What Chemistry to Teach Engineers?

Abstract

Engineering texts were reviewed to find what changes are needed in the introductory chemistry course to meet the needs of engineering students. The conclusions were reviewed by industrial and academic engineers and amended accordingly. The changes in emphasis are not very different from the changes found to be needed in the life sciences in earlier studies.Engineers have most use for understanding how the chemistry of a substance affects its physical properties and little need for the chemistry of reactions other than the reactions of materials with the environment, especially with the atmosphere and with naturally occurring water. They have little need for the quantitative relations that they are so good at. The introductory course should emphasize chemistry of the solid state more than is customary, while reducing the customary emphasis on solution chemistry, equilibrium calculations (but not the concept of equilibrium), and descriptive inorganic chemistry.