Syllabus

Post Baccalaureate in Pre-Health

CHEM 1013: General Chemistry II – Fall 2026

Credits - 4

Description

Online General Chemistry II is designed to give the student an introduction to general chemistry. The subjects covered in this course include kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acid-base equilibria, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, elements in nature, chemistry of transition elements, and nuclear chemistry. The course is designed to take lecture and lab concurrently for four credits. Course Pre-req: One semester of College Chemistry and College Algebra.

Materials

Textbook

OpenStax Chemistry 2e, available for free in Brightspace.

Proctored Exam Resources

This course permits the use of a dry-erase whiteboard for scratch work during one or more of your proctored exams. No scratch paper is permitted. The whiteboard must be purchased from the following seller.

Webcam

An external webcam is required for proctored exams. If you do not have one, you may order one here: External Webcam.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Outcomes

In lecture courses, students should be able to:

  • Communicate scientific concepts and information clearly.
  • Illustrate fundamental laws, theories, and principles of scientific disciplines.
  • Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to scientific problems.

In lab courses, students should be able to:

  • Ask a question or define a problem that can be tested.
  • Hypothesize possible result(s).
  • Plan and/or conduct an investigation individually and/or collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence.
  • Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (i.e. computational, mathematical, graphical, etc.) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.
  • Communicate the results by constructing an explanation based on multiple pieces of valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
  • Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence gained from various experiments, as well as other observations and/or research, to provide an explanation of phenomena and solve design problems, taking into account possible unanticipated effects.

Course Objectives

After completing the lecture section, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the fundamentals of equilibria, including gas, solution, and acid-base equilibria.
  2. Trace the flow of energy in chemical reactions and perform energy calculations.
  3. Identify the thermodynamic and kinetic forces that determine if a reaction will occur, how quickly it will proceed, and the extent to which it will proceed.
  4. Describe the basics of electrochemistry, identify the parts of an electrochemical cell, and perform calculations with electrochemical reactions
  5. Relate the properties and structures of non-metals, metals, metalloids, and their compounds.
  6. Identify the structures of organic functional groups and naming conventions for simple organic molecules.
  7. Describe the structure of the nucleus and nuclear processes.

Assignments

Course Details

The General Chemistry II course is divided into 16 weeks. Each week contains a reading assignment and homework problems that address the course objectives. There are several short lecture videos that cover some of the major concepts covered that week. There is a lecture quiz each week. Three discussion questions are spread throughout the course.

Assigned Reading and Homework Problems

Each week’s Learning Module includes a reading assignment within each chapter that covers the specific course objectives for the week. Every week includes a study guide. Within the reading, there are practice problems that you should work on as you move along. The assigned homework problems from the end of the chapter will allow you to review the material that was covered. Be sure to ask your instructor for help with any problems that you do not understand. Additional Suggested Problems are for extra practice and do not need to be submitted (though are highly recommended). The Homework Solutions for each week are provided as a separate link for you to check over your work, or if you’re stuck. You should work through problems other than those assigned in any area where you feel extra practice is necessary.

Discussion Board Posts

Discussion questions cover interesting current events or materials that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. There are a total of three required discussion questions found in weeks 1, 8, and 15. Most of the discussion questions are designed to accompany particular chapters (see specific discussion questions for more information). Each question may require you to conduct internet research. Then you will write a response following the guidelines in the assignment.

To earn full credit: you will need to post a response, respond to the original posts of at least two other students, and then contribute to an ongoing discussion. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.

Discussion Question Guidelines

  1. Read the assignment carefully so that you are familiar with the materials that you need to cover and how to craft your post.
  2. Respect each other’s ideas, feelings, and experience. Some of the questions involve areas of disagreement. Expect your classmates to have different opinions.
  3. Use proper writing style. Correct spelling and sentence structure are expected just as if you were writing a regular paper. Use spell check and grammar check before you submit.
  4. Create your post in a word document initially. That way you can save a copy and use spell check and grammar check. Paste your discussion into Brightspace before submitting (do not upload as an attachment).
  5. Cite the sources that you use to write your response. Follow the AMA guidelines.
  6. Avoid posting large blocks of text. Break your writing into paragraphs and use a space between paragraphs to make your posting easier to read online.
  7. Subscribe to the discussion so that you get email updates when there is activity.
  8. Use the “reply” button rather than the “compose” button when responding to someone else’s post.
  9. When responding to a classmate, address them by name.
  10. Do not use postings such as “I agree,” “I don’t know either,” or “ditto.” They do not add to the discussion, take up space on the Discussions, and lower your grade.
  11. Everyone benefits from an active discussion. Check back frequently to see what others are saying.
  12. Be sure to submit and reply to comments before the end of the discussion assignment week.

Weekly Quizzes

All weekly lecture quizzes are open book and open notes. You can take up to 30 minutes to complete each of the 13 multiple-choice lecture quizzes. Although the quizzes are open book and open notes, you need to study the material and work the problems in order to do well on the quizzes. The quizzes will be taken online through the course Brightspace site. Doing well on the quizzes will help prepare you for the unit exams, which are timed and proctored. The quizzes are graded immediately and you may access your graded quizzes at any time in the Learning Module folder by clicking on the quiz attempt. This will allow you to use the quizzes to study for your Unit Exams.

