This course provides the foundation for more advanced study in all areas of chemistry. Emphasis is placed on core chemical principles and experimental techniques relevant to physical, analytical, inorganic and organic chemistry. Topics include—techniques for separation science such as chromatography, gas–liquid chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography; spectroscopic techniques such as mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy for the determination of molecular structure; methods for determining, interpreting and reporting the uncertainties in experimental measurement; how to write a lab report; general chemical literacy, chemistry societies, sources of reference data, and the publication process; and concepts of thermodynamics of chemical reactions.