Discover why success in chemistry depends only on a genuine understanding of the field's concepts and ideas. Chemistry, 2nd Edition provides a foundation for future success by giving students a deep and thorough grasp of the fundamental problem-solving skills needed to study chemistry. Veteran science teacher and Professor Frank Cardulla's 36 carefully designed lectures are valuable tools for struggling students, students looking to perform better, home-schooled students, or anyone interested in finally understanding this important science.
Chemistry, 2nd Edition
Give your student a head start on chemistry with this course by an award-winning educator.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Danjameson from
Excellent lecture series.
As someone who never understood chemistry at school but was still intuitively fascinated by it's obvious potential to explain so much I wanted a more basic introduction to the mathematics than is available in a college level lecture series and this is the course! I am 60 now and in my day you just had to take everything on trust, no explanations, just do it - this is/was the UK way at the time - so as someone who needs to know the WHYS of a subject I lost out. Other reviewers comment on the amount of repetition, especially in the early lectures but I think that it is useful in order to get the point across, firmly, right from the get go. Obviously, at my age some of the banter necessary for college students is a little much occasionally but then college students are the main target audience. Thank you to all involved in the course, especially Professor Cardula.
Date published: 2023-09-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Dr Aaron Atia from
Fantastic course. Prof is a great teacher - period
This course should be compulsory for all chemistry students. I have been studying it with my year 10 son while on holiday and in 20 days we managed to thoroughly learn what was confusing for 6 months to the most intelligent students in the class.
I highly recommend this course!
I wish Prof. the best of health and we wish to have his email address to thank him properly.
Date published: 2023-01-03
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Chemistry fan from
Perfect for high school chemistry students
I wish there were more courses like this designed for the high school student like physics, math. I’m tutoring my niece, I knew very little foundational chemistry, and am
working through all the chapters, thanks to the accompanying pdf with outlines problems and solutions . I’m learning so much and feel prepared to help my niece. Cardova is a wonderful teacher! More like this please!
Date published: 2022-07-18
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Brother J from
Thorough but overly redundant.
I found Professor Cardulla interesting, but he talks way too much. I don't get bored easily, but I was falling asleep through the first five lectures. I'm hoping they get more engaging or I won't finish the series. As an example to those who have been through lectures one through five, his 30 students per room problem was repeated so often I thought my head would explode.
That said, I bet this guy would be great in the classroom where he can interact with students.
The content is spot on.
Date published: 2022-06-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
TimMk from
Excellent course!
I am a professional biologist, and I was required to take chemistry as part of my major. I remember having a great deal of trouble with chemistry because I really never had a good basic understanding. For this set of lectures, I just wanted to try and erase that stigma. After finishing the course, I realized that had I had Dr. Cardulla as my teacher in junior high school, I would likely have not had that stigma to begin with. Concise with clear calculations, with a touch of humor and compassion. Thank you!
Date published: 2022-05-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Alexandra from
Excellent course.
Great review of high school chemistry from a very excellent teacher. Wish there were more like him years ago when I took this in high school. I believe my life would have taken a very different direction back then. Teachers really can make a difference in a student's life and are especially helpful to those coming from very dysfunctional homes. A good school along with good teachers can have a positive effect in an individual's life in that the student learns there are perhaps different ways of doing things outside of one's family, a turning point for some to perhaps evaluating one's own family and trying to understand the dysfunction one was exposed to all their life. Not that teachers are to be like parents, they aren't, but a positive example along with being treated with some respect can help some students to perhaps break out of the family mold of dysfunction. Not all but at least some might. It's better than growing up feeling like a dummy all your life.
Date published: 2022-05-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
PeterNJ from
Excellent school program
I home-school my children using the MEganize approach. This is one of the best Great Courses, and are the only formal lectures I use for Chem. Prof Cardulla is a brilliant teacher. Well laid out and well explained.
Date published: 2022-02-16
Rated 5 out of
5
by
TexasManUSA from
Great Course Presented by a Master Teacher
I am a science teacher and I bought this course to study Frank Cardulla’s teaching style. I previously had bought some of his dvds and when I saw he had a course on the Great Courses catalog I purchased it during a Black Friday sale at an excellent price! I recommend this course to anyone looking to understand chemistry better and also to those who want to learn how to teach chemistry,
Date published: 2021-12-23
Overview
About
Professor Frank Cardulla taught at Niles North High School in Skokie, IL, from 1964 to 1999. He subsequently taught at Lake Forest High School and Libertyville High School. Professor Cardulla earned both his B.S. in Teaching of Chemistry with honors and his M.S. in Teaching of Physical Sciences from the University of Illinois. He has received the National Catalyst Award for Outstanding Chemistry Teaching, a Presidential Award for Science Teaching, and the National James Bryant Conant Award. Additionally, he has received citations from institutions such as MIT and the University of Chicago for being named most influential teacher" by attending students. He has taught a wide variety of high school science courses
Trailer
01: Introduction and Philosophy
In this first lecture, Professor Cardulla explains how any student can find success in chemistry by cultivating a meaningful understanding of the concepts and quantitative thinking operations that underlie this often challenging area of study.
