General Chemistry I covers the following topics.

• Units conversions and dimensional analysis.
• Naming of simple compounds
• Atomic theory
• Stoichiometry
• Properties of Gases
• Properties of Solutions
• Reactivity of Acids and Bases
• Precipitation Reactions
• Oxidation and Reduction Reactions
• Quantum Mechanical model of the atom
• Molecular geometry and bonding
• Intermolecular forces

Prof. Talaga's sections of Chem 120 are run as a flipped classroom where students watch previously recorded lectures at home and then engage in guided problem solving practice during scheduled class time.

CHEM 544: Chemical Thermodynamics & Electrochemistry

The first half of this class is a condensed and abridged version of CHEM 540 and takes a probability-based approach to the two laws of thermodynamics to understand the molecular basis of the properties of matter including solubility, surface tension, phase separation, and elasticity with applications to pure substances, mixed phases, solutions, and polymers. The second half of the class covers fundamentals of electrochemistry including: electrode processes, electrode potentials, thermodynamics of cells, kinetics of electrode reactions, mass transfer by migration and diffusion, and discussion of several experimental approaches to electrochemical measurements.