CHEMISTRY OF EVERYDAY LIFE
General Education Chemistry Course with Lab for Non-Science Majors (4 credits)
Description of the Course:
The world we live in is shaped by changing trends in Science and Technology. It is difficult to think of present day social problems or for that matter political decisions, that are not inextricably linked to chemistry or its sister sciences. Three fourths of all the legislation considered by the United States Congress is directly related to scientific or technological issues. Yet many young students are 'turned off' from science very early in their educational career by the abstractness and/or elegant deductive logic which scientists find beautiful. The impact of chemistry on our society is too important to be left alone to chemists or politicians. We need our poets, painters, musicians, and citizens in all walks of careers to be empowered with chemical literacy which would enable them to vote intelligently, make sensible decisions for posterity, and help them read and appreciate articles in the popular press. Thus, the primary focus of this course is to expose students with non-science backgrounds to the basic principles of chemistry with a special focus on its impact on society.
The course uses topics of current interest such as, air and water pollution, protection of the ozone layer, alternate energy strategies such as solar and fuel cells, threat of acid rain, nuclear energy-the facts and myths, polymers, design of drugs, metals and superconductors and in each case outlines the way chemistry steps in to offer solutions to these issues.
This course is not intended to transform a non-science major student into a chemistry scholar, rather it is structured to stimulate the interest in the liberal arts student a desire to learn more about the world of chemistry. It is my hope that by the end of this course students will develop deeper understanding and appreciation of the way chemistry embraces our everyday life.
a. Objectives:
The students will learn selected fundamental principles of chemistry and their application in understanding/solving some current problems of social interest. Student participation will be an important component of this course. Unlike the traditional lecture style where the entire power of the class room lies in the hands of the instructor, in this course it is shared equally between the instructor and the students. The topic for the discussion relates closely to the topic of the lecture. The issues could be very diverse as chemistry is intimately related to various facts of everyday life. For example, if nuclear chemistry were to be the topic, students will be asked to comment on the pros and cons of nuclear technology, as opposed to the instructor laying them out for the students. This is expected to lead to a meaningful discussion on the utility of nuclear science in weaponry and medicine. Alternatively, the class can start with a discussion directed towards listing all the chemicals a student comes in contact with in any given day. These may include plastic tooth brush of the tooth paste, soaps and shampoos, or gasoline used in automobiles, or the polymers fibers used in fabrics, etc. A list of possible discussion topics are included in the topic outline.
The course will include selected topics from the text book on:
1. Chemistry: A Science for all Seasons
Discussion topics: List the chemicals that an average person come in contact with in a given day. What is good and bad about using chemicals? Why should we be spending billions of dollars on scientific research? Is the chemical industry profitable economically?
2. Atoms and their structure: Are they real and visible?
Discussion topics: How do we know that there are atoms when we cannot see them? Is it always true that things do not exist because they are not visible? Contrast direct and indirect evidence?
3. Nuclear Chemistry: War and Medicine?
Discussion topics: What are the risks and benefits of nuclear science? What is nuclear non-proliferation? Should we support nuclear science in peace time? Should we support nuclear power plants? If so at what cost?
4. Chemical Names and Bonds: The Language of Chemistry
Discussion topics: Present some well known names of chemicals used in everyday life. Do we need a standard system for naming chemicals? Why do you think it is important? When you see labels such as "Calcium Enriched Antacid", are you taking elemental calcium? List the names of some common food preservatives. How manny of us read the names of chemical ingredients in the foods or pharmaceutical products that we buy? Why are some chemicals such as rock and salt brittle while others such as wax are soft?
5. Acids and Bases: Acid Rain - Prospects and Dangers
Discussion topics: What we know about antacids? Why and when we take them? How do we test the efficiency of any antacid scientifically? What is acid rain? Do we know how much damage it causes to our bridges, buildings and structures? If I tell you some common reasons for acid rain, can you come back with suggestions on how to minimize this problem if not completely eliminate it?
6. Oxidation and Reduction: The Batteries
Why are batteries so vital to our ever growing technology? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using batteries? Why do most batteries carry a warning to the effect 'do not dispose in regular trash'? Can we ever make batteries environmentally safe? How is electricity generated over space vehicles?
7. Organic Chemistry of Hydrocarbons: The Heart of Modern Chemistry
The majority of chemicals produced in nature are organic, why are organics so important? Can we classify viruses and bacteria to be some form of organic chemicals? Name some organic chemicals that you are familiar with. Is cooking gas organic? Do we classify medicinal drugs as organic or inorganic?
8. Metals and Polymers: The Materials for the 21st Century
Are metals available freely in nature or do we have to refine them? What are coinage metals? List some important polymers that we use in day to day life. Why do metals differ so widely in their properties?
9. Energy and its Future: What if the natural rescources say 'bye-bye'?
What can happen to our technology if all the oil wells dry up? List some possible alternative to fossil fuels. How long would it take to transform ferns and reeds into coal? What is natural gas? Where do we get it? What is the carbon cycle? Is life on this planet possible without this cycle? Why did the United States shift from coal to petroleum and natural gas when we have much larger reserves of coal the of the two hydrocarbon fuels? Can we recycle fossil fuels? What is meant by octane rating of gasoline? What are the issues with solar energy? Compare a nuclear power plant with a coal burning plant? Which would you rather have in your neighborhood and why?
10. Air and Water: The Question of Survival and Luxury
What do we know about the 'Dooms Day in Donora'? Was the air our ancestors breathed better that what we are breathing today? What is smog? 'Brown is the color of Los Angeles air' - Why? Why should we be concerned about protecting the ozone layer, a much talked about issue in the newspapers? Why did we ban Freon? What do we know about lead pollution, the Radon problem, water pollution? Waht are some of the common poisons in drinking water?
The 'chemicals' used in the laboratories are for the most part very familiar to the students. These include antacids, fruit juices, vegetables such as red cabbage, salt, alum, vitamin C, etc. Students will be examining the chemical properties of these consumables and in the process develop an appreciation for the fact that chemistry surrounds everyday life. A list of 11 laboratory sessions associated with the course are given below:
Introduction to Laboratory Measurements - Survey of laboratory safety rules and some commonly used measurements in a chemistry laboratory.
Identification of a Substance - The students will identify an unknown substance by measuring its density, solubility, melting and boiling point.
The Separation of Components of a Mixture - This experiment involves the separation of salt, sand and ammonium chloride by sublimation, filtration and evaporation.
Types of Chemical Reactions - The students will perform different types of chemical reactions, such as combustion, acid/base titration, etc.
Quantitiative Analysis - This experiment involves the quantitiative determination of chloride ions.
Chromatographic Separation of Ions - The separation of different metals in a drop of liquid is the theme of this experiment.
Analysis of an Antacid - A commercial antacid will be titrated with an acid to illustrate how an antacid works in a human body.
Analysis of Vitamin C - The students will chemically analyze a commercially prepared vitamin C tablet.
Preparation of Alum - This experiment involves the preparation of alum salt.
Determination of the Formula of a Hydrate - In this experiment, the students will analyze the water content of several salts.
Red Cabbage as pH Indicator - The use of red cabbage in determining the acidity of various solutions will be demonstrated.
Evaluation Procedures:
Students will be evaluated by exams, quizzes and laboratory reports.