Peter Olds / Chem 1A & 1B

Description:

Chem 1A is a one-semester college general chemistry course. Atomic structure, the periodic table, molecular structure and bonding, chemical reactions, the mole concept, stoichiometry, gas laws, thermochemistry, solutions, colligative properties, equilibrium, and phase diagrams will be addressed. 13 to 16 chapters will be covered in 16 weeks (or about 1 chapter per week). Problem-solving and critical thinking skills are emphasized.

 Listed bold chapters below from Tro 5^th or 6^th Edition are covered in the order given: 

• Chapter 1 Introduction: Matter, Measurement, and Problem Solving
• Chapter 2 Atoms and Elements
• Chapter 3 Molecules and Compounds
• Chapter 4 Chemical Reactions and Chemical Quantities
• Chapter 5 Introduction to Solutions and Aqueous Reactions
• Chapter 6 Gases
• Chapter 8 The Quantum Mechanical Model of the Atom
• Chapter 9 Periodic Properties of the Elements
• Chapter 10 Chemical Bonding I:  The Lewis Model
• Chapter 11 Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, Valence Bond Theory and MO Theory.
• Chapter 7 Thermochemistry
• Chapter 12 Liquids, Solids, and Intermolecular Forces
• Chapter 14 Solutions

Additional topics may be covered as time permits:

• Chapter 13 Solids and Modern Materials
• Chapter 16 Chemical Equilibrium
• Chapter 17 Acids and Bases
  

Times and places:

• Lecture – MoWe 4:45PM - 6:00PM in D-119 main campus
• Lab – MoWe 1:30PM - 4:20PM in D-119 on Mondays for required problem sessions and supplemental lectures and room 150 at 860 Atlantic for wet lab on Wednesdays.

Instructor: Peter Olds

• Email: peter.chem1a.coa@gmail.com
• Office Hours: TBA or by appointment, or leave a message. 

Required Course Materials:

• eText: Chemistry 6^th Edition by Tro  ($9.99/mo). Most exam questions come from Tro.
• Gen chem hardcopy textbook for open-book exams.  Recommend Petrucci General Chemistry (under $10 online).
• ALEKS for the General Chemistry account.
  • One semester of access costs about $85 (18 weeks online purchase).
• Laptop computer with broadband internet access
• Scientific calculator (graphing calculators and cell phones not allowed during exams)
• Laboratory notebook and lab safety glasses.

Lab Safety Note: No sandals, shorts, food, or drink allowed in the lab! Protective shoes and clothing are required.

Exam Schedule:

• Exam 1 on Chapters 1, 2, and 3
• Exam 2 on Chapters 4, 5, and 6
• Exam 3 on Chapters 8, 9, 10, and 11 
• Comprehensive ACS Final Exam including Chapters 7, 12, 14, and 13 

Grading Scheme:

• 50% Exams (Exams 1, 2, and 3 are 10% each.  Final exam is 20%.).
• 20% ALEKS General Chemistry (adaptive homework and assessments progress).
• 20% Labs (attendance, bench work, and lab reports required).
• 10% Class participation, including attendance, office hours, problem-solving sessions, and discussions.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES ADDENDUM

Course Number:  Chem 1A

Course Title:  General Chemistry

Substances properties measurements

plutonium density problem

Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Elements & Compound Symbols plus Atomic Mass Scale

Feynman on electrical charge

Nomenclature-Work-sheet

Solid Rocket Fuel Reaction Problem

Shuttle attitude control hypergolic rocket fuel problem

Wednesday Chem 1A Experiments Schedule

Click on experiments to see lab manual write-ups.

Exp. 1 – Density experiment

Exp. 2 – Physical Properties to ID an Unknown Liquid Post-Lab 2

Exp. 4 – Empirical Formula of Magnesium Oxide  Post-Lab 4

Exp. 7 – Decomposition of Sodium Carbonate Post-Lab 7

Exp. 6 – Double Displacement Reactions Post-Lab 6

Exp. 8 – Single Replacement Reactions Post-Lab 8

Exp. 3 – Charles’ Law Post-Lab 3

Exp. 14 – Calculation of the Ideal Gas Law Constant

Exp. 10 – Evidence for Quantum Mechanics

Quantum problems plus intro to Lewis structures/VSEPR, and practice Quiz 5

Lewis-Strutures-VSEPR-Theory

Octet-Rule-Violations-Lewis-Strutures-VSEPR-Theory

Exp. 9 – Heat of Reaction

Exp. 15 – heat of fusion heat of solution

Exp. 11 – Titration of vinegar

2014

2005

Syllabus & Materials for Chem 1B

Course Description:

