CHEM& 121: Introduction to Chemistry – 6 credits
Introduces simplified atomic and molecular theory. Students investigate the chemistry of solutions, gases, liquids, and solids and examine quantitative relationships in chemical processes. Format includes lecture, discussion, and laboratory. Fee: $48.00 100-level Science lab. College in the High School students and students in on-line classes are exempt from this fee.
About this course
This course is intended as an introductory level general chemistry course, usually for allied-health majors (nursing, nutrition, physical therapy, etc.) If you are a science/engineering major or a pre-professional health major (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc) you will probably need to take CHEM& 140 instead. It is highly recommended that you contact advising to decide if you need this course or not!
PREREQUISITES ARE CHECKED. Please make sure you are cleared for prereqs – either you will have taken the prereq courses at BC, or you will need to submit your college transcripts if prereqs were completed at another institution, or take the math placement exam to meet the prereq.
This course assumes no previous chemistry knowledge, but if you’ve had some physical sciences or chemistry in high school it could be very helpful. Use of proportions, percents, scientific notation, metric system, and algebra are all very useful and required skills for this course.
I. Course Materials
The current textbook is Karen Timberlake’s General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life, sixth edition, published by Pearson. Since 2020, this textbook has been provided through Inclusive Access so all students taking the course have access from fees paid at tuition.
We are currently using a CHEM& 121 Workbook published by Van-Griner. It is sold through the BC bookstore and directly from Van-Griner and includes exercises and lab activities.
II. CHEM& 121 – Additional Exercises
| Handout Name | Relevant Chapters in Timberlake |
|---|---|
| Metric Search | Chapter 1 |
| Metric System | Chapter 1 |
| Density | Chapter 1 |
| Temperature | Chapter 2 |
| Heat calculations | Chapter 2 |
| Periodic Table Search | Chapter 3 |
| Moles within moles | Chapter 6 |
| The Mole | Chapter 6 |
| Empirical and Molecular Formulas | Chapter 6 |
| Differences between Ionic and Molecular Compounds | Chapter 5 |
| Nomenclature and Writing Formulas | |
| Ionic Compounds | Chapter 5 |
| Covalent Compounds | Chapter 5 |
| Acids | Chapter 10 |
| Nomenclature Practice Set A (ionic), set B & C (ionic and covalent) | Chapter 5 |
| Balancing Symbolic Equations | Chapter 6 |
| Balancing Word Equations | Chapter 5, 6 |
| Stoichiometry | Chapter 6 |
| Worksheet I | |
| Worksheet II | |
| Molarity | Chapter 8 |
| Dilution | Chapter 8 |
| pH Concept | Chapter 10 |
III. Other resources
ACS final practice exam – multiple choice format
Last Updated March 4, 2025