WGU C673: General Chemistry II with Lab

What C673 Is and Who Takes It

C673: General Chemistry II with Lab is the second half of WGU's general chemistry sequence, and it builds directly on the foundation you laid in C672 General Chemistry I. Where the first course grounds you in atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, and the language of reactions, C673 pushes into the behavior of matter under changing conditions: how gases and solutions act, how fast reactions go, where they settle at equilibrium, and how acids, bases, and electron transfer drive chemistry in the real world. It also opens the door to three big applied branches, giving you a first look at organic chemistry, biochemistry, and nuclear chemistry.

Direct answer: You pass C673 by mastering the problem-solving topics, not just reading about them. Work equilibrium, kinetics, acid-base, and redox problems by hand until the setups feel automatic, keep your unit conversions and algebra tight, and complete the lab work carefully and on time. Steady daily practice with feedback beats cramming.

Most students in C673 are enrolled through WGU's secondary chemistry track in the School of Education, typically already-licensed teachers working toward an additional chemistry teaching license or endorsement, or students in a science education degree. That framing matters: you are learning this material both to understand it and, eventually, to explain it clearly to high school students. That teaching lens is a genuine advantage while you study, because the habit of asking "how would I teach this?" forces the kind of deep understanding the assessment rewards. If you are in the broader teacher-prep program, courses like D094 Educational Psychology pair naturally with your content coursework.

What the C673 Assessment Covers

C673 is a 3-CU (competency unit) course that combines conceptual chemistry with hands-on laboratory work, so plan for both a knowledge-based assessment of the concepts and lab work you complete and submit. Confirm the exact current structure and any proctoring details on your official course page, since WGU updates course mechanics over time. The core content areas you should expect to master include:

• Gases and solutions: gas laws and the behavior of gases, plus properties of solutions, concentration, and how substances dissolve and interact.
• Reaction rates (kinetics): what controls how fast a reaction proceeds, rate laws, and the factors that speed reactions up or slow them down.
• Chemical equilibrium: the equilibrium concept, equilibrium constants, and how systems respond when conditions change.
• Acids and bases: acid-base theory, strength, pH, and related calculations.
• Oxidation-reduction (redox): electron transfer, balancing redox reactions, and how these reactions do work.
• Introductory organic, biochemistry, and nuclear chemistry: foundational vocabulary and concepts in each of these applied areas.
• Laboratory skills: conducting and documenting scientific investigations, applying the scientific method, and reporting results accurately.

How Hard Is C673, and How Long Should You Plan?

General Chemistry II has a reputation as one of the more demanding science courses, and that reputation is earned mainly by its math. Many students report that the conceptual reading is manageable but that the calculation-heavy topics, especially equilibrium, kinetics, and acid-base problems, are where time and mistakes pile up. If your algebra and unit-conversion skills are rusty, that is the single biggest lever on your difficulty, so it pays to shore them up early. C673 leans on solid algebra and logarithms rather than calculus, so you do not need to have finished a course like C958 Calculus I first; but if calculus is also on your degree plan, keeping those math muscles warm helps across both.

Because WGU is competency-based, your pace is genuinely your own. Students who already work in a science field or who took C672 recently tend to move faster; those returning to chemistry after a long gap should budget more runway. A realistic plan for most working adults is several focused weeks of study, with the lab work spread across that window rather than saved for the end. Treat the difficulty as a function of consistency: an hour of real problem-solving most days will get you further than occasional long, passive cram sessions.

