Welcome to
chemistry 31
Hello and welcome to Chemistry 31. My name is Mike Strauss and I'm your Chem 31 Prof. You can reach me: 1) by phone at ext. 60274; 2) at my 2nd floor Cook mailbox; or 3) by email at: mstrauss@zoo.uvm.edu . Also, please feel free to stop by my office on the third floor of Cook Building (Room A-321). In case of emergencies you can call me at home. I'm in the phone book. But please don't call after 9 P.M. at night. There are a lot of students in this class, so I'd prefer you call me during the day at the university.
This booklet is the syllabus. it contains everything you could possibly want to know about chem 31
stuff you need to get
The Book And Class notes - Zumdahl's General Chemistry (the study guide and student solutions manual are recommended but not required.) After you've used the book a bit, tell me what you think of it. Class notes are on sale in the book store, along with the book.
The Lab Manual - Available for purchase EXCLUSIVELY at the first floor stockroom in Cook Building, Room A-143. Get one before the lines get too long. A real steal at only $10.00.
Safety Goggles - Very attractive and stylish. They'll make you look like a real Nobel Prize winning scientist. More importantly, they must always be worn in the lab to protect your eyes. You cannot wear contacts in the lab. Wear regular glasses underneath the goggles. Buy the goggles in the bookstore. No goggles - no laboratory (We'll miss you, but that's the rule.). And if you wear them on top of your head instead of over your eyes, you'll bring down the wrath of Godzilla and other assorted folks concerned with safety, including me.
Breakage Card - This is required in order to check into the laboratory and is available at the first floor stockroom in Cook Building for only $40.00. But don't fret. If you don't break any glassware, you get all your money back (yes...it's true) and you can celebrate with a dinner out! Or if you take Chem 32, have it signed at the end of Chem 31 and it will be good for next semester. What a GREAT deal, yes? Bring your breakage card to every lab.
Your lab coat - Not required but highly recom-mended. You want to keep chemicals, solvents and other such stuff off your nice clothes. Even more importantly, you want to keep them off your skin. And think how great you'll look in a nice, white, scientific looking coat. If you're a pre-med, you can see what it feels like to look like a doc. Impress your parents. Have a picture taken of yourself in your lab coat and send it home. Your folks will know you're working hard.
A bound Lab notebook - The piece de resistance. With your lab notebook, goggles, and lab coat, you'll look SO impressive. Everyone will really want to get to know you. The bound lab notebook (National brand #43-571) is required and can be purchased at the bookstore for a modest sum.
An email address - You'll find it very convenient for asking questions you forgot to ask in class. And I'll try and check my email several times a day. I'm usually prompt in replying. It's easy and it's fun. Try it. Don't be at a dis-advantage. Get an account today. I want you to have one!
So..... Now you've got all the stuff.
What's next?
Classes and EXAMS
We meet about 28 times during the semester, for 75 minutes each time, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. We start promptly at 8 A.M. Do not come late or depart early. There will be three exams during the semester (groan, groan!!) so you'll know how you're doing. They will be administered during the evening and will each be about 2 hours long. There will also be about 5 unannounced pop quizzes during the class hours (students REALLY love these!!). They can come on any day, and at any time during the hour. When you're really hoping for one, I'll usually have it ready for you so you won't be disappointed. Times for exams are noted later in this syllabus.
What about labs?
The laboratory is coordinated, in part, with the lecture topics. You will have a good time doing experiments. You'll get to dissolve money in acid, analyze pickle juice, determine the formula of some neat copper compounds, make hydrogen gas and light it (BANG!), measure heat coming from a chemical reaction, make some really awful smells, and lots of other other neat stuff! And you'll get to write and describe what you do.
Go and see your lab teaching assistant and introduce yourself. Please see him or her in their office hours as well. They are here to help you, as am I. The lab schedule appears later in the syllabus. The lab will begin about 7 to 10 days after the class begins. The lab is designed to introduce you to new material, reinforce other material, and give you an idea of the distinction between formulas and reactions on a page, like NaOH + HCl -> H2O + NaCl, and actually doing chemistry - mixing a sodium hydroxide solution with a hydrochloric acid solution. You will get a numerical lab grade of course, and this will contribute to the make up of your overall course grade. It will be based on your general ability to carry out experiments, the accuracy of your results, the quality of your recorded and interpreted experiments, your lab quiz grades and your general overall ability in the laboratory.
Do You really have to do the assigned problems or read the book?
No, you don't! I don't collect them or grade them. So if you're really a genius and already know everything about chemistry, you needn't bother to do the problems. But, if you aren't, there are lots of assigned problems so you won't be bored on the weekends. They are summarized in the LECTURE SCHEDULE CALENDER which appears later on in this syllabus. You'll really love these problems. They're SO much fun! They'll really help you learn chemistry. Not only that, the answers are in the back of your textbook. Some of them will be like the exam problems. Isn't that nice?
