One of the primary objectives of an entry level chemistry course is to teach students about the different equipment in a laboratory and how to use it safely and effectively. The environment within a laboratory can be dangerous if students are not properly informed and coached. However, it is also an environment which provides hands on learning and the possibility of new discoveries.
There are three different forms of matter, each pertinent to understanding chemistry and the interactions of different elements. It is important that students understand what comprises a solid, liquid or gas, and which elements fall into each category. It is also important that they learn under what conditions matter can change and the fact that matter can never entirely disappear.
One of the main documents to which students will constantly and consistently refer, is the periodic table. Students should learn each of the elements and what makes them unique. They should also learn the different types of bonds: Ionic, covalent, hydrogen and polar covalent. How these bonds join certain elements together to form various types of matter is also vital.
Learning the difference between a theory and a hypothesis, and how to test the latter, is important in a chemistry and other fields of science as well. This is where students receive the benefit of hands on experimentation and begin to comprehend why it is important. By understanding the proper procedures and attempting to prove or disprove a hypothesis, the students can effectively learn how to conduct their own experiments both in, and outside of, the chemistry course.
There are several different scientists and laws which the student must study in order to understand their importance and the history of chemistry. For example, Dalton and Mendeleev are both very important scientists who played significant roles in the field of chemistry. Different laws that the student should comprehend include: The Law of Thermodynamics; Henry's Law; The Law of Conservation of Matter, and the Law of Constant Composition.
The use of formulas and evaluation of data is another objective important to chemistry. Students need to decide what data is pertinent to their problem and choose the proper formula to solve for the solution they are looking for. These skills are vital developments in order to effectively conduct an experiment and decipher the output.