Clayton State University

CHEM 1212L - Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
Course Syllabus - Summer 2006

Course Description:

Number and Title:

Chemistry 1212L (CRN 52074)
Principles of Chemistry II  Laboratory

Credit Hours:

1.0 semester credit hours

Catalog Description:

Laboratory accompanying CHEM 1212.

CHEM 1212L is a one-hour credit science laboratory course, associated with Chemistry 1212, for Area D1 of the Core Curriculum of Clayton College & State University.

Course Co-requisite:

CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II

Note: Due to the co-requisite nature of CHEM 1212 and CHEM 1212L, students dropping one of the two courses must also drop the other.

Course Pre-requisite:

            CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L Principles of Chemistry

Notebook Computer Requirement:

Each CCSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CCSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.

Computer Skills Prerequisites:

• Able to use the computer’s operation system (Windows®)
• Able to access and send E-mail (Outlook® or Outlook Express®)
• Able to use a Web browser and Search Engine (Internet Explorer®)
• Able to download files from a web site to your computer
• Able to use a word processor system (Word®) including use of forms
• Able to use a spread sheet system (Excel®) including graphing

In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:

Student notebook computers will be used once in the lab room in this course. Computers will also be used to access course materials and to communicate with your instructor.

Course Objectives:

• To learn the basic chemical techniques including titration and gravimetric determination as well as basic measurement techniques.

• To learn how to use the scientific process in the laboratory and be able to communicate experimental results through a formal lab report.

Student Learning Outcomes:

General education outcomes:

The following links provide tabular descriptions of the communications outcome and the critical thinking outcome components  (see CHEM 1212L in the tables):

• Communications outcomes components
• Critical thinking outcomes components

Biology outcomes:

CHEM 1212L supports outcomes 3 and 4 and 5 of the biology major:

• Outcome 3.  Knowledge of physical science, mathematics, and statistics required to support an understanding of biology.
• Outcome 4.  Ability to communicate orally and in writing in a clear concise manner.
• Outcome 5.  Ability to collect, evaluate and interpret scientific data.

Term:

Summer Semester 2006

Instructor Information

Instructor:

Dr. Patricia Metthe Todebush
Office phone: (678) 466-4788
fax: (678) 466-4899
e-mail:  patriciatodebush@.clayton.edu
internet:  http://a-s.clayton.edu/ptodebus/default.html

Office:

Arts and Sciences Building , Room 105-A

Office Hours:

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday, Wednesday
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
or by appointment

Class Meetings:

Lab Materials Information:

Chemistry 1212 Laboratory Manual
Laboratory Safety Glasses
Carbonless Copy Laboratory Notebook

Evaluation:

Your evaluation in CHEM 1212L will be based upon the following component:

You will be evaluated on your weekly performance in the laboratory as well as on one formal written report detailing the results of your experiments over the entire semester. The report should include all relevant data, equations used, and example calculations. All data is to be kept in a bound laboratory notebook in the fashion outlined in the lab manual. The notebook may be collected from time to time at the instructor's discretion. Graded reports will be handed back in a timely fashion (typically within one week of being collected). The report must be typed, double-spaced on white paper, and be written in standard English in paragraph form. Scoring will be based on content, accuracy, completeness, grammar and format.  Late lab reports will incur a 10% penalty per day.

 

Mini-reports:

Found in both the laboratory manual and the course web site, are mini-reports.  Each student is expected to complete these reports at the conclusion of the appropriate experiment.  The mini-reports are not required, but are designed to help you understand the lab and to simplify the task of writing the main laboratory report at the end of the semester.  Remember, your entire grade in the course comes from the one main laboratory report, so use all the help you can get.  By submitting these reports on a weekly basis, you will receive feed-back on significant figures, sample calculations, data tabulations and an overall understanding of the experiment.  If you decide to do these, and you should, submit them in a timely manner, as I will not review them "all at once" or a "bunch" close to the end of the term.  They should be typed, using the computer form and printed for me to look at.  If there are discussions on the grading of the final report, I will probably ask to see your mini-reports with my comments. 

