Welcome to First Year Chemistry

Chemistry is about change; how and why things happen.

In First Year Chemistry we want to provide you with an understanding of the molecular basis of the physical properties of materials (why are towels made of cotton not nylon?), the reasons chemical reactions occur (why do cut apples go brown?) and the energy changes involved (what is a flame?).

There are many reasons why you may choose to study Chemistry: academic curiosity, a fascination with understanding the world around you, to support study in agriculture, engineering or the life sciences, because it is something you are good at or maybe just that it is something you have never tried before.