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Fundamentals of Chemistry
UndergraduateMUR-SCI182025
Tally and compound simple ideas to get prepared for your chemistry studies. Learn language and symbols, and describe matter and chemical reactions. Calculate ways to solve problems about chemical quantities, processes and reactions.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 25 May 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 2 June 2025,
- 1 Dec 2025
- Price from
- $1,165
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Fundamentals of Chemistry
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- describe the nature of matter at the atomic and molecular level using appropriate language, symbols and representations
- use chemical equations to describe chemical reactions
- carry out calculations related to chemical quantities, processes and reactions.
- The nature of Matter
- Elements
- Compounds
- Measurement
- Chemical composition
- States of Matter
- Chemical reactions
- Chemical quantities
- Organic compounds
This subject was previously known as Introduction to Chemistry.
This subject introduces fundamental concepts that prepare students for subsequent study in chemistry and support further study in a range of majors. Students learn about the nature of matter at the molecular level. This involves learning language, symbols and representations used to describe matter and chemical reactions. Students develop skills in problem solving and calculations related to chemical quantities, processes and reactions.
Please Note: All students studying at Murdoch University will need to complete the compulsory unit, Murdoch Academic Passport (MAP100), which only takes 2-3 hours to complete online. Find out more: http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/MurdochAcademicPassport.
To encourage learning on a consistent basis throughout the teaching period, a proportion of the assessment weighting is allocated to engagement with online learning activities (Mastering Chemistry). The online quizzes provide ongoing assessment at intervals throughout the teaching period. Students can view their quiz results to see where they are doing well and the concepts they need to study further. The final exam assesses recall of conceptual knowledge as well as problem solving skills. All unit learning outcomes are assessed in the quizzes and final exam.
- Online learning activities (30%)
- Online Quizzes (30%)
- Final exam (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 25,000 students and 2,400 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.
Learn more about Murdoch University.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 31
Entry requirements
Others
You should have some prior knowledge of chemistry at Year 10 level (third year in WA secondary schools) or equivalent and a reasonable grounding in basic mathematics.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements -
1. The textbook is customised for the unit and is an essential resource. An ebook version is available from the publisher: Fundamentals of Chemistry
2. This unit uses an online learning platform, Mastering Chemistry. System requirements for Mastering Chemistry can be found at System Requirements
3. You will need to have access to a basic non-programmable scientific calculator.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
5 student respondents between 27 May 2024 - 10 Mar 2025.
80%of students felt the study load was manageable
100%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
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