UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
Course Title: General and Inorganic Chemistry (Chemistry 1)
Course code: FME151; FCE 181 and FBE105
Introduction: This is a general chemistry course offered to engineering students to boost
their understanding of chemistry concepts which are key building blocks for engineering
courses such as material science. The course covers selected topics in Inorganic, Analytical,
Environmental and Physical Chemistry.
Programme: Engineering
Lecture time: Monday 8-10 am; Tuesday 11-1 pm
Practicals: Wednesday 8-11 am; Thursday 10-1 pm
Lecture Venue: Monday 8-10 am Main Campus Room E001; Tuesday 11-1 pm
CELT 201
Practicals Venue: Chiromo Campus, Department of Chemistry Labs
Pre-requisite where appropriate: Student must have met the minimum qualification for
engineering programme at the University of Nairobi
Office location: Chemistry Dept. Room 114
Consultation Hours: Thursday 4-5 pm; Friday3-5 pm
Course objectives
1) To provide fundamental concepts of Inorganic and Physical chemistry to engineering
students
2) To provide practical concepts of analytical chemistry to engineering students
Detailed Course Content
Course outline
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Atomic structure
Chemical bonding
Chemical kinetics
Chemical equilibrium
Solutions
Adsorption
Environmental pollution.
Course content
Atomic structure: Introduction to atomic structure; electromagnetic radiation, Borh’s atomic model; wave
mechanical model of atomic structure; electron configuration, effective nuclear charge. Chemical bonding:
ionic bond, covalent bond, metallic bond, hydrogen bond. Chemical kinetics: Rate of reactions and rate
equations; factors that influence rate of reaction, order of reaction, molecularity of reaction, activation energy,
Chemical equilibrium: Equilibrium law, Equilibrium constant, homogeneous equilibrium, heterogeneous
equilibrium, Lechatelier’s principle, chemical transformations and energy changes. Solutions: types of
solutions, Henry’s law, solubility and solubility curves, ionic equilibria. Adsorption: types of adsorption,
adsorption isotherms, application of adsorption. Environmental pollution: Environmental segments, types of
pollutants, air pollution, acid rain, smog formation, green house effect, ozone layer, water treatment.
Instructional methods: 4 hour lectures per week, 6 hour practicals per week; tutorials
questions
Course materials
Text books
1) Satya P., Tuli, G.D, Basu, S.K., Madan R.D., (2004). Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Volume 1. S. Chand
& Company ltd. Ram Nagar, New Delhi-110055.
2) Neetu G. AND Sanjay Kumar, (2005) Concise Engineering Chemistry (Theory and Practicals) AITBS
publishers & distributors. Krishan Nagar, Delhi-11005, India.
3) Negi A.S. and Anand S.C., (2003) A textbook of Physical Chemistry. New Age International (P) Ltd,
publishers. New Delhi.
4) SawyerC.N, MacCarty, P., Parkin, G. F., (2003) Chemistry for Environmental engineering and Science.
TATA McMcGraw-Hill publishing Company Limited New Delhi.
5) Chauhan B.S. (2008) Engineering chemistry. Laxmi publications (P) ltd. 2 nd Ed. 113, Golden House,
Daraganj, New Delhi-110002.
6) Dara S.S., (2005) a Text book of Engineering Chemistry. S. Chand and Company ltd. Ram Nagar, New
Delhi -110055.
7) Deeper Sharma, (2007) Engineering Chemistry. Paragon International Publishers. New Delhi-110002,
India.
Evaluation: CAT 30%, Exam 70%
Contacts
Lecturer: Mr. Vincent O. Madadi
Address: Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 30197-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 4446138 ext 2185
Cell phone: 0720742415
Email: vmadadi@uonbi.ac.ke, madadivin2002@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/staff/vmadadi