Instructor: Spencer Anthony-Cahill,
Ph.D.
tel: 650-3152; email: sacahill@chem.wwu.edu
Course website: http://atom.chem.wwu.edu/sacahill/126
Lecture: MWF 9:00 – 9:50 pm in CB285.
Text: Atkins and Jones (A&J), “Chemical
Principles: The Quest for Insight” 4th Edition is required. I
highly recommend that you prepare for lectures by reading the relevant material
in A&J prior to the first lecture on the given topic (see attached lecture schedule). We will attempt to cover Chapters 7-10, 13
and 17 in A&J. This involves reading
about 300 pages of Chemistry. You should allow
several hours/week for reading and problem solving. Some of the problems in the text
will be recommended as supplementary homework
assignments. Be aware that there may
be mistakes in the answers to problems.
If something doesn’t make sense, SEE ME!
The best
advice I can give you is: keep up with reading and working the problems.
Labs:
T,R 2-4:50 pm in CB 330. The schedule of labs is here. The first lab meeting is Thu
1/10/08. You will need your lab
notebook and your safety goggles. Safety
regulations require that: (1) goggles be worn at all
times in lab, (2) shorts, short skirts, sandals and open-toe shoes are not
allowed in the labs. It is your responsibility to take and pass a
short, online safety quiz before Thursday, January 17 at 12
noon. The required passing score on
the quiz starts at 80% and increases as the final deadline approaches. Quiz
Times:
Round 1: Monday, January 7, 8:00 AM --
Friday, January 11, 5:00 PM (80% correct is passing)
Round 2: Friday, January 11, 5:00 PM --
Tuesday, January 15, 5:00 PM (84% correct is passing)
Round 3: Tuesday, January 15, 5:00 PM
-- Thursday, January 17, 12:00 PM (88% correct is passing)
The lab safety tutorial and
links to the safety quiz can be found here:
http://www.chem.wwu.edu/dept/dept/safety.shtml
The quiz must be passed by the above
deadlines before you are allowed to participate in lab. The quiz can be taken using the Chemistry Department
Computer lab located in CB280 or from any personal computer with internet
access. Dial-up access from home might be slower.
Exams/Grading: Grades are based on the
total points you earn in the course.
There are 526 points possible for the course. There will be three graded online homework
assignments at (66 pt total). There will
be two midterms @ 100 pts each. There
will be a cumulative final exam @ 100 pts.
Lab
assignments total 160 points and students must complete all labs in order to pass the
course. A student may make up a missed
exam or lab under exceptional circumstances (i.e. excused absence) and only by
prior arrangement with the instructor. The dates for the exams are Thursday
January 31 and Thursday February 28.
The course final is scheduled for Thursday March 20 at 10:30am. For more info on my grading
policy/procedures see here. NOTE: Students are advised to read pages 40
and 389-390 of the 2007-2008 University Bulletin re: the Academic Dishonesty
Policy. I will enforce this policy if
necessary.
Course content: This quarter we will focus
on the basic principles of thermodynamics as they describe dynamic equilibrium and
kinetics (in short we will examine the favorability and the rates of
reactions). We will also discuss the
basic theory and application of nuclear chemistry. I encourage you to attend research seminars
whenever possible. Chemistry Dept. seminars are Fridays at
My expectations: This course is intended to present General Chemistry
concepts in an in-depth and accelerated fashion. I will not have time to lecture on everything
that I expect you to understand. You
will be responsible for learning a small part of the course material on your
own via study of your textbook. I expect
you to use your textbook as a resource for chemical information and as an
important part of preparing for lectures.
I expect you to go beyond rote memorization of facts, and develop
complex problem solving skills. The
online homework will test basic problem-solving skills whereas exams will
include problems of greater complexity.
I will give you some guidance in complex problem solving; however,
developing such skill is not necessarily easy.
It is largely a self-guided journey and you must allow yourself the time
and energy to struggle and (eventually!) succeed. I make a conscious effort to provide you
sufficient information to put 2 + 2 together, without holding your hand. I prefer you to make the logical jumps that
define the “
Advice: Work the
suggested problems. Avail yourself of
the help I can offer during my office hours. Work the suggested problems. Work with study partners, and prepare for
these sessions (i.e. read the book, work problems) rather than showing up
cold. Work the suggested problems. Do the reading and the problems every
week! Work the suggested problems. I encourage you to ask me questions if
something doesn’t make sense. Work the suggested problems. The sooner you ask for clarification the
better. Work the suggested problems. If
you find yourself struggling, DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE AN EXAM to
see me! Work the suggested problems.