Proctored Exams

The lecture and lab exams are CLOSED book, CLOSED notes, timed and proctored. If you use the official UNE whiteboard (see Materials Section, above), you will be required to show on camera that your whiteboard is clear at the beginning of your testing session, and you must erase your whiteboard on camera before disconnecting from your session. If you do not do this, your exam will not be credited. You will also be required to set up a UNE-compliant webcam as described above in the “Materials” section.

You may use:

  • The provided PDF entitled “General Chemistry I  Exam Information and Equations”
  • The official UNE whiteboard, marker, and eraser
  • A stand-alone scientific, non-programmable calculator
  • Nothing else

The lecture exams comprise 25 multiple-choice questions and you can have up to 90 minutes to complete them. The lab final exam has 40 multiple-choice questions and is to be completed in 120 minutes.

Your exam scores will be available after you take the exam, but exams will not be released to students for review. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

CategoryWeight
Discussions10%
Quizzes15%
Exams40%
Homework15%
Lab Experiments and Graphing Assignment15%
Lab Report5%
Total 100

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 93 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 92.9% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89.9% 3.50
B 83 – 86.9% 3.00
B- 80 – 82.9% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79.9% 2.50
C 73 – 76.9% 2.00
C- 70 – 72.9% 1.75
D 60 – 69.9% 1.00
F 00 – 59.9% 0.00

Schedule

Course Schedule: Fall 2026

Week 1: Sep 2 – Sep 8
Week 2: Sep 9 – Sep 15
Week 3: Sep 16 – Sep 22
Week 4: Sep 23 – Sep 29
Week 5: Sep 30 – Oct 6
Week 6: Oct 7 – Oct 13
Week 7: Oct 14 – Oct 20
Week 8: Oct 21 – Oct 27
Week 9: Oct 28 – Nov 3
Week 10: Nov 4 – Nov 10
Week 11: Nov 11 – Nov 17
Week 12: Nov 18 – Nov 24
Week 13: Nov 25 – Dec 1
Week 14: Dec 2 – Dec 8
Week 15: Dec 9 – Dec 15
Week 16: Dec 16 – Dec 18 (Short Week)

Below is a general overview of the Units. For a more detailed outline, please follow the weekly instructions within Brightspace.

Week 1: Kinetics I
Learning Objectives
  • Calculate rates for chemical reactions.
  • Describe the effects of chemical nature, physical state, temperature, concentration and catalysis on reaction rate.
  • Use rate and concentration data to determine reaction order and derive rate laws.
  • Perform integrated rate law calculations for zero, first, and second order reactions.
Readings

Chapter 12 (12.1-12.4)

Assignments
  • Introduction Discussion
  • Week 1 Discussion: Reviewing Chemistry in the Home
  • Week 1 Homework
  • Week 1 Quiz
Labs 

Reaction Order and Rate Laws:

  • Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Discussion Initial Post — Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion Response Posts — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 2: Kinetics II
Learning Objectives
  • Relate collision theory to factors that affect the rate of chemical reactions.
  • Define activation energy, transition states, and perform calculations with the Arrhenius equation.
  • Identify molecularity and derive a rate law based upon a given reaction mechanism.
  • Identify the role of catalysis in reactions.
Readings

Chapter 12 (12.5-12.7)

Assignments
  • Week 2 Homework
  • Week 2 Quiz

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 3: Equilibrium
Learning Objectives
  • Describe the dynamic nature of equilibrium.
  • Derive reaction quotients from homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions.
  • Calculate quotients and the equilibrium constant from concentrations and pressures.
  • Predict the effect of stressing a system at equilibrium using LeChatelier’s Principle.
  • Perform calculations to determine equilibrium concentrations or the equilibrium constant.
Readings

Chapter 13 (13.1-13.4)

Assignments
  • Week 3 Homework
  • Week 3 Quiz
Labs 

Equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s Principle

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 4: Acid-Base I
Learning Objectives
  • Write equations for acid and base ionization for Bronsted-Lowry acid-base pairs.
  • Use Kw for calculating the concentrations of hydronium and hydroxide concentrations.
  • Classify solutions as acid, base, or neutral based upon pH and pOH concentrations
  • Perform calculations relating to pH, pOH, Ka and Kb
Readings

Chapter 14 (14.1-14.3)

Assignments
  • Week 4 Homework
  • Week 4 Quiz
Labs 

Determination of the Ka of a Weak Acid

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 5: Acid-Base II
Learning Objectives
  • Predict if salt solutions will be acidic, basic, or neutral
  • Identify the characteristics of buffers and perform pH calculations with buffered systems
  • Describe characteristics of titration curves and acid-base indicators
  • Calculate pH at various stages of a titration
Readings

Chapter 14 (14.4-14.7)

Assignments
  • Week 5 Homework
  • Week 5 Quiz
Labs 

Titration for Acetic Acid in Vinegar Lab Report

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 6: Precipitation and Dissolution
Learning Objectives
  • Define Ksp and perform calculations involving Ksp, Qsp, and solubility.
  • Describe practical examples of the common ion effect.
Readings