 

Grading:

The grade you receive in Chemistry 1212L will be based upon the following scale:

            A mid-term grade in this course will not be issued.  Based on the student's self evaluation, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W."  Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term.

Helpful Information:

Homework:  Your laboratory experiments should be prepared.  This includes having a working knowledge of the procedure, the calculations and the problems pertaining to your experiment.  There are specific problems, both examples and exercises, in the laboratory manual pertaining to each experiment.  It is your responsibility to study and attempt these problems.  This should help you in the write-up of the laboratory report due toward the end of the semester.

Notebooks:  You are required to have a bound (sewn-in pages) laboratory notebook.  You will not be able to work in the laboratory without your notebook.  Any scrap paper or paper towels with data will be confiscated and destroyed at the discretion of the instructor.
The notebook should include such things as initial and final readings, tabulated data, observations, and calculations in a clear, legible manner.  All entries in the notebook should be made in ink.  Units should be included with each number.  Errors may be crossed out once, i.e. 1.0000 g, but there should be no erasures or block-outs.  Neatness and good organization are desired, but legibility, proper labeling and completeness are absolute necessities.

Risk:  Participation in laboratory activities involves an inherent risk of injury.  In the event of injury, the student should immediately inform the instructor who will contact the Campus Public Safety Officer.  The officer will file an accident report and administer first aid or contact appropriate medical help.

Note:  The instructor reserves the right to alter the laboratory schedule as she sees fit.  Students must participate in the laboratory in order to successfully complete the course.

Academic Irregularity:  Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  Consequences may include a zero grade on the assessment instrument, or possible action by the College Judicial Board of Review.   Judicial procedures are described at
http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentlife/judicial_affairs.htm.

Laboratory Schedule:

Tentative Topic Schedule  

The following experiments will be performed in Chemistry 1212L laboratory, however not necessarily in the order listed.

1. Introduction to the Laboratory, Measurement, etc.

2. Introduction to the use of your computer for laboratory work.

3. Titration of unknown HCl solution (a practice experiment).

4. Determination of a gravimetric chloride unknown (a practice experiment).

5. Synthesis of a cobalt-ammonia-halide compound.

6. Analysis for percent halide in the synthesized compound.

7. Standardization of a hydrochloric acid solution.

8. Analysis for percent ammonia in the synthesized compound.

9. Standardization of a sodium thiosulfate solution.

10. Analysis for percent cobalt in the synthesized compound.

Note:  Not everyone does the same experiment each week.  Sequences will be assigned.

Important Dates:                                                            

6/05/06           Week of the start of Labs.  First Lab--Introduction & Computer Exercises
                                (You must bring your computer to this laboratory.)
6/28/06           Midterm  (Last day to withdraw without academic penalty.  
                                If you withdraw from the Laboratory
                                course, you must also withdraw from the Lecture course.)
7/19/06            Last Scheduled lab day
7/24/06            Lab Clean-up and Check-out.  No experiments to be performed.
7/26/06            Laboratory Reports are due.  See schedule below
8/02/06            Classes End.

Due Dates for Laboratory Reports:

If placed in my mailbox, please ask the secretary to initial and place date and time on the report.  Late reports incur a 10% per day of the week penalty.

Course Policies:

Students must abide by policies in the Clayton College & State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

Attendance is required in lab until you have completed the experimental portion of this course.

Participation in laboratory activities involves an inherent risk of injury. In the event of injury, the student should immediately inform the instructor or laboratory technician who will file an accident report. The injured party will be given first aid through the Campus Public Safety Officer and be referred to the appropriate medical facility for follow-up.

Safety glasses must be worn at all times in the laboratory.

As a courtesy to your classmates:

• Arrive to lab on time and stay until the exercise is complete.
• No children or visitors are allowed in the laboratory.
• Turn off beepers, phones, radios and other electronic devices.
• No eating, smoking or drinking in the laboratory. No food is allowed in the laboratory.
• Be aware of all policies and procedures.

No extra credit work will be assigned.

Grades will not be communicated via email or telephone.

Reports are due on the dates indicated in the schedule. There is a 10% per working day penalty for late labs. Under no circumstances will reports will be accepted after the last day of classes as printed in the College schedule.

Last update: May 15, 2006