A Study Plan Built for Chemistry II

Chemistry rewards active, spaced, problem-first study far more than rereading. Here is how to apply proven learning techniques to this specific material:

• Lead with practice problems, not notes. For every topic, do worked examples first, then attempt problems cold. Chemistry II is a doing subject; you learn equilibrium by solving equilibrium problems, not by highlighting the chapter on it.
• Use active recall on definitions and reaction types. Close the book and write out, from memory, what an equilibrium constant means, how you identify an oxidizing agent, or the difference between a strong and weak acid. Retrieving beats re-reading.
• Space your review across days. Revisit kinetics on day one, again two days later, then a week on. Spaced repetition locks in the formulas and relationships you will need to recall quickly under assessment conditions.
• Build a one-page formula and concept sheet. Gas laws, rate-law forms, the equilibrium expression, pH relationships, and redox rules. The act of condensing them is itself great studying, and it becomes your fast-review tool.
• Test yourself with any practice questions your course provides. Use practice testing to find weak spots, then go back and drill only those. Track which topic types you miss and target them specifically.
• Do the lab work deliberately. Read the procedure fully before starting, record observations carefully, and treat each report as practice in clear scientific communication. Precision and correct units matter as much here as in the calculations.
• Lean on official course resources and your instructor. WGU course materials and the course instructors are your most reliable, aligned sources. Book time with a course instructor when a topic will not click.

Common Mistakes Students Make in C673

• Studying passively. Rereading the material feels productive but leaves you unable to solve a fresh problem. If you have not worked problems by hand, you are not ready.
• Skipping the math fundamentals. Dropped units, misplaced decimals, and shaky algebra sink otherwise-correct chemistry. Slow down and check your setup and units every time.
• Memorizing without understanding. Equilibrium and acid-base problems shift with the scenario. Rote formulas fail when the question is framed a new way; understanding the concept lets you adapt.
• Cramming the calculation topics. Kinetics, equilibrium, and pH work needs repeated exposure over days to stick. A single marathon session rarely holds up.
• Leaving the lab for last. Rushing the laboratory component at the end leads to sloppy reports and lost points. Interleave it with your reading so the concepts and the experiments reinforce each other.
• Not using instructor support. Students who go it alone on a confusing topic lose days they did not need to. A short conversation with a course instructor often resolves what an hour of frustration could not.

C673 Readiness Checklist

• Can you set up and solve an equilibrium problem, including writing the equilibrium expression and interpreting the constant?
• Can you work a rate-law problem and explain what changes a reaction's speed?
• Can you calculate pH and distinguish strong from weak acids and bases with confidence?
• Can you identify what is oxidized and reduced and balance a redox reaction?
• Can you apply gas laws and reason about the properties and concentration of solutions?
• Can you define the core vocabulary of introductory organic, biochemistry, and nuclear chemistry?
• Can you carry units correctly through a multi-step calculation without dropping or inverting them?
• Have you completed the lab work and written clear, accurate reports rather than leaving them to the last minute?
• Can you solve a fresh practice problem cold, without looking at a worked example first?

C673 FAQ

Is C673 harder than C672?

Many students find General Chemistry II a step up because it leans more heavily on calculation-based topics like equilibrium, kinetics, and acid-base chemistry. If you finished C672 comfortably and keep your math skills sharp, the jump is manageable with steady practice.

How is C673 assessed?

The course pairs conceptual chemistry with hands-on lab work, so expect both a knowledge-based assessment of the concepts and laboratory work you complete and submit. Check your official course page for the exact current structure and any proctoring requirements, as WGU updates course mechanics periodically.

What is the prerequisite for C673?

C672 General Chemistry I is the prerequisite. C673 assumes you are fluent with the atomic structure, bonding, and stoichiometry from that first course, so revisit any of it that feels shaky before you dive in.

Do I need to be strong at math?

You need solid algebra, unit conversion, and comfort with logarithms for pH work, rather than advanced calculus. The most common source of lost points is arithmetic and unit errors, so shoring up those fundamentals early makes the whole course smoother.

How long does C673 usually take?

Because WGU is competency-based, timelines vary widely with your background and study time. Many working students plan for several focused weeks, spreading the lab work across that window and studying most days rather than cramming.

Where can I find reliable study materials?

Start with the official WGU course materials and your assigned resources, which are aligned to what you will be assessed on, and use your course instructors for anything that will not click. You can also browse related guides on our all-guides index or the School of Education hub. For official program details, see WGU's secondary chemistry endorsement page.