Kinetic Theory of Matter and Gas Laws - Chemistry (Undergraduate Foundation)

This course covers the physical principles that govern the states of matter. It focuses on the behaviour of gases, providing a full treatment of the gas laws and the kinetic theory of matter that explains them. The material also includes an introduction to the structure of crystalline solids. The principles of kinetic theory and the gas laws are fundamental to chemistry, physics, and engineering. They are essential for understanding atmospheric science, designing chemical reactors, and for the engineering of engines and power systems. A command of this topic is required to predict how substances will behave under different conditions of temperature and pressure. By the end of this course, you will be able to apply the ideal gas law and other gas laws to solve for unknown pressures, volumes, or temperatures. You will also be able to explain the behaviour of gases using the postulates of the kinetic theory of matter and describe the basic structure of crystalline solids. This course is for students who have a complete understanding of chemical bonding and molecular geometry. It is a mandatory course for all students of chemistry and chemical engineering and is a direct prerequisite for the study of physical chemistry and thermodynamics.

Payment required for enrolment
Enrolment valid for 12 months
This course is also part of the following learning track. You may join the track to gain comprehensive knowledge across related courses.
[NUC Core] CHM 101: General Chemistry I
[NUC Core] CHM 101: General Chemistry I
This learning track delivers the complete NUC CCMAS curriculum for General Chemistry I. It is a comprehensive programme designed to build a robust, university-level foundation in modern chemistry. The track systematically covers all essential topics, from atomic theory, chemical bonding, and the states of matter, to the quantitative principles of stoichiometry, equilibrium, thermodynamics, and kinetics. This programme is for first-year undergraduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculties who are required to take CHM 101. It is also essential for any student or professional globally who needs a rigorous and complete foundation in first-year university chemistry for further study or career development. This track delivers a full skill set in chemical theory and quantitative problem-solving. Graduates will be able to determine molecular structures, calculate reaction quantities, analyse the energetics and rates of reactions, and solve complex equilibrium problems. This programme provides the non-negotiable prerequisite knowledge for all subsequent chemistry courses and for any degree in the physical sciences, engineering, or medicine.

This learning track delivers the complete NUC CCMAS curriculum for General Chemistry I. It is a comprehensive programme designed to build a robust, university-level foundation in modern chemistry. The track systematically covers all essential topics, from atomic theory, chemical bonding, and the states of matter, to the quantitative principles of stoichiometry, equilibrium, thermodynamics, and kinetics. This programme is for first-year undergraduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculties who are required to take CHM 101. It is also essential for any student or professional globally who needs a rigorous and complete foundation in first-year university chemistry for further study or career development. This track delivers a full skill set in chemical theory and quantitative problem-solving. Graduates will be able to determine molecular structures, calculate reaction quantities, analyse the energetics and rates of reactions, and solve complex equilibrium problems. This programme provides the non-negotiable prerequisite knowledge for all subsequent chemistry courses and for any degree in the physical sciences, engineering, or medicine.

Course Chapters

1. Introduction
1

This chapter provides the roadmap for the course. It introduces the kinetic theory of matter as the explanation for the physical properties of substances, with a primary focus on the behaviour of gases. Key learning objectives include: understanding the overall course structure and appreciating the link between the microscopic motion of particles and the macroscopic properties of matter.

Chapter lessons

1-1. Welcome

This lesson provides a brief overview of the course, outlining the key topics of kinetic theory, the gas laws, and the structure of solids.

2. Kinetic Theory
2

This chapter covers the kinetic theory of matter. It details the postulates of the model and explains how the constant, random motion of particles accounts for the properties of gases. Key learning objectives include: outlining the postulates of the kinetic molecular theory; and explaining macroscopic properties like pressure and temperature in terms of microscopic particle motion.

Chapter lessons

2-1. Postulates of theory

This lesson details the five main postulates of the kinetic molecular theory of gases, which provides a model for the behaviour of gas particles.

2-2. Pressure and temperature

This lesson explains how the kinetic theory accounts for gas pressure (from particle collisions with container walls) and temperature (related to the average kinetic energy of the particles).

3. Gas Laws
4
4

This chapter focuses on the gas laws, the set of empirical relationships that describe the behaviour of gases. It covers the individual gas laws and their combination in the ideal gas law. Key learning objectives include: applying Boyle's Law, Charles's Law, and Avogadro's Law; and using the ideal gas law (PV=nRT) to solve for unknown variables.

Chapter lessons

3-1. Pressure-volume relationship

This lesson covers Boyle's Law, which describes the inverse relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature.

3-2. Temperature-volume relationship

This lesson covers Charles's Law, which describes the direct relationship between the volume and absolute temperature of a gas at constant pressure.

3-3. Mole-volume relationship

This lesson covers Avogadro's Law, which states that equal volumes of all gases, at the same temperature and pressure, have the same number of molecules.

3-4. The ideal gas law

This lesson introduces the ideal gas law (PV=nRT), which combines the individual gas laws into a single, comprehensive equation of state for a gas.

4. Structure of Solids
1

This chapter provides a brief introduction to the nature of the solid state of matter. It focuses on the ordered arrangement of particles in crystalline solids. Key learning objectives include: distinguishing between crystalline and amorphous solids; and identifying the basic types of unit cells in a crystal lattice.

Chapter lessons

4-1. Crystalline solids

This lesson defines a crystalline solid as a substance in which the constituent particles are arranged in a highly ordered, repeating three-dimensional pattern known as a crystal lattice.

5. Conclusion
2

This concluding chapter summarises the key concepts of the course. It reinforces the understanding of the kinetic theory of matter and its successful application in explaining the gas laws. This summary prepares the student for the next course, 'Stoichiometry I', which shifts the focus from the physical properties of matter to the quantitative relationships in chemical reactions.

Chapter lessons

5-1. Course summary

This lesson consolidates knowledge by reviewing the postulates of the kinetic theory, the application of the gas laws, and the basic structure of solids.

5-2. Next steps

This final lesson looks ahead, explaining how an understanding of the states of matter is a prerequisite for the study of stoichiometry and chemical reactions in different phases.