There are also reading assignments in the calender (see page 19 of the syllabus.) Read ahead and come to class prepared. We move through the material slowly in the beginning, but much faster as the semester proceeds (some have said - "like a speeding bullet"). So be prepared and don't fall behind. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CATCH UP IF YOU DO.
Help! - Where can You get help?
Please don't hesitate to see me, or send email to me, if you are having difficulties or have questions. During the first week of class I will announce office hours so you can drop by in person. You will also have a Supplemental Instruction leader who will help you. Times for SI sessions will be announced in class. Additional problem review session times will also be announced, and I will have review sessions to go over practice exams. The practice exams are exams from last semester and will be handed out to you ahead of time. The Learning Co-op also has tutors, and the Teaching Assistants for this course also have office hours which will soon be posted. And if you have so much cash you don't know what to do with it, you can hire a special one on one tutor who will devote hours and hours of personal tutoring time JUST TO YOU. If you really want something like this, come and see me. Find out what suits you best and take advantage of it. However, you must work on your own as well. A teacher (prof, T.A., SI leader, tutor, etc.) cannot learn for you. He or she can only help, guide, and explain. If you don't read the text, attend lecture, or do the problems, then you probably won't do well. To get help, you really do need to know what you don't know. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU FAIL AN EXAM TO GET HELP. THAT WILL BE TOO LATE FOR YOU TO CATCH UP. AND IF YOU DON'T GO TO CLASS OR DO THE PROBLEMS, GOING FOR HELP A SHORT TIME BEFORE AN EXAM IS OF LITTLE VALUE.
What is the box?
There are a lot of students in this class aren't there? Because of this, it's a little harder to ask questions. If you do ask, speak loudly so every one of the 200 or so people can hear you: "hey...PROFEsSoR... how do you find the negative log of the efflusion surface? AND DO WE HAVE TO KNOW FLULGLES LAW? You get the idea, right? Speak up! Don't be shy!
If you are the shy type, or the genius type (and don't want to show your brilliance to the whole class), there is the box. This is a cardboard box at the exit of the room where you are encouraged to put anonymous comments, questions, complaints, or whatever else you wish (no candy wrappers, used tissues, tomatoes, doughnut crumbs, or hundred dollar bills ....please!) But put good stuff in there at any time. I will respond to you, and the whole class, during the next lecture on the overhead projector. If you wish a personal response, you can sign your name and give me your email address or phone number.
where do you find exam results, grades and answers to exam problems?
Outside my office (321 Cook) is this incredible, fantastic white bulletin board with staples all over it. WOW! Check it out!! It is here where exam answers, grade distributions and statistical results are posted. In addition, special notices and announcements relating to this section of Chem 31 will be there (e.g. review session times, five dollar round trip tickets to Cancun, free gold ingots, all expense paid trips to Winooski, etc..)
grades - the bottom line
Your grade will be determined by your three evening exam grades, your quiz grades and your laboratory grade as follows:
Exam 1 12.5 % 100 points
Exam 2 12.5 % 100 points
Exam 3 12.5 % 100 points
Quizzes 12.5 % 100 points
Final exam 25.0 % 200 points
Laboratory 25.0 % 200 points
The final exam is comprehensive and cumulative. It is a standardized American Chemical Society examination in booklet form (worry, worry, shake and tremble NOT - it is easier than my midterms). That way you can see how well you do compared to other students around the country. That's pretty nice, yes? Just what you wanted to know. The exact time and place will be announced for all three mid-semester exams and the final. As noted above, the quizzes are unannounced.
- "i stubbed my toe and couldn't
get to lab, to a quiz or exam" -
You must attend ALL your regularly scheduled labs unless it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE. IMPOSSIBLE means DOCUMENTED ILLNESS, FAMILY EMERGENCY, OR OTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT PROBLEM AS DETERMINED BY THE PROF (That's me folks!) - these are all valid reasons, and you must see me ahead of the lab time, if possible. Some typical examples of non valid reasons are: stubbed toes, hangnails, oversleeping, your roommate turned off the alarm, inadequate preparation, went to the wrong room, went at the wrong time, pet goldfish is sick, cat messed on your notebook,you forgot about lab, your calculator batteries went dead, headaches, minor toothaches, cold sores, dandruff, missed the bus, plane, train, submarine or other conveyance, upset stomach from "Spaghetti-O " meal. If you miss a lab for a valid reason, notify your lab instructor before the scheduled lab period (you can call the Chem Department Office at 62594 and leave a message for your TA - teaching assistant -, though it would be better to contact him or her directly by phone or email.)
