Chem 260 provides an introduction to the disciplines of physical and analytical chemistry. These fields are, of course, too broad to cover in a single semester. Our goals, therefore, are to:

• predict the favorability of chemical reactions
• characterize the extent to which a chemical reaction occurs
• determine the final composition of a reaction mixture at equilibrium
• evaluate a reaction's temporal feasibility
• elucidate possible pathways for a chemical reaction
• study reactions quantitatively in the laboratory
• design, carry out and evaluate experiments involving chemical reactivity
• appreciate the importance of physical and analytical chemistry in other disciplines

In addition to these more discipline-specific goals, we have several broader goals; these are to:

• appreciate the utility of developing models as predictive tools
• learn how to think critically about conceptual or abstract ideas
• improve your skills at solving problems
• gain comfort working and thinking in the laboratory
• become more adept at evaluating and processing large amounts of information
• gain experience working with others as part of a research team

The textbook for this course is Chemistry: Structure and Dynamics (3rd Ed.) by Spencer, Bodner, and Rickard, and it is available from the Fine Print Bookstore in downtown Greencastle. This book also is the textbook for Chem 130.

The course manual, lab manual, and the course's web site provide additional supplementary material.

Reading Assignments. Daily reading assignments from the textbook are listed on the tentative schedule and updated weekly on the course’s web page. The suggested reading covers material for that day's class. You may wish to read the material before class, after class, or both before and after class.

Suggested Problems. Suggested problems from the textbook provide you with an opportunity to evaluate your understanding of basic skills and concepts; they are not, however, representative of exam problems. If you complete and truly understand the suggested problems, then you have every reason to expect at least a C in this course. You must be able to apply these skills to new problems and in new contexts if you expect to earn an A or a B. To help prepare you for exams, we will make frequent use of “exam-like” problems during class. Copies of selected old exams also are available on the Archives tab.

Graded Assignments: Your progress in class is evaluated through a combination of weekly quizzes (a quiz consists of one problem from those suggested textbook problems assigned since the previous quiz and are scheduled for every Friday except the first week of classes and those weeks that include an exam), three regular exams (see the tentative schedule for dates) and a cumulative final exam. Laboratory work is evaluated through quizzes and lab reports.

Chemistry is an experimental science; experience working in lab, therefore, is essential to almost all chemistry courses. Our focus in this course is on learning how to investigate the thermodynamic, equilibrium, and kinetic properties of chemical reactions. To accomplish this you will learn about several routine quantitative methods of analysis and will learn to design experiments.

Working as part of a small research team, you will complete four preliminary labs that introduce the software, hardware, and techniques that will be used in later experiments. Reports for these experiments will focus on specific sections of a formal lab report.

After completing the preliminary labs, you will complete four open-ended project experiments. These experiments begins with a description of the system under investigation, a statement of the project's goals, and a list of hints, suggestions, and/or questions to consider. The design of the experiment is left to you! Reports for these experiments are a mixture of long formal reports, short informal reports, and posters.

At the beginning of each new experiment there is a brief quiz to evaluate your preparation for lab.

Final grades are determined using the following percentages:

• three regular exams: 14% each for a total of 42%
• cumulative final exam: total of 28%
• quizzes: nine quizzes for a total of 5%
• lab work: lab reports and lab quizzes for a total of 25%

Grades are assigned using the following scale

Final averages are not rounded; to earn a grade of B, for example, your final average must be ≥ 83.0... and < 86.0... These ranges are fixed with the following caveats:

1. At the instructor's discretion, grades on a borderline may be moved up or down by a maximum of 1 point to account for intangible factors; thus, for example, a 79.7 (C+) may become an 80.7 (B-), or an 83.7 (B) may become a 82.7 (B-). Intangible factors that may affect your grade include, but are not limited to, a particularly strong or weak final exam, a steady improvement or decline in performance during the term or a particularly strong or weak contribution to the class or lab. Such adjustments are not common.
2. You must achieve a combined average of at least 60% on the three regular exams or a score of greater than 60% on the final exam to receive a passing grade of D- or better.
3. You must complete all laboratory work, including all laboratory reports, to receive a passing grade of D- or better.

Office hours for fall 2009

If you are uncomfortable just dropping by or wish to ensure that I will be available, feel free to schedule an appointment; my contact information is at the beginning of the syllabus. My home phone number is listed at the beginning of the syllabus should you need to reach me in the evenings (before 10 PM) or on the weekends.

Due dates are intended to keep you from falling behind in your work. Because I value thoughtful, well-written work more than absolute deadlines, these due dates are intentionally flexible. Unless otherwise specified, there is no penalty for turning work in late if I am still in the process of grading the assignment; however, once I finish grading a set of assignments, any missing work receives a grade of 0 (zero) – no exceptions.

Flexibility in due dates is not a license to procrastinate and abuse of this policy will result in your loss of this privilege. To take advantage of this policy you must consult with me before the assignment is due and show evidence of having made significant progress.

Although I do not require attendance during class meetings, I encourage you to take advantage of class time as an opportunity to more fully engage yourself with the material.

If you do need to miss class for legitimate reasons, or if you simply don’t feel like coming, it is your responsibility to know and understand what was covered. Ask a classmate for a copy of his or her notes, drop by my office or visit the course’s web-site. We cannot take class time to review material for students who were unable to attend class.

Attendance at all lab sessions is a requirement.

Although you may make frequent use of external resources (e.g. the internet, the library, other students) when preparing lab reports, it is important that the work you submit represents your understanding of the experiment on which you are reporting. Failure to do so is unethical and a serious breach of academic integrity. Be sure to review DePauw's guidelines for academic integrity, which are included in the Student Handbook; in particular, review the examples of plagiarism. Although often unintentional, plagiarism is nevertheless a serious violation and can result in a significant reduction in your grade for an assignment or for the course. Follow this link to the Writing Center's guide to avoiding plagiarism.

A potential problem in science labs occurs when you collect data as a group but are responsible for preparing an individual report. In such cases, it is not acceptable to share calculations, spreadsheets or figures. You may discuss how to analyze the data, but the work you turn in must represent you analysis of the data and interpretation of the results.

Be sure to consult with your instructor if you are unsure about any issue concerning academic integrity.

Collected here are miscellaneous class handouts; see the Worksheets tab for copies of worksheets and their answer keys.

Answer keys to worksheets are posted on the weekend.

Answer keys to the suggested problems are grouped by chapter.

If you find an error in an answer key, please email the instructor!

Collected here are review sheets for the hour exams and copies of hour exams (and answer keys) from the three most recent classes.

Review Sheets for: First Exam, Second Exam, Third Exam

Answer Keys for: First Exam, Second Exam, Third Exam

Practice exams: These exams will give you with a sense of the format and length of exams, and provide you with some additional practice problems. Please note that because the course varies a bit each semester, there may be one or two questions on the practice exams that do not correspond to what we have covered this term.

Uncertainty of Measurements

Evaluating Experimental Results

Evaluating Mathematical Models

Theoretical vs. Experimental Results

Lab Manual

Checklist for Formal Reports

Case Studies in Group Work - Introduction

Case Studies in Group Work - Cases

Poster Instructions

Poster Template