C673 General Chemistry II with Lab is the Western Governors University course that continues general chemistry for licensed teachers working towards a secondary chemistry endorsement.
WGU describes it as building on General Chemistry I to examine the behavior of gases and solutions, reaction rates and equilibrium, acids and bases, and oxidation-reduction reactions. It also introduces three subdisciplines: organic chemistry, biochemistry and nuclear chemistry.
Laboratory experiences reinforce the skills needed for successful scientific investigations.
Its competencies include solving gas law problems, working with solutions, balancing redox equations and using the second law of thermodynamics and free energy to predict spontaneity and analyze equilibrium. The step up in mathematical reasoning is what students notice most.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | C673 |
| Program | M.A. Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) |
| Builds on | General Chemistry I with Lab (C672) |
| Level | Graduate, competency-based |
| Typical work | Quantitative problems, lab investigations |
What C673 Covers
| Topic | Key skills |
|---|---|
| Gases | Relating pressure, volume and temperature with gas laws |
| Solutions | Concentration, dilution, solution reactions |
| Rates and equilibrium | Rate factors, equilibrium constants, Le Chatelier |
| Acids and bases | pH, strong and weak acids, neutralization |
| Redox | Oxidation states and balancing redox equations |
| Thermodynamics | Second law, free energy, spontaneity |
| Organic, biochemistry and nuclear | Introductions to each subdiscipline |
Key Concepts with Worked Examples
The Ideal Gas Law
PV = nRT links pressure, volume, moles and temperature (in kelvin). Combined forms such as P₁V₁/T₁ = P₂V₂/T₂ handle changing conditions.
Example: A gas occupies 2.0 L at 300 K. At constant pressure, what volume does it fill at 450 K? V₂ = V₁ × T₂/T₁ = 2.0 × 450/300 = 3.0 L. Converting to kelvin first is essential.
pH
pH = -log[H+]. A strong acid at 0.001 M has [H+] = 10-3 M, so pH = 3. Each unit of pH is a tenfold change in hydrogen ion concentration.
Le Chatelier's Principle
A system at equilibrium shifts to counteract a change. Adding reactant pushes the reaction towards products; raising temperature favors the endothermic direction.
Example: For N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ (exothermic), increasing pressure favors ammonia (fewer gas molecules), while increasing temperature shifts equilibrium back towards nitrogen and hydrogen.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
WGU assesses competency through performance assessments or objective assessments. Check your course page for the current format. Work in this course typically includes:
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Gas law problems | P, V, T relationships | Convert to kelvin and consistent units |
| Equilibrium questions | Shifts and constants | Write the expression before calculating |
| Redox balancing | Electron transfer | Use half-reactions step by step |
| Lab investigations | Scientific practice | Plan, record, analyze and evaluate error |
Balancing Redox in Half-Reactions
Redox balancing is a frequent sticking point. The half-reaction method makes it routine:
- Assign oxidation states and identify what is oxidized and reduced.
- Split into oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
- Balance atoms other than O and H, then O with water, then H with H+.
- Balance charge with electrons.
- Multiply so electrons cancel, then add the half-reactions.
Organic, Biochemistry and Nuclear Basics
C673 introduces three subdisciplines. You do not need advanced depth, but you should know their core ideas:
- Organic chemistry: carbon compounds, functional groups such as alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters, and simple naming of hydrocarbons.
- Biochemistry: the molecules of life (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids) and how their structures relate to function.
- Nuclear chemistry: alpha, beta and gamma decay, half-life, and fission and fusion.
Example: Carbon-14 has a half-life of about 5,730 years. A sample with 25% of its original carbon-14 has passed two half-lives, so it is about 11,460 years old. This calculation links nuclear chemistry to dating methods in Earth science and archaeology.
Balancing nuclear equations follows a simple rule: mass numbers and atomic numbers must each add up to the same totals on both sides.
Strong and Weak Acids
Acid-base questions often hinge on the difference between strong and weak acids. Strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid, ionise completely in water, so [H+] equals the acid concentration. Weak acids, such as ethanoic acid, ionise only partly, and their behavior depends on an equilibrium constant, Ka.
Buffers combine a weak acid with its conjugate base to resist changes in pH, which is why blood stays close to pH 7.4. Linking buffers to biochemistry is a useful bridge to the subdisciplines the course introduces.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Celsius in gas laws. Always convert to kelvin.
- Logarithms in pH. Revise logs before tackling acid-base problems.
- Free energy signs. A negative ΔG means a spontaneous process.
- The new subdisciplines. Organic and nuclear chemistry introduce new vocabulary quickly.
Study Tips for C673
- Keep a formula sheet with units and conditions for each equation.
- Practice equilibrium shifts with a simple table of changes and responses.
- Work redox problems in half-reactions until the steps are automatic.
- Check your course page for lab and assessment requirements.
How We Help with C673
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Frequently Asked Questions
Gases and solutions, reaction rates and equilibrium, acids and bases, redox reactions, and introductions to organic chemistry, biochemistry and nuclear chemistry, with labs.
The content of General Chemistry I with Lab (C672), especially stoichiometry, bonding and balancing equations.
Many students find it more mathematical, with logarithms, gas laws and equilibrium calculations.
Yes. Laboratory experiences reinforce skills for scientific investigations.
WGU uses performance and objective assessments. Check your course page for the current format.
No. We are an independent service with no connection to Western Governors University.