32 min
02: Basic Concepts of Quantitative Reasoning
Introductory chemistry is not mysterious: It requires simple quantitative reasoning that comes naturally to most students. You learn about the types of numbers involved in chemistry and how to solve problems commonly encountered in high school chemistry.
30 min
03: Quantitative Reasoning in Everyday Life
Only a handful of important ideas must be mastered in order to be successful at solving chemistry problems. In this lecture, you review some basic guidelines for approaching any chemistry problem and try out your skills on a few sample problems that demonstrate how you can use everyday reasoning in your chemistry class.
31 min
04: Quantitative Reasoning in Chemistry-Density
Building on the ideas explored in the first three lectures, you examine a fundamental quantitative measurement in chemistry, density, and explore the real-world meaning of this measurement. You then solidify your understanding of this concept by working some basic density problems.
31 min
05: The SI (Metric) System of Measurement
Next, you continue to lay a strong foundation for your understanding of chemistry by learning about one of the key tools you'll be using: the International System of Units (SI), or the metric system. This lecture explains why this system is so useful to scientists and lays out the prefixes and units of measurement that make up the metric system.
29 min
06: Converting between Systems of Measurement
Now that you have established an understanding of the SI system, put your knowledge to work as you practice converting units from one system of measurement to another. You hone your conversion skills by working several sample problems.
29 min
07: Elements, Atoms, and the Periodic Table
In the next three lectures, you cover some fundamental topics that you'll need before you can launch into your study of chemistry. You examine the basic building blocks of matter-elements and the atoms that constitute them-and you learn how to interpret the information about elements presented in the periodic table
30 min
08: Ions, Compounds, and Interpreting Formulas
Learn about protons, electrons, and neutrons; how ions are formed from atoms; how these ions can combine to form compounds; and how you can determine the formulas of these compounds. Some molecular substances are discussed and you are introduced to the final number associated with every element-its atomic weight.
32 min
09: Isotopes and Families of Elements
Discover how isotopes, which are different atoms of the same element, can actually differ in their weight because they contain different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei. Also, learn how different kinds of elements are grouped into both general categories (such as metals and nonmetals) as well as specific chemical "families," which then are arranged into the periodic table.
30 min
10: The Mole
One of the most important concepts to master in an introductory chemistry course is the concept of the mole, which provides chemists with a way to "count" atoms and molecules. Learn how scientists use the mole and explore the quantitative definition of this basic unit.
29 min
11: Solving Mole Problems
By solving problems involving moles, you refine the quantitative techniques introduced in earlier lectures while increasing your familiarity with this important chemical value.
31 min
12: Avogadro's Hypothesis and Molar Volume
After mastering the mole, you move on to a related concept: the "molar volume," or the amount of space occupied by one mole. You apply this understanding of molar volume as you examine Avogadro's Hypothesis, a principle concerning the molar volume of gases.
30 min
13: Percent Composition and Empirical Formulas
In this lecture, you encounter two "classic" types of chemistry problems and learn the basic characteristics of each. The lecture concludes with several practice problems to help you master the skill of solving percent composition problems.
29 min
14: Solving Empirical Formula Problems
Continue your consideration of "classic" chemistry problems with a look at empirical formulas, and examine how empirical formulas relate to molecular formulas
30 min
15: Writing and Balancing Chemical Equations
What happens when you combine two or more elements? Through a variety of practice problems, you learn to identify when a chemical reaction has occurred, how to write chemical equations, and how to "balance" equations to conserve the atoms.
30 min
16: An Introduction to Stoichiometry
What are the quantitative relationships between the substances in a chemical reaction? The study of stoichiometry shows you how to apply your ability to balance equations to solve problems involving chemical reactions.
31 min
17: Stoichiometry Problems
You extend your study of stoichiometry to consider more complex problems involving volume, molecules, and energy.
