Chemistry and Energy: A Consumer Course

Explore the intricate relationship between chemistry and energy through essential principles like thermodynamics, electrochemistry and energy transformations. Uncover how scientific theories and debates over fossil versus renewable fuels shape society’s energy use, blending historical insights with modern challenges. Chemistry and Energy: A Consumer Chemistry Course provides students with an exploration into the interdisciplinary relationship between chemistry and energy from both a scientific and societal perspective. Introductory chapters cover foundational concepts like classical mechanics, scientific theories, hypotheses, and laws, which set the stage for an in-depth discussion on energy. Additional chapters explore topics such as thermodynamics, calorimetry, and electrochemistry, as well as the nature, transformation, and implications of energy within the context of chemistry. The theoretical underpinnings of energy are complemented by practical considerations, such as an analysis of fossil fuels versus renewable fuels, oil in the United States, and the enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy of chemical reactions. Chemistry and Energy is ideal for non-science majors seeking a comprehensive understanding of the role energy plays in our society and the fundamental chemical principles that govern its use and conservation. Its structured narratives around historical, scientific, and societal perspectives make it particularly suitable for general education courses that address consumer chemistry in the context of the broader energy landscape.