Module 1

Introduction to Chemistry
for Engineers
 Learning Goals
• Able to explain the macroscopic, microscopic perspectives and symbolic

representations in understanding different chemical systems.

• Able to differentiate and visualize different chemical phenomena on the

molecular scale. (like differences of solid, liquid and gases.)

• Able to spot the similarities and differences between inductive and deductive

reasoning.

• Able to use ratios in unit conversions.

• Express the results of calculations using the correct number of significant figures.
 Introduction
• Chemistry was nicknamed as the
“central science”
• Chemistry has many important
applications to other fields of studies
• This course will connect pieces of one’s
previous learning of chemistry to give
more understanding of chemical
systems
 Introduction
• This course will help learner’s view of
the natural world in the perspective of
chemical concepts
• The three level of understanding in
studying of chemical concepts are the
macroscopic, microscopic and symbolic.
• At the end of the course, the learner is
expected to probe problems in
chemistry in various ways.
The Macroscopic perspective
• The most basic type of observation that one
can do is at the macroscopic perspective.
• Matter – is anything that has mass and can
be observed
• Not all that we can observe is matter. For
example, light is not considered as matter,
because it does not have mass.
• One way to observe matter is to make it
undergo changes.
The Macroscopic perspective
• There are two types of changes: physical change and
chemical change.
• Physical properties are variables that can measured
without changing the chemical properties of the
matter under observation.
• Physical change is not necessarily a chemical change.
• Mass – measured by comparison of matter against a
standard mass using a balance.
• Density – ratio of mass to volume. This variable can
be measured without changing the chemical
properties of the material
The Macroscopic perspective
• Other physical properties
– Color
– Viscosity
– Hardness
– Temperature
– Heat capacity
– Boiling point
– Melting point
– Volatility
The Macroscopic perspective
• Chemical properties – associated with
the types of chemical changes of a
substance under observation. This is an
observation of how a substance changes
its identity in chemical reactions.
• Combustion – chemical reactions
involving of burning oxygen
• Corrosion – degradation od metals in the
presence of air and moisture
 The Macroscopic perspective
• Both chemical and physical properties of a material are
important of how it can be utilize. Take for example the
aluminum, it has the following physical and chemical
properties:
– Malleability is a measure of a materials ability to be rolled or
hammered into thin sheets.
– Oxidation properties – a chemical property mostly found in
metals is readily observed in aluminum. Pure aluminum reacts
to moisture and air forming aluminum oxide on the surface of
material. This formation of thin hard film of aluminum oxide is
the reason why aluminum is corrosion resistant. But this
property makes aluminum reactive to most acids, which is why
aluminum can is surfaced with polymers that is resistant to acid
reactions.
The Macroscopic perspective
• Macroscopic observation of chemical
reactions can be conducted in three
common states or phases of matter:
solids, liquids, gases.
– Solids – hard and do not change their shapes
easily (powders are solid too).
– Liquids – adapts to the shape of the container
in which it is held
– Gases – expands to occupy the entire volume
of its container
The Macroscopic perspective
• Chemical and physical observation of
the material are often difficult to
distinguish at the macroscopic level.
(take for example the boiling of water, if
it continues to boil, it will eventually
disappear. Now how do we tell whether
it undergone physical or chemical
change? To answer this, we must treat
the materials at the particulate scale.
 The Microscopic/Particulate
perspective
• Microscopic/Particulate Perspective – the most fundamental
tenet of chemistry is that all matter is compose of atoms and
molecules.
• Elements – all matter are comprised of limited number of
building blocks
• Atoms – are the smallest particles that can exist and retain
the chemical property. The study of matters smaller than
atom enters to the realm of nuclear and elementary particle
physics.
• Molecule – are groups of atoms held together so that they
form a unit whose identity is distinguishably different from
the atoms alone.
– Chemical bonds are responsible for holding the atoms together to
form a molecule
 The Microscopic/Particulate
perspective
• Microscopic Perspective of phases of
matter
– Solid – atoms are closely packed, and holds
up its shape
– Liquid - atoms are closely packed but tends
to fill the bottom of the container rather
than maintaining its shape.
– Gas – atoms are with larger distances with
each other
 The Microscopic/Particulate
perspective
• Microscopic perspective of physical and
chemical changes:
– Physical change – atoms or molecules do
not change (example: boiling of water, liquid
water converted to gas)
– Chemical change – atoms or molecules
change into entirely new molecule or
simpler atom. (example: electrolysis, water
molecule are converted into molecules of
hydrogen and oxygen)
The Microscopic/Particulate
perspective
 Symbolic representation
• Symbolic representation of water:
• Thinking about atoms and molecules in
a symbolic way gives a convenience of
ways to discuss of the most abstract
parts of chemistry. This is key to
forming ideas at the particulate level.
Symbolic representation
What is a scientific observation?
 What is a scientific observation?
• Observations -> models
• Models – helps organize and explains data
• We cannot observe nature with complete
certainty, there should be considerations of
the types uncertainties before making
observations.
• Accuracy – indicates how close the observed
value is to the “true” value
• Precision – the spread in values obtained from
the measurement
What is a scientific observation?
 What is a scientific observation?
• Error is unavoidable
• Random error – fundamental to any measurements, which
makes it too high or too low, that is associated to the limitations
of measuring equipment. (example: measuring traces of
impurities from a very small sample)
• Systematic error – error that makes consistent too high or too
low measurement, that is associated to the existence of some
unknown bias in the measuring apparatus. (measurement of
density of aluminum using soda cans and not accounting to the
polymer layer inside it)
 What is a scientific observation?

