Course Syllabus and General Information

 

 

 

Chemistry 126-D                                                                    Professor:  Dr. Frank M. Dunnivant

Fall, 2011                                                                     344 Hall of Science

TWTh 10:00-10:50                                                     dunnivfm@whitman.edu

Recitation:  Friday 10:00                                             www.whitman.edu/~dunnivfm

                                                                                    526-4751

 

Text and Supplies: 

 

v The textbook: Chemistry:  A Molecular Approach, by Nivaldo Tro, 2nd Edition, 2011

 

v Mastering Chemistry web access

 

v A three-ring binder will be very convenient for keeping your notes (PowerPoint handouts) organized.

 

v A calculator capable of displaying scientific notation and logarithms (base 10 for first semester and natural logs for second semester)

 

v An open mind, willingness to learn a wonderful subject, and dedication

 

 

Chapters, Topics, and TENTATIVE Daily Table: 

 

Jan. 18

Welcome back, Review, SyllabusÉ

Jan. 19

11.1-11.3:  Comparing solids, liquids & gases, intermolecular forces

Jan. 20

11.4-11.5:  Intermolecular forces at work, vaporization

Jan. 25

11.5-11.6:  Vaporization & dynamic equilibrium, sublimation & fusion

Jan. 26

11.7-11.9, 11.12:  Heating curve of water, phase diagrams, properties of water, solid types

Jan. 27

12.1-12.3:  Types of solutions & solubility, energetics of solution formation

Feb. 1

12.4-12.5:  Solution equilibrium & factors affecting solubility, expressing solution conc.

Feb. 2

12.6-12.7:  Vapor pressure of solutions, freezing point depression

Feb. 3

12.7-12.8:  Boiling point elevation, osmosis, colligative properties, colloids

Feb. 8*

14.1-14.3:  Concept of dynamic equilibrium, equilibrium constant (K)

Feb. 9*

14.4-14.7:  K in terms of pressure, heterogeneous equilibria, calculating K, reaction quotient

Feb. 10*

14.7: calculating K, reaction quotient

Feb. 15

14.8:  Finding equilibrium concentrations

Feb. 16

14.9, 17.8-17.9:  Le ChatelierÕs principle, DG for nonstandard states, DG and equilibrium

Feb. 17

15.1-15.4:  Nature & definitions of acids & bases, acid strength & the acid ionization const.

Feb. 22

15.5-15.6:  Autoionization of water & pH, the [H3O+] & pH of strong & weak acid solutions

Feb. 23-24

Working Problems and Review as needed

Feb. 25

Exam #1 (Chapters 11, 12, 14, 17.8-17.9) 2010EXAM

Mar. 1

Problem Solving?  Calculations involving acid solutions

Mar. 2

15.7-15.8:  Base solutions, acid-base properties of ions & salts

Mar. 3

Problem Solving?  Calculations involving base solutions & ions

Mar. 8

15.9-15.11:  Polyprotic acids, acid strength & molecular structure, Lewis acids & bases

Mar. 9

16.1-16.2:  Buffers:  solutions that resist pH change

Mar. 10

Problem Solving?  Calculating the pH of a buffer solution

Mar. 10-27

Spring Break

Mar. 29

16.2-16.3:  Calc. pH changes in a buffer, buffers of a base & conj. acid, buffer effectiveness

Mar. 30

16.4: Titration and pH curves

Mar. 31

Problem Solving?  Calculating pH changes in a buffer solutions & the pH during a titration

Apr. 5

16.5:  Solubility equilibria & the solubility product constant

Apr. 6

No Class—Whitman Undergraduate Conference

Apr. 7

Working Problems and Review as needed

Apr. 8

Exam #2 (Chapters 15 & 16) 2010EXAM

Apr. 12

18.1-18.3:   Balancing oxidation-reduction equations, voltaic cells

Apr. 13

18.4-18.5:  Standard reduction potentials, cell potential, free energy & the equil. const.

Apr. 14

18.6, 18.8:  Cell potential and concentration, electrolysis:  driving nonspontaneous rxns.

Apr. 19

18.7, 18.9, 13.1-13.2:  Batteries, corrosion, rate of a chemical reaction

Apr. 20

13.3-13.4:  Rate law & integrated rate law:  concentration, reaction rate, & time

Apr. 21

13.5-13.7:  Effect of temperature on reaction rate

Apr. 26

13.6-13.7:  Reaction mechanisms, catalysis

Apr. 27

Ch 19:  Radiation, basic principles

Apr. 28

Ch 19:  Radiation, in the real world

May 3

Exam #3 (Chapters 13, 18, 19) 2010EXAM

May 4

Special Topic:  Global Warming

May 5

Special Topic: Hydrophobic Pollutants / Review

May 6

Review for final

May 10

Continued Review for final in Recitation

May 11

Reading Day

May 12

Possible Òlast opportunity for questionsÓ on Thursday night

May 13

Final exam (Standardized and Cumulative!)

 

 

FINAL EXAM:  Friday, May 13, 9:00-11:00 pm.

This will be a one-to-three hour COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM (American Chemical Society National Undergraduate Chemistry Exam).  The final exam time is scheduled by the registrar.  The schedule is published well in advance of the final and I cannot change this.  Therefore it is your responsibility to plan accordingly as there are strict limitations set by the College on exceptions to the final exam schedule. 

