University Chemistry
Offered By: Harvard University via edX
Course Description
Overview
What technical forces are shaping the modern world? Revolutionary developments in the union of chemistry and physics hold the key to solving unprecedented global problems; however, understanding the central role that chemistry plays in addressing these problems and shaping our modern world requires a fundamental grasp of fundamental concepts of energy and energy transformations. Learn the foundations of chemistry in HarvardX’s University Chemistry MicroBachelors Program.
Taught by Harvard University Professor James Anderson, learners in this MicroBachelors program are given a robust understanding of chemistry, atomic structure, the principles of energy, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. Each course builds on your prior coursework, applying concepts and analysis to real-world case studies and your daily lives.
In addition to chemistry, learners in this program will study industrial advances in solar cells, energy storage, and molecular imaging — and how international policies relate to these innovations. In addition, you will learn the role of energy in climate change and exactly how irreversible global climate change causes sea levels to rise and storms to become more powerful. You’ll explore how large-scale shifts in the climate structure trigger water and food shortages, as well as how technology advances to address these global issues.
Physical chemistry is fundamental to an understanding of worldwide energy sources and constraints. By the end of this MicroBachelors program, learners will have the quantitative reasoning and critical thinking skills to link the foundations of chemistry to the current global strategies for energy forecasts, technology connecting energy and climate, and role of modern materials science.
Syllabus
Course 1: Energy and Thermodynamics
Learn the fundamentals of chemistry and energy, from the types of energy to atomic mass and matter to enthalpy and thermodynamics.
Course 2: Entropy and Equilibria
Expand your learning of chemistry and thermodynamics by exploring entropy, free energy, and equilibrium.
Course 3: Electrochemistry
Learn the significance of electrochemistry, understanding how electrical, chemical, and mechanical energy are linked.
Course 4: Energy to Electrochemistry Final Exam
Demonstrate your chemistry knowledge in the final exam.
Courses
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What is energy and why is it so important? How does chemistry inform energy efficiency and sustainability? Energy and Thermochemistry is an interdisciplinary, online course that introduces you to the concept of energy. Providing a foundational understanding of energy, this course shows you how energy at the molecular level forms the basis of nearly every scientific discussion of chemical, physical, and biological change.
In this course, you will cover three core concepts — energy, atoms and molecular structure, and thermodynamics. At the start of this course, you will learn about the different types of energy, including potential, kinetic, electrical, chemical, electromagnetic, thermal, and internal energy. You will examine Newton’s Second Law of Thermodynamics, the Joule apparatus, energy release and consumption, and energy and power scales. In the next section, you will move to the study of atoms, the building blocks of molecules, discovering electrons and the nucleus, atomic mass, and molecular structure. Finally, you’ll end the course learning about thermochemistry and the relationship between energy, heat transfer, and work, leading to an understanding of energy in a modern setting and how chemistry can inform energy efficiencies.
Through readings, videos, and case studies, these modules will help you to understand how energy flows through an economic structure. You will gain a deeper knowledge of the consumption of fossil fuels, conservation of energy, and, ultimately, how to build a sustainable energy future.
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What is the chemistry and mechanics behind an electric car versus a gas-powered car — and why do you feel a difference driving them? The discipline of electrochemistry is not new, but it has regained prominence due to the emergence of energy production, energy storage, and technological innovations driven by both science and public policy. Given the rise of global energy demand, research and inventions aim to meet these challenges. ****
To understand electrochemistry, you will combine the concepts of Gibbs Free Energy, electron flow, and chemical transformation. In this course, you will explore key concepts of acid-base reactions and their relation to chemical equilibrium. You will learn the significance of electrochemistry, understanding how electrical, chemical, and mechanical energy are linked.
By the end of the course, you will be able to identify differences in efficiencies between renewable energy sources and fossil fuel-based ones, including which battery types are leading the transition away from fossil fuels.
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Nature is driven by spontaneity — processes that move forward without external intervention. In this course, Entropy and Equilibria , you will explore the Second Law of Thermodynamics and get an introduction to the concepts of entropy and equilibrium states.
Entropy stands as one of the most fascinating concepts in thermodynamics, showcasing the degree of disorder or randomness in nature and controlling a vast range of processes that we observe every day. You will learn how energy and entropy in combination determine how these processes operate spontaneously, without the intervention of human influence. Applying your understanding of entropy to various thermodynamic systems, you will gain insight into equilibrium states and how entropy changes based on different settings.
Finally, you will explore the concept of Gibbs Free Energy, identifying the total amount of energy available in a system or environment and combining the concepts of entropy and enthalpy. By the end of the course, you will be able to associate these concepts with the generation of energy and its impact on the environment by the burning of fossil fuels.
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Final exam covering content from the first three courses
Taught by
James Anderson
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