CHEM 1601
Principles of General Chemistry I
This course traces the development of chemistry from early atomic theory to modern descriptions of structure, bonding, and intermolecular interactions. Over the course of the semester, the students learn how macroscopic observations of stoichiometry, chemical reactions, the properties of elements and compounds, and chemical periodicity developed into the microscopic understanding of molecular structure and bonding. The semester begins with fundamentals related to stoichiometry, chemical reactions, solution chemistry, and gas properties, with an emphasis on quantitative problem solving. The octet rule, Lewis structures, and valence-shell-electron-pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory are then introduced as early efforts to describe the stability and structures of molecules. The localized electron model (LEM) and molecular-orbital theory (MOT) are next described as modern descriptions of chemical bonding. The course concludes with intermolecular forces such as hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions. This course will be a serious introductory series that requires and develops algebraic-computation and problem-solving skills.
Instructors
Reviews
8-10 hrs/week
This class was not too bad, my biggest problem is that I didn’t know/do a good job of studying for the exams. I don’t think I had a deep enough understanding of the material to do well. Make sure you take the time to truly understand what’s going on and all the ways you can apply it. I never went to Luo’s lectures but (if she comes back) I would recommend you try both lectures out for like a week and see which one helps you understand the material better.
5/22/2024
4-6 hrs/week
Luo is the sweetest and makes classes interesting. As long as you go to lectures and do all required assignments (and PLTLs!), getting an A in the class is very doable.
5/22/2024
Terrible experience. Lectures are unclear and confusing. Exams are not a good representative of what the practice material is. Impossible to do well.
4/29/2024
Do not take this class with her. No matter how hard you try in this class, the exams will never reflect what you studied. Her lectures are so fast and I never once walked out understanding what just happened. She even openly admitted that the "practice exams" are NOT a representation of what the actual exam is. Overall, terrible experience.
4/27/2024
Terrible lecturer. Exams were impossible to finish or do well on. Usual average on exams were clearly detrimentally low and she refused to release averages. Practice exams/quizzes were far from representative of the difficulty of the content, as she always found a way to pick at information that was mentioned once in lecture.
4/19/2024
Exams are impossible. You can do all the practices that they give, i.e., quizzes (versions A-C), non-graded homework, practice exams, etc., and still score a 40% on the exam.\nOne time, before class started, Ms. Mabbs commented on how hard a problem was on an upcoming exam and, Professor Hamdidty said, "it\'s supposed to be hard. it doesn\'t matter".
4/16/2024
Never take this course with this professor. I would not recommend Hamdidty at all. She took over the Chem 105-106 course for 2023-24 and it has been impossible to perform well. Based on rumors and a survey, exam averages have been between 40-50 %. As reference, a 75-80% is usually the 'A' range for the class.
4/16/2024
Dr. Hamdi is caring, dedicated, and wants students to learn and succeed. She makes herself incredibly available outside of class and is extremely kind and helpful during office hours. The class is built for you to do well if you put in effort, although it does require LOTS of effort.
1/24/2024
One of the worst lecturers at WashU. Will write something on the board and immediately cover it with another board. I thought she was a nice person until the last week, when I asked her a question about my final and she was incredibly rude and condescending.
1/13/2024
HS Chem all over again. Prof Hamdi is just ok. Nothing special. I admit I never went to help sessions. Do go to PLTL. I am worried about being ready for orgo though.
1/9/2024
Dr. Luo is so sweet. Lectures were super clear, and she always wrote down the little side notes, so you weren't scrambling to scribble down random tangents. I have never felt more calm in a class. Straightforward quizzes/exams. Love her!! Also, she never complains about how most students/staff mispronounce her name :'D (pls learn how to say it)
1/8/2024
Hamdi is extremely caring, kind, and passionate. This class was hard if you did not take AP Chem but Hamdi hosts office hours twice a week and they are EXTREMELY helpful. Exams and quizzes are difficult and like other reviews said, it might be confusing in lecture but she does a GREAT job explaining if you go to office hours to ask questions
12/28/2023
Dr. Hamdi seems nice in person, but she is not a good teacher, she often seemed confused with the answers to problems she assigned, and she was dishonest about her grade lines. Overall, it was a rough semester.
12/28/2023
Not a good teacher or course. Hamdi told me I was doing fine, and I would earn a B if I continued w how I was doing. I did, but nope. She gave me a C+. Do not believe her, she does curve. I feel so misled.
12/26/2023
This is an easy class, but grades are arbitrary. Even though it is a bit harder, I strongly recommend taking 111/112. It is taught better, and it will better prepare you for orgo and MCAT.
12/26/2023
Dr. Luo was definitely caring, but a bit boring. She was expecting and ended up on maternity leave, so that could be part of the lack of energy. I was hoping for new material, but it ended up being just like highschool, albeit with a few trick questions on exams. So, not a bad course, but not a great course.
12/22/2023
Luo is an absolute gem and you should definitely take her for 105/106 if possible. She is so sweet and cares about her students, but also is a girl boss and so smart. She teaches very clearly and makes it easy to take notes and do well on assessments. The class is hard, but she makes it enjoyable.
12/22/2023
Just not an engaging or inspirational instructor. It seems like she does not care if we learn or accomplish anything. The course content was on the easy side, and it was easy to get an A even if you did not learn anything.
12/22/2023
Hamdi is very passionate about what she teaches and her lectures. However, it feels like her teaching doesn't prepare me for exams and the weekly quizzes. She sometimes struggles to explain things or drones off when the entire class is lost. The main issue is the department itself seeks a lot more out of students than what Hamdi teaches.
12/15/2023
Dr. Hamdi was nice & the course seemed organized. The material was not difficult, but Hamdi struggled to explain things. Tests were all over the place, some problems were right from hw, many did not make sense, and others even Hamdi could not explain. If you have to take 105, take Dr. Luo. She is serious, but at least she knows the material.
12/9/2023