 

Lectures:  Power-Point based lectures with chalkboard work, workshops, and demonstrations.  My homepage is posted at http://www.whitman.edu/~dunnivfm.  The purpose of giving out my lecture notes and handing out other crucial lecture material IS to allow you to listen to the lecture and class discussion without having to frantically copy the material on an overhead.  It IS NOT to allow you to skip class and assume that you can learn everything from the posted lectures.  As you will see, everything that we do in class is not contained in my PowerPoint handouts.  As students ask questions, we will go off on tangents from the main subject, and these tangential subjects will be covered on the exams.  If poor attendance becomes a problem, I will start giving pop quizzes (in addition to the Tuesday quizzes).  Please bring the printed handouts to every class since we will proceed at a pace that assumes that you have the notes.  There is no need to bring you relatively large and heavy textbook to class.  I will have a recitation on Friday during our class time/slot.

 

Weekly Tutoring Session:  There will student-led tutoring sessions on Sunday through Thursday; I will notify you of this schedule.  The location will probably be the chalkboard area on second floor at the top of the stairs of the new wing.  This will not be a lecture.   It is designed to give you an unlimited opportunity to ask questions, but you must come with specific problems to work.

 

Attendance/Class Etiquette:  Prompt attendance is expected at every class meeting.  NO CELL PHONES!  If your cell phone rings/beeps/vibrates during class:  first offence you will stand and apologize to the class, second offence you will leave the room for the remainder of the class!  Also, no computer use will be allowed during class.

 

Recitations:  Tentatively, Friday during our class time in room 376, I will be offering additional help/lectures/workshops.  Attendance is optional but important material will be covered to aid in the understanding of complicated concepts such as equilibrium, acid-base equilibrium, and kinetics that were covered during our normal class time.  For most of this semester, we will be working additional problems and discussing problem solving skills.  You will be responsible for this material since it will have also been covered in our regularly scheduled classes.  Recitations are an extra effort and time on my part and I do these to improve your grade. 

 

***Missed Exams/Quizzes:  There will be no make-ups for missed exams unless you have a documented illness (a note from a doctor or health clinic) or a death in your immediate family and I am notified one full day before the exam (this does not mean an e-mail the night before or during the missed class).  Athletes may make arrangements if they must be away, but only if (1) this is done well in advance, (2) the absence is due to a game, not a practice, and finally (3) any make-up requires my pre-approval; all of these cases will require you to take the exam in advance.  Monday quizzes can be made up only on my approval (and a three day prior notification; on Friday before the Tuesday quiz). 

 

Quizzes:  Every Tuesday, at the beginning of class, there will be a ~10 minute quiz.  The material covered on the quiz will be taken from material covered during the week before.  These will be graded on a basis of 1 to 10, with a score of 10 being perfect.  The purpose of these quizzes is not to overburden you with studying, but to let me know if I am clearly covering the material (on a weekly basis).  These quizzes will also let you know what I think is important and give you an idea of what type of questions will be on the hourly and final exams.  Due to time constraints, quiz questions tend to be easier than exam questions.  In the past, students have commented that these weekly quizzes are one of the best ways to keep up with the material. 

 

Homework:  My section will be using the Mastering Chemistry option offered by Prentice Hall Publishing.  This offers an automatic graded homework that you will use on-line. 

 

Office Hours:  I generally keep an open door policy; if you can find me I will help you; Tuesday and Thursday afternoon are best.  However please respect my "quite office hours" when I am preparing for class.  Most afternoons are great times to catch me in room 341 (my large lab across from my office).  On Monday and Wednesday afternoons I have a laboratory, but you are welcome to stop by and see if I have time to answer questions.  If you would like to make a specific appointment, please contact me via email or just stop by my office.

 

Overall Grading:  Grades will be based on the following basis:

 

Item                                                                                        Points

 

Three-hour exams (short answer, discussion, & problems)     300

Monday Quizzes (based on 13/14 quizzes)                             130/140

Homework                                                                                50

Final exam                                                                               200

 

Total                                                                                       680/690

 

The above represents an approximate breakdown.  I reserve the right as instructor to take into account attendance, effort, participation, and overall professionalism in my final grade determination.  This has pleasantly affected several grades in the past.

 

You can constantly check the status of your grade, if you choose to participate in the "virtual grade book" on my home page.  I encourage you to do this since I am also capable of making mistakes and if you have access to your grades you can call the error to my attention.  Also your secret code will be used to identify your exams when these are placed outside my office door.

 

Academic Integrity/Honesty Policy:  A very clear policy is given in your student handbook.  I adhere to the College's policy of Academic Honesty, which you have or will sign in the present of your advisor.  This means that cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty, as defined in the policy, will not be permitted in this class and that the penalties stated in the policy will apply.  Cheating of any type (on quizzes or exams, conducting dry labs, or when the lab reports or answers of two students are too similar) will guarantee you a trip to the Dean's office and depending on the severity of the offense, an ÒFÓ in the class and expulsion from college.

 

Exam Schedule/Timing:  It is difficult to fairly evaluate your knowledge of the material in an hourly exam.  Remembering back to my college years, I always hated timed exams since they add an unneeded (and unwanted) element of pressure.  Therefore, with the classes consent, I will be giving the exams on Fridays in the Hall of ScienceÕs classrooms (rooms on the first floor of the atrium).  The schedule is subject to change given student feedback, but exams can be taken from 12:00 to 4:00 on selected Friday afternoons.  They will consist of discussion, short answer, true/false, and mathematical problems.  Exams will be prepared as a one-hour test (if you perfectly understand the material), but you may have the complete four-hour period. 

 

 

Keys to Earning A Good Grade:

 

-           use multiple forms of learning as discussed in class

 

-           come to every class

 

-           read the textbook material before coming to class

 

-           work the suggested homework problems in the text

 

-           come to the tutors (or me) for help when you do not understand something