An excused lab (meaning a valid reason for missing the lab is established without question) must be made up the same week it is missed if possible. To make up a missed lab, find a lab section (preferably in the same room that you normally have lab) which fits into your schedule. Contact the TA for that section and ask him/her if there is room for you to make up the lab. Notify your regular TA where and when you intend to make up the lab, and obtain any special instructions. If you cannot make up an EXCUSED lab, notify your lab instructor and your grade for that missed lab will be your average lab grade (determined at the end of the semester). You may NOT make up an unexcused lab absence. That will result in a zero. If you miss more than two labs (unexcused) you will fail Chemistry 31. This is worth repeating: If you miss more than two labs (unexcused) you will fail Chemistry 31. If you miss more than two labs (unexcused) you will fail Chemistry 31. If you miss more than two labs (un-excused) you will fail Chemistry 31.
You must also attend ALL the scheduled exams. If you must miss an exam (for a valid reason - see above), you must notify me BEFORE the exam occurs, not after. Of course if your train derails or your horse trips on the way to the exam and you can't get here, you'll have to tell me afterwards. If you are not excused you will get a zero for the exam. Some typical examples of non valid reasons are (as noted above for missed labs): stubbed toes, hangnails, oversleeping, your roommate turned off the alarm, inadequate preparation, went to the wrong room, went at the wrong time, pet iguana is sick, you forgot about the exam, your calculator batteries exploded, headaches, minor toothaches, hang nails, dandruff, head lice, missed the bus, plane, train, submarine or other conveyance, upset stomach from Marriott meal.
If you have a valid reason for missing an exam or quiz (you were really ill, had a real family emergency, or were abducted by REAL ALIENS on the night of the exam - you'll need pictures of this of course) please notify me before the exam occurs, if possible. For you I have another great deal (the only deal, actually): You will take a comprehensive Make-Up Exam given at the end of the course (late November or early December). This is like a mini final. Your grade on this Make-Up will be substituted for the exam grade on the exam you missed. There will also be a comprehensive Make-Up quiz at the end of the course for those who had valid reasons for missing a quiz. Of course most folks would prefer to take the regularly scheduled exam, but for those who have valid reasons for not doing so, the Make-Up option does exist.
Please note the following statement from the UVM Catalog and the Cat's Tale: "Academic responsibilities have priority over other campus events. Attendance at regularly scheduled classes has priority over specially scheduled common hour examinations." This means that if you have a real class scheduled exactly at the time of a Chem 31 exam, I will make alternative arrangements for you, but if it is some other event (i.e., mega party at a downtown establishment) that will not necessarily be the case. Sorry to be so hard-nosed about this, but in a class of 200, exams cannot be given at times which suit everyone's personal schedule. If you are concerned about time arrangements or have other problems in this regard, stop by and talk to me. Do this soon. See the Exam schedule on pages to follow.
Why Study? why not just write equations and formulas on the back of your hand?
That's not what you're here for, but every year in Chemistry 31 there is a VERY SMALL group of folks who attempt to do this during exams (shame, shame.) They try other things as well, sometimes making changes on graded exams and bringing them back for more points, copying off students next to them, sending in other students to take their exams for them, programming equations and other material into calculators, copying other students labs, etc., etc..(naughty, naughty!!)
During the past 30 years I have seen it all, and have developed effective ways of dealing with it which will not be noted here - except for one example: pages of graded exams are Xeroxed, so changing a graded exam will be quickly exposed. Nevertheless, cheating happens each semester in spite of this paragraph which always appears in the syllabus. These misguided efforts almost always fail, and can result in expulsion from the university. Please read the section on Academic Honesty in the UVM catalog and the Cat's Tale. Cheating isn't worth it. Exams and quizzes are very carefully monitored and laboratory reports are very carefully examined.
Now let's look at
some of the schedules,
calenders, as Well as nuts and bolts material that will keep you on track and happy as a clam during the semester !!
Chem 31
lab schedule
Week of: Experiment (11 total)
Sept. 14 1.. Density of metals
Sept. 21 2. Copper in a dime
Sept. 28 3. Mole ratio
Oct. 5 4. Acid in Food
oct. 12 7. Gases
oct. 19 5. Calorimetry (heats)
Oct. 26 6. Heat of Formation
Nov. 2 8. Flame emission
Nov. 9 9. Quantitative
Analysis - I
nov. 16 9. quantitative
Analysis - ii
Nov. 23 Thanksgiving break!
NOV. 30 10. Coordination chem.
lab check-out
Nuts and bolts stuff about lab....
(refer to this material at the beginning and during the semester.......)
GENERAL PROCEDURES:
1. During the first lab session you meet your TA (we have some GREAT TA's) and listen to him or her tell you about the lab, check in, get your lock, make sure you have all your glassware (clean and unbroken) and carry out experiment number one. You must have your breakage card to do this.
