General Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, II
CHEM 1112
Summer Session II 2002

Course Description: A laboratory experience that focuses on laboratory techniques and data collection and analysis. The experience reinforces and promotes an understanding of the principles of kinetics, chemical equilibrium, synthesis, thermodynamics, and electrochemical systems. One hour of recitation and three hours of laboratory per week. 

Course Pre-requisite:                                   CHEM 1311 and 1111
             Pre- or Co-requisite:                       CHEM 1312 

Course Objectives: To develop proper laboratory skills and techniques for safely acquiring experimental data. An understanding and application of chemical principles are used for interpreting the meaning of collected data. 

Course Topics: Included, but not limited to, the development of laboratory techniques, the collection and analysis of observed and recorded data, and the exposure to chemical phenomena, both qualitative and quantitative.

This Chemistry 1112 Syllabus is intended to be informational. The instructor reserves the right to amend or modify the syllabus in any manner that he/she deems necessary and is in the best interest of Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Policy for dropping the course: On or before July 29, a letter grade of "Q" is recorded. After July 29, a letter grade of "Q" is recorded if all but two of the experiments have been satisfactorily completed (>70%) and a >60% average quiz grade has been achieved by the date of the drop; a letter grade of "F" is recorded if either of the two criteria has not been achieved by date of the drop.

************************Laboratory Schedule*****************************

 Formal Due Dates: An Equilibrium Constant, July 18
                                  Antacid Analysis, July 23
                                  Determination of a Rate Law, July 30
                                  Borax, August 6
                                                                      

 ·························· Rules and Requests ·························

1       Attendance at all recitation sections and laboratory sessions is not only requested but is required for a comprehensive understanding and successful completion of the chemical principles of CHEM 1112. 

2.      Appropriate safety attire and appearance are required in the laboratory, including eyewear, clothing, and shoes.

3.      No laboratory makeup sessions are offered (under any circumstances)! Refer to "The Team, Team Member Absences" for details. Extenuating circumstances will be handled on an individual basis in advance by the laboratory coordinator. A phone call is considered advance notice!

4.      For Non-Formal Lab Reports: the Lab Preview is due at the beginning of the laboratory session. The Data Sheet for the experiment is to be completed and submitted at the end of the laboratory session. Exceptions to this (or any other) policies are granted only by the laboratory coordinator. 

5.      For Formal Lab Reports the lab preview is due at the beginning of the laboratory session. The Formal Report (including the Data Sheet) is due at the beginning of the laboratory session the following week the completion of the experiment.

6.      The use of tobacco of any form is prohibited in recitation and laboratory.  Food of any form, including gum, is not permitted in the laboratory.  All cell phones, walkmans, CD-Players are prohibited during laboratory period.

······················· Laboratory Information ·······················  

The Laboratory Team: 

Teams of 3 students will combine their talents in the laboratory. The Laboratory Assistant will form the lab teams. As a student you will remain with your team until it is determined that the team is not functioning at an "adequate" level of expectation.

For Non-Formal Lab Reports, each member of the team will submit the Lab Preview assignment for each experiment at the beginning of the laboratory session. One Lab Preview will be selected at random for scoring the team and all team members will receive the same grade. As a team member, you are to work cooperatively with other team members before the laboratory period to ensure agreement. No "second opinion" Lab Previews will be scored.

For Non-Formal Lab Reports, each team member will submit the Data Sheet at the end of the laboratory period; one of the team member's Data Sheet (again, selected at random) will be closely scored and all team members will receive the same score. The scoring of the Data Sheet will include the solutions to the end-of-experiment Questions.

For Formal Lab Reports, some teamwork is expected in the data collection and analysis, but individual and original Formal Reports will be submitted and each will be graded.

As a team member, you are to discuss the techniques and procedures for collecting the data and the method(s) used for their analysis. Team discussions are an integral part to understanding the experiment and for interpreting the responses to the Questions. The intent of teaming is not to establish a division of labor in the laboratory, but rather to use the collective talents of the team members for a more thorough understanding and completion of the experiment. The Laboratory Assistant will provide guidance to team participation as needed/requested.

Team Member Absences:

If a team member is absent or fails to submit a Lab Preview or Report Sheet, a grade of zero will be recorded for the corresponding part for that student (not the team). The Lab Previews and Data Sheets of the remaining team members will be scored as if the entire team were present. Grossly deficient Lab Previews or Report Sheets may be assessed an individualized penalty at the discretion of the Lab Assistant/Lab Coordinator.

If team participation falls to 2 (or less) for two consecutive laboratory sessions, teams may be changed by the Lab Assistant. The newly formed teams will remain for the duration of the team's existence.

The Formal Lab Report:

A Formal Report is required for each student. The Formal Report must be written using a word processor. The Report is to be viewed as a document that reflects your commitment and effort toward the understanding and presentation of a critical analysis and interpretation of experimental data. The narrative of the Report is to be grammatically correct to the level of that required for any English composition.

The format of the Formal Report:

  Late Formal Reports: For everyday that your formal report is late the lab assistant will deduct 20 points.   NO EXCEPTIONS!

························· Quiz Information ··························· 

A short (15-20 minutes) individual recitation quiz covering material from recently completed or "in-progress" experiments will be given on the recitation days indicated on the Recitation Schedule. All quizzes will be scored. All quizzes will contain 10% bonus questions. Calculators (with basic scientific capabilities) are required for the quizzes. The Final quiz will be comprehensive, with questions similar to those presented in the previous quizzes. The Final quiz includes a 20% bonus (in questions). 

 ····························  Grading Schedule  ·························

The experimental score (70% of total score) is based upon the grades of the Laboratory Reports. The grading of each team's Laboratory Report is distributed according to:

The Laboratory Assistant, in conjunction with the Laboratory Coordinator, will determine the remaining other of each students laboratory report according to his/her performance (intangibles, such as lab technique, role as a team player, cooperation, and attitude).

The Quizzes and Final Quiz total 30% of the final score. In order to obtain a good final grade, it is essential to perform well in the quizzes. To do well in the quizzes, it is critical to study the important concepts covered in the laboratory manual and during recitation. Practicing with the review quizzes (not just reading them!) is a very important step towards your preparation for the quizzes. It is in your best interest to understand well the experiments since this will help you both with the quizzes and with the labs.

Graded materials: The graded Laboratory Reports and Quizzes are kept for the instructor's records. Students can check their grades and their graded materials with the Laboratory Assistants or with the Laboratory Coordinator.