 1010 and 1011 unless they also complete Chemistry 1031.
Only six science credit hours will be awarded for a major or honours in chemistry from the following course groups:

Chemistry 1010/1011/1031
Chemistry 1810/1200/1001

Course Criteria Chart for Chemistry - St. John's campus

Recommended course

Newfoundland and Labrador

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

P.E.I.

1010

It is recommended, but not required, that students have at least 70 per cent in Mathematics 3204.

Students who do not qualify to do Math 1090 in their first semester should consider delaying Chemistry 1010 until the following semester.

Grade 12 Chemistry recommended but not required.

1050

Students must complete Chemistry 3202 with at least 75 per cent and have credit for or be registered in Math 1000.

Students who, as a result of their Mathematics Placement Test score, are required to drop from Math 1000 to Math 1090 should contact the Department of Chemistry immediately.

Grade 12 Chemistry with at least 75 per cent and have credit for or be registered in Math 1000.

Students who, as a result of their Mathematics Placement Test score, are required to drop from Math 1000 to Math 1090 and are de-registered from Chemistry 1050, should contact the Department of Chemistry before registering for Chemistry 1010.