• Chem 1B is a 2nd-semester general chemistry course covering chemical equilibrium, acids & bases, chemical thermodynamics, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, nuclear chemistry and coordination chemistry

  Chem 1B Syllabus

  Syllabus & Materials for Chem 1B

  Course Description:

  Chem 1B is a 2nd semester college general chemistry course with an emphasis on introduction to physical chemistry. Chemical equilibrium, aqueous (including acid-base) equilibrium, thermodynamics, coordination chemistry, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, nuclear chemistry, and possibly some organic chemistry will be addressed. Problem-solving and critical thinking skills are emphasized.

  We will cover the listed bold chapters from Tro 5^th or 6^th edition in the order given:

  • Chapters 12 Liquids, Solid Intermolecular Forces & 14 Solutions (Chem 1A Review)
  • Chapter 16 Chemical Equilibrium
  • Chapter 17 Acids and Bases
  • Chapter 18 Aqueous Ionic Equilibrium
  • Chapter 7 Thermochemistry (Chem 1A review from scratch)
  • Chapter 19 Free Energy & Thermodynamics
  • Chapter 20 Electrochemistry
  • Chapter 15 Chemical Kinetics
  • Chapter 21 Radioactivity & Nuclear Chemistry
  • Chapter 26 Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds

  Additional topics may be covered as time permits:

  • Chapter 13 Solids and Modern Materials

  Instructor: Peter Olds

  E-mail: peter.chem1b.coa@gmail.com

  Office Hours: TBA or by appointment or leave a message.

  Required Course Materials:

  eText: Chemistry 5^th or 6^th Edition by Tro ($10.99/mo)

  ALEKS for the General Chemistry account. One semester access to Gen Chem: (18 weeks online purchase)

  Laptop computer with broadband internet access

  Scientific calculator (graphing calculators cell phones and laptops not allowed during exams)

  Safety Note: No sandals, shorts, food, or drink allowed in the lab! Protective shoes and clothing are required.

  Exam Schedule:

  Exam 1 on Chem 1A review (Ch. 12 & 14) plus Chapters 16 & 17

  Exam 2 on Chapters 17, 18, plus some Ch. 7 Chem 1A thermo review

  Exam 3 on Chapters 7, 19, and 20

  Comprehensive ACS Final Exam including Chapters 15, 21 & 26

  Grading Scheme:

  50% Exams (Exams 1, 2, and 3 are 10% each. Final exam is 20%.).

  20% ALEKS General Chemistry (adaptive homework and assessments progress).

  20% Labs (attendance, bench work, and lab reports required).

  10% Class participation, including attendance, office hours, problem-solving sessions, and discussions.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES ADDENDUM

Course Number: Chem 1B

Course Title: General Chemistry

• Law of Mass Action – knowledge checklist plus table with some Kc’s
• Ka table
• pH indicator table
• Short Ksp table
• Long Kf table
• Short Kf table
• Heats of Formation

Chem 1B Wednesday Lab Schedule

• Exp. 6 LeChatlier’s Principle
• Exp. 7 Measuring the equilibrium constant Kc for FeSCN(+2) formation reaction
  
• Exp. 9 pH Indicators and Exp. 8 Relative strengths of acids
  
• Exp. 10 Dissociation constant (Ka) measurement and molar mass of an unknown weak acid (via titration).
  
• Exp. 11 Planning, preparation, and evaluation of a pH buffer
  
• Lecture & Problems: Ch. 7 thermo review, 1^st Law, Calorimetry at constant V vs constant P, enthalpy.  Hess’s Law, standard states, formation reaction & thermodynamic tables, Hess’s Law formula
• Exp. 17 using the Van’t Hoff equation to determine the enthalpy of solution of borax
• Exp. 15 Nernst Equation
• Exp. 14 Electrochemistry
• Exp. 5 part 1 determining a rate law with the method of initial rates
• Exp. 5 part 2 temperature dependence of rates
• Coordination Isomerism Nomenclature Lab with models

Lab Report Rubric

Prepare before lab and show to lab instructor on arrival the following: 

• Title.
• Name, lab partner’s name,  Date, Exp. #.
• Statement of Purpose.
• Brief summaries of procedures in your own words with space for observations and data collection.
• Answers to prelab questions.
  