Before you come to the lab you should have completed a "pre-lab" in your bound lab notebook. The pre-lab consists of the title, date, purpose, brief procedure and data charts for the experiment you will be doing. To write the pre-lab you must read the lab manual for the upcoming experiment. The purpose of the "pre-lab" is to prepare you for the experiment.
2. At the end of the semester you will check out of lab using your breakage card to replace any missing or damaged equipment (the cost will be deducted from the card). If you do not check out of lab you will fail the course and you forfeit the breakage fee. Oh what a terrible fate!!
3. Remember your lock combination! The is a charge of $1 after the first week if we have to look it up for you. That's mean, but it's the policy of the stockroom.
4. You are required to wear safety goggles when working in the lab. If you don't you will be asked to leave and be given a zero for that lab. This bears repeating: You are required to wear safety goggles when working in the lab. If you don't you will be asked to leave and be given a zero for that lab. If you forget your goggles, you can rent a pair for 50 cents from the stockroom for the day. However, these may have been previously worn by Godzilla (a smelly creature previously mentioned on page 2 of the syllabus), and may not fit you. Try and remember to bring your own.
5. All your lab work, data, observations, etc. are to be recorded in INK in your bound notebook, not on loose pieces of paper from which you later copy data into your notebook.
6. KEEP THE LABORATORY CLEAN. Your mom and dad are not here to clean up after you. We will not clean up after you. The custodial staff will not clean up after you. Be neat. If you have a terrible urge to be messy... suppress it. Thanks!
7. There is sufficient time to do all of the scheduled experiments if you read and understand the lab manual ahead of time - before the experiment. Do not come to lab and then read the experiment for the first time. COME PREPARED!!!
8. DON'T MISS A LAB. See the section above re: missed labs.
specific routines in the lab
1. As noted previously, each laboratory will be preceded by an introductory lecture from your T.A..
2. Each week there will be a laboratory quiz consisting of two questions: one about the previous experiment and one about the current experiment (or about a current lecture topic). Missed lab quizzes may NOT be made up, so plan to be in lab on time.
3. You will be expected to record all of your observations and data in the BOUND laboratory notebook in ink. Your T.A. will check your lab notebook TWICE during each laboratory period: 1) at the beginning of the period to ensure that you have prepared adequately for the day's experiment, and 2) at the end of the period to ensure that you have a complete written account of the day's experiment in an organized, legible fashion. If you need to use a partner's data in the calculations, they should be copied into your notebook (with proper acknowledgement) BEFORE leaving the laboratory. Based on these observations, your T.A. will give you either 3 points (acceptable), 1 point (not very good), or zero points (not acceptable work).
4. Each experiment will require a written report (worth 10 points) organized as follows:
A. Title (date), (partner's name if applicable)
B. Introduction (25 words or less) 1 points
C. Experimental Procedure (a very brief sum- 1 point
mary using equations, formulas, etc., of about
50 words or less)
D. Data and Calculations (tables of data, sample 4 points
calculations, tabulated results, etc.)
E. Results and Discussion (observations, mean- 4 points
ing of results, measurements, qualitative error
analysis, conclusions, ways of improving
the experiment, hazards, etc.
All lab reports must follow the above format! They should be clearly legible or typed, and should be approximately 3 pages in length. They are graded on a 15 point scale as noted above. They are due the week after the experiment is done (you will hand them in during lab of the following week.)
The lab Grade
1. Reports: There are a total of eleven experiments (Lab 9 is a two experiment lab.) Each report for each experiment is worth 10 points for a total of 110.
2. Quizzes: There are 11 quizzes worth 3 points each for a total of 33.
3. Notebook: Graded at a max. of 3 points per experiment for a total of 33.
4. General performance, attitude, effort, participation, etc..: At the end of the semester, your T.A. will be asked to evaluate you on the basis of these qualities, and also upon your laboratory technique (do you drop beakers every 5 minutes?) and record keeping (are you jotting data on the back of your hand or on candy wrappers?). The maximum points for this evaluation is 24. (24 = possible Nobel prize winner; 19 = presidential science award winner; 15 = good chemist award; 10 = possibly dangerous in the lab; 5 (should you meet a "5" person in the lab, run for the nearest exit.)
The points noted above add up to a total of 200, or 25% of your total grade for the semester. The T.A. only assigns points for the lab grade, NOT a letter grade. The points assigned by each T.A. for lab grades are normalized to compensate for differences in individual T.A. evaluations. They are then added to your total from the "hourly" (evening) exams, quizzes and the final exam. The total points for the course are then curved to give the final semester letter grade for the course (midterms and quizzes = 50%, final = 25%, lab = 25%).
A word about the balances
Many of the experiments you will perform during the year require accurate weighing on balances. These balances are VERY expensive (you could get a nice used Chevy without much rust for the cost of each of them). Treat them with respect and care. Do not get chemicals all over them.