• Interpreting Observations
– Inductive Reasoning – observation that starts at specific points then
uses it to generalize to a larger idea, that provides a universal
conclusion. (example: (A) Adding other elements to iron like carbon
helps refining iron ores, (B) aluminum is also a metal, (C) this method
is hypothetically applicable to refining aluminum ores, but turns out
to be failed)
 What is a scientific observation?

• Interpreting Observations
– Deductive Reasoning – takes two or more statements or assertions
and combines it so that a clearer and irrefutable conclusion can be
drawn. Can be summarized as “If A and B, then C”.
– (example: (A) electrochemistry helps to attain hard chemical
reactions (B) combination of aluminum and oxygen is very stable and
is hard to break by simple processes. Then (C) we can use
electrochemistry )to drive the oxygen molecules to combine with
aluminum atoms in the ores to purify aluminum from the ores.
 What is a scientific model?
• In modern day, to say something as
theory means that something is
uncertain.
• In science, a theory has a significant and
credible facts that was taken out of
observations.
• The amount of scientific observation is
numerous. Models and theories helps
the organization of these observations.
 What is a scientific model?
• Model – refers to a larger empirical description such as the fact the gas pressure
in proportional to temperature. Model summarizes a large number of
observation, they help predict the behavior of circumstances that is no yet
observed. Explanation of models can be qualitative or quantitative (where
equations allows quantifying and predicting phenomena)
• Theory – refers to an explanation that is grounded in some more fundamental
principle or assumption about the behavior of the system. (example: the kinetic
theory, an explanation in physics why pressure is proportional to temperature)
• Science is a never ending cycle of testing and challenging its self.
• Laws – theories that is sufficiently refined , well tested and widely accepted.
Units, Numbers and Significant figures
Units, Numbers and Significant figures
Units, Numbers and Significant figures
Units, Numbers and Significant figures

• Temperature scales
Units, Numbers and Significant figures

• Scientific notation – a type of writing

very small or very large number by
factoring out all powers of ten and
writing them separately.
 Units, Numbers and Significant figures

• Significant figures – used to indicate the amount of information

that is reliable when discussing measurements
• Rule 1: For multiplication and division, the number of
significant figures in a result must be the same as the number
of significant figures in the factor with the fewest significant
figures.

• But we should write it as

 Units, Numbers and Significant figures

• Significant figures – used to indicate the amount of information

that is reliable when discussing measurements
• Rule 2: For addition and subtraction, the rules for signifi cant
figures center on the position of the first doubtful digit rather than
on the number of significant digits. The result (a sum or difference)
should be rounded so that the last digit retained is the first
uncertain digit.

• But we should write it as

 Problem Solving for Chemistry

• Ratios
• For two equivalent values A=B
• Can be written:
– (tells how much A is one unit of B)
– B (tells how much B is one unit of A)
 Problem Solving for Chemistry

• Conceptual Chemistry Problems

 Problem Solving for Chemistry

• Conceptual Chemistry Problems

Problem Solving for Chemistry

• Conceptual Chemistry Problems