Complete during and after lab:

• Data and observations (use tables if appropriate)
• Calculations, analysis, and uncertainty propagation analysis. (include table of results)
• Discussion of results
• Conclusion: brief restatement of most important result(s).

(Complete lab report is due a week after actually doing the lab.)

Fall 2014

• Chem1B Quiz 1

• Chem1B Quiz 2

• Chem1B Quiz 3

• Chem 1B Quiz 4

• Chem1B Quiz 5

• Chem1B Quiz 6

• Chem1B Fall 2014 Midterm Exam

2005

• Chem 1A Final Exam

Final Exam Notes

Chemistry Video Lectures

• Wallace Derricotte gen chem videos
  

   

• Catherine Drennan – 2014 MIT-OCW gen chem lectures – 2008 MIT gen chem lectures

Free Online Textbooks

• Chem1 Virtual Textbook by Stephen Lower
  
• Chemical Principles 3rd Ed. by Dickerson, Gray, Haight (1979 classic)
  • Table of Contents
  • CalTech Link to Chapter PDFs
• Feynman’s Lectures on Physics

Tutoring

Chem 1B Calendar

Download the Chem 1B Policy Here

Policy and Advice

Homework:

Online homework will be turned in via your online ALEKS account. Homework should be done without collaboration. ALEKS homework makes up 20% of your grade.

Problems from old quizzes and exams are also highly recommended and tend to be more difficult. Though these problems will not be turned in, you will find them highly valuable for developing your chemistry skills. For these problems it is strongly suggested you not look at the answers until you are absolutely stuck, in which case it is also a good idea to bring up the problem in class. Your goal is to thoroughly understand the material so collaboration with your fellow students on problems from old quizzes and exams is encouraged.

Quizzes and Exams:

There will be three exams (100 points each) and a final exam (200 points). There will be no make-ups for tests and exams. Missing any exam results in an F for the course. Quizzes and exams make up 50% of your grade.

Laboratory:

At least one experiment will be carried out each laboratory period. A brief written summary of procedure (prelab) will be required to start each experiment. In addition to carrying out the assigned experiments, calculations are to be completed before leaving lab. A lab report for each experiment (written separately and by yourself) is due the following lab session and must include answers to the questions posed in the lab manual. Your presence in lab is required to obtain credit for an experiment. Missing, flunking, or failing to write up three experiments disqualifies you from this course. As with homework, collaboration in the lab is encouraged with regards to collecting data. However, you must do your own calculations and interpretation of results. Expect to make mistakes. A large amount of learning occurs when you get feedback on your own work. Copied work is obvious and will result in loss of credit and corrective action. Plagiarism or cheating in any context, tests, exams or labs, will result in disciplinary action (1st offence: zero on test or lab; 2nd offence automatic fail for the course). Labs will make up 20% of your grade.

Class participation:

Class time is your best opportunity to ask questions about problems you are stuck on, confusing text material, or chemistry related topics that tweak your curiosity. To help you along in this direction, class participation including attendance, problem solving (evidence of homework) and discussion will make up 10% of your grade. You can be dropped from the course if you miss a certain quota of lecture and/or lab hours. (Consult with a dean if you have questions about this policy.)

Tips to do well in Chem 1B:

Chemistry addresses the fundamental nature of substances (kinds of matter) and changes that substances undergo. Science in general and chemistry in particular can be very satisfying to people who are curious about nature and/or technology. While demanding, chemistry rewards those who put in the time and effort to attain real understanding. To maximize your chances of success the following steps are highly recommended: 1) form small study groups that meet on a regular basis and get tutoring if you need it 2) before reading a chapter try a few problems and look at the “Summary and Key Terms” at the end of the chapter 3) attempt problems and read the material before lecture so that you arrive with questions. Learning is more efficient if you come to class stuck on problems and/or reading material. Use the book to learn the easy material and use me and your lab instructors to help you master the difficult concepts.

If you seriously put in more time out of class than in class on chemistry you will get a good grade in this course.