First-Year Chemistry in the Context of the Periodic Table

Abstract

Although descriptive inorganic chemistry is included to an increasing extent in first year university textbooks, few guidelines are forthcoming as to how this material should be taught to the current crop of students. A methodology currently in use at Auckland is discussed which involves presenting along with the necessary factual material, guidelines based on structure and oxidation numbers which make easier the learning and teaching of major portions of Inorganic descriptive chemistry which can be systematized. Unique properties of Groups or particular elements are presented as Group Features. Reinforcement of the descriptive material with physical chemistry and bonding sections highlights the symbiosis between the qualitative and quantitative aspects of our subject. Furthermore as the descriptive Chemistry is covered by Groups, the periodic table provides a uniting thread conspicuously absent in "principles" based courses.