CHEM 1Molecular Science

3 credits · Chemistry · Penn State

Selected concepts and topics designed to give non-science majors an appreciation for how chemistry impacts everyday life. Students who have received credit for CHEM 3 , 101 , 130 , or 110 may not schedule this course. CHEM 1 is designed for students who want to gain a better appreciation of chemistry and how it applies to everyone's everyday life. You are expected to have an interest in understanding the nature of science, but not necessarily to have any formal training in the sciences. During the course, you will explore important societal issues that can be better understood knowing some concepts in chemistry. The course is largely descriptive, though occasionally a few simple calculations will be done to illuminate specific information. The course does rely on your ability to think systematically, and to relate things to each other.From year to year and instructor to instructor, the course may cover any number of a large variety of topics related to current events, including, but not limited to: air and water pollution, ozone depletion, global warming, acid rain, new and old methods of energy generation and energy use in modern society, examples of production and use of modern polymers, examples of production and use of modern drugs, examples of the chemistry of nutrition, examples of advances in biochemistry and how they affect us.