30 min
18: Advanced Stoichiometry
As you move on to more advanced stoichiometry problems, you see that they can be solved using a very simple approach. You encounter three terms often applied to chemical reactions: theoretical yields, actual yields, and percent yields.
31 min
19: An Introduction to Molarity
One important idea to master in any introductory chemistry course is the concept of concentration of a solution. Here, you explore this concept, the components that make up a solution, and learn about a basic unit of measurement for concentration, molarity.
30 min
20: Solving Molarity Problems
Extend your understanding of molarity by solving some typical problems encountered in the high school chemistry classroom. To foster your understanding of these problems, you are asked to draw upon the quantitative reasoning skills you previously used.
29 min
21: Advanced Molarity Problems
You are asked to take the concepts you learned about molarity in the last two lectures and apply them to a number of unfamiliar problems. These problems offer an opportunity to test your comprehension of the concepts you've been exploring.
30 min
22: Basic Concepts of Chemical Equilibrium
Continue your study of chemical reactions by examining an important new concept: the equilibrium system. You start by looking carefully at the difference between reactions that "go to completion" and those that are "reversible."
30 min
23: An Introduction to the Equilibrium Constant
By tracking and graphing a hypothetical reaction as it approaches a state of equilibrium, you gain a deeper understanding of the essential characteristics of equilibrium systems. Then, you're introduced to the single most important expression used to solve equilibrium problems: the equilibrium constant.
31 min
24: Interpreting an Equilibrium Constant
Your examination of the equilibrium constant continues. Learn exactly what the numerical value for an equilibrium constant tells and doesn't tell you about an equilibrium system.
30 min
25: Le Chatelier's Principle-Concentration
Before you can solve equilibrium problems, you need to understand what happens to an equilibrium system when conditions are changed. You learn about a fundamental idea-Le Chatelier's Principle-which lays the groundwork for a broader understanding of equilibrium.
31 min
26: Le Chatelier-Pressure and Temperature
Having established a basic understanding of Le Chatelier's Principle, you explore how this principle plays out in a variety of situations in which an equilibrium system is changed.
30 min
27: An Introduction to Equilibrium Problems
You use your basic understanding of equilibrium systems to try to solve some problems. You tackle two kinds of equilibrium problems: ones in which you are asked to calculate the equilibrium constant for an equation, and ones in which you are asked to find the equilibrium concentration of a reactant or product.
31 min
28: The Self-Ionization of Water
After examining how different substances may behave when dissolved in water, you learn about the self-ionization of water and use this knowledge to solve problems. The lecture ends with a brief introduction to the pH of solutions.
30 min
29: Strong Acids and Bases-General Properties
You return to the topic of pH and learn about how pH relates to two kinds of compounds: acids and bases. Through an introductory problem, you explore the relationship of various ions within these compounds.
32 min
30: Solving Strong Acid and Base Problems
You gain a deeper understanding of acids, bases, and pH by working several sample problems. These exercises help clarify the difference between strong and weak acids and bases and between the idea of a "strong" concentration versus a "strong" acid or base.
27 min
31: Weak Acids and Bases
Look at weak acids and bases, compounds that are only slightly ionized in water-based solutions. You learn how to solve the "classic" weak acid problem and apply the same approach to weak base problems.
32 min
32: Titrating Acids and Bases
Here, you explore "neutralization": the idea that if you add a base to an acid, it will tend to destroy the properties of the acid, and vice versa. You examine this reaction through demonstration of a laboratory procedure called titration.
31 min
33: Titration Curves and Indicators
Acid-base indicators, which change color when a solution switches from acid to base and back again, provide a striking demonstration of the transformation that occurs during titration. Learn how to use these indicators to determine the equivalence point of a titration, and examine what happens when you graph these reactions.
30 min
34: Solubility Equilibria-Principles, Problems
After learning about equilibrium systems, you move on to a particular type of system: "solubility equlibria," or the equilibria found in saturated solutions of slightly soluble ionic solids. You explore this concept as you practice solving a variety of related problems.
31 min
35: Solubility Equilibria-Common Ion Effect
Your study of solubility equilibria continues with some advanced practice problems. Here, you encounter the last major type of equilibrium problem. To solve these problems, you revisit Le Chatelier's Principle and learn about some of the pitfalls to avoid when dealing with these kinds of equilibrium systems.
31 min
36: Putting It All Together
In this final lecture, you tackle problems that require you to pull together all the knowledge you've acquired. Through these challenging problems, you build confidence in your ability to unravel new problems and pursue more advanced levels of chemistry.
32 min