Chapter 15 (15.1)

Assignments
  • Week 6 Homework
  • Week 6 Quiz
Labs

Determination of Water Hardness Using a Titrator

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation
Lab Report

Titration for Acetic Acid in Vinegar

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 7: Exam 1

Due This Week

  • Exam — Tuesday, 11:59 PM
Week 8: Thermochemistry
Learning Objectives
  • Determine the role of energy in physical and chemical change
  • Perform calculations involving heat, specific heat, and temperature change
  • Calculate and interpret heat and related properties using constant-pressure calorimetry data
  • Define enthalpy, explain Hess’s law, and compute reaction enthalpies
Readings

Chapter 5 (5.1-5.3)

Assignments
  • Week 8 Discussion: Nutritional Calories
  • Week 8 Homework
  • Week 8 Quiz
Labs 

Hess’s Law

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Discussion Initial Post — Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion Response Posts — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 9: Energy
Learning Objectives
  • Describe the energetics of covalent and ionic bond formation and breakage
  • Describe the role of intermolecular forces in changes of state and determine the energy involved in changes
  • Use phase diagrams to identify stable phases under specific conditions and to describe transitions
  • Describe the energetics associated with the dissolution process
Readings

Chapter 7 (7.5), Chapter 10 (10.3), Chapter 11 (11.1)

Assignments
  • Week 9 Homework
  • Week 9 Quiz
Lab 

State of Matter

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 10: Thermodynamics
Learning Objectives
  • Differentiate spontaneous and nonspontaneous reactions in terms of energy distribution
  • Describe the relationship between thermodynamics and kinetics
  • Define entropy and predict the sign of entropy for chemical and physical processes
  • Define the second and third laws of thermodynamics
  • Define Gibbs free energy and describe its relationship to spontaneity
  • Calculate free energy change using enthalpy, entropy, free energies of formation, and enthalpies of formation
  • Describe the role of temperature on spontaneity
  • Relate standard free energy changes to equilibrium and calculate Keq using Gibbs free energy
Readings

Chapter 16 (16.1-16.4)

Assignments
  • Week 10 Homework
  • Week 10 Quiz

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 11: Exam 2

Due This Week

  • Exam — Tuesday, 11:59 PM
Week 12: Electrochemistry I
Learning Objectives
  • Describe the function of a galvanic cell and its parts
  • Calculate cell potentials from half reactions, predicting spontaneity
Readings

Chapter 17 (17.1-17.3)

Assignments
  • Week 11 Homework
  • Week 11 Quiz
Labs 

Oxidation-Reduction Activity Series

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 13: Electrochemistry II
Learning Objectives
  • Perform calculations using the relationship between cell potential, free energy, and Keq.
  • Use the Nernst equation to determine cell potential under nonstandard conditions.
  • Describe the electrochemistry associated with some common batteries, fuel cells, and corrosion.
Readings

Chapter 17 (17.4-17.6)

Assignments
  • Week 13 Homework
  • Week 13 Quiz
Labs 

Electrochemical Cells and Cell Potentials

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 14: Organic Chemistry
Learning Objectives
  • Describe the basic structure of organic molecules
  • Name saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, including molecules with alkyl and halogen substitutions
  • Identify alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides, and amines 
Readings

Chapter 20 (20.1-20.4)

Assignments
  • Week 14 Homework
  • Week 14 Quiz
Labs 

Naming Organic Compounds

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation
 

Due This Week

  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 15: Nuclear Chemistry
Learning Objectives
  • Describe nuclear structure and the energy considerations that lead to instability.
  • Identify common particles and write and balance nuclear equations, including radioactive decay.
  • Describe the kinetics of decay and calculate half-life, relating this to dating techniques
  • Compare fission and fusion and write corresponding equations for each.
  • Summarize the effects, both positive and negative, of radiation on biological tissues
Readings

Chapter 21 (21.1-21.6)

Assignments
  • Week 15 Discussion: Chemistry in Secondary Sources
  • Week 15 Homework
  • Week 15 Quiz
Labs 

Stereochemistry 1 – Structural Isomers

  • Lab Introduction
  • Exploration
  • Experimentation & Evaluation

Due This Week

  • Discussion Initial Post — Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Discussion Response Posts — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Homework – Sunday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Labs — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
  • Quiz — Tuesday, 11:59 PM ET
Week 16: Exam 3

Due This Week

  • Exam — Tuesday, 11:59 PM

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies. Questions? Email: prehealth@une.edu.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

UNE Libraries

Further Assistance

Your student service advisor monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

Policies

Attendance Policy

6- to 8-week courses: Students taking online courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

10+ -week courses: Students taking online courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office. Review the full attendance policy.

Assignments

Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted. Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3-point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded. Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Proctored Examinations

Your course may have proctored exams. Please see your course for full details, access, testing requirements, and guidelines.

Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback on exam questions.

Exam Attempts Policy

Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade.

All students are encouraged to use a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.

Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.

Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 8 weeks.

  1. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
  2. Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact PreHealth@une.edu with any questions.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. Contact support with any questions.

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.