DESCRIPTION
Chem 333L is a
one-credit laboratory course covering analytical techniques important to
environmental testing. Volumetric,
electrochemical, chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques are covered. Students learn how to prepare samples and how
to make accurate and precise measurements.
Particular attention is given to data analysis and evaluation of
data.
TEXT
handouts
CLASS HOURS
Tu 6:10 - 9:00 PM
OFFICE HOURS
MWF 10:10-11:00, MW 3:10-4:00, T 1:10-2:00, F 12:10 – 1:00 or by appointment
Office
:
web
page:
http://WEBPAGES.SHEPHERD.EDU/DDILELLA/
PREREQUISITES
CHEM
333 should be taken concurrently.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students are expected to attend all
laboratory sessions. Students must get
their lab notebooks signed during each period.
Makeup labs will not be administered without a valid written excuse. Labs that are missed with a valid excuse may
be made up at a time determined by the instructor. Students may NEVER work in a lab without
permission of the instructor.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Cheating in all
its forms, including plagiarism and cheating on visual work, is considered an
academic matter and will result in automatic dismissal from the course and will
be recorded on the official transcript.
LAB NOTEBOOK
The primary purpose
of a lab notebook is to have a complete record of what you did in lab. In principle, you should be able to use the
combination of the written lab procedure and the lab notebook to figure out
exactly what happened in an experiment.
The notebook entries need to be complete enough so that another person
should be able to reproduce your work using this information. If you were to lose a lab report you should
be able to completely reproduce it based on the information in the
notebook. The notebook is placed where
you first write all data and record all observations.
Format
The lab notebook
should be a bound notebook, not a loose-leaf binder or a ring
binder. When you start a new notebook,
use a pen to number each page from the first page through about fifty
pages. Put the number in the upper,
outside corner of each page. Never
remove pages from this notebook. All
entries should be in pen. All entries should start on the first page
and then continue on consecutive pages.
On the first page,
put your name and course number . You
may want to put you address and/or phone number here in case your book is lost.
In your notebook, each lab exercise
should start on a new page. The first
page for each experiment in the notebook should have the following at the top
of the page:
Title of experiment, date,
partners names (if applicable).
Each addition page used should have the date and the title.
Always write in pen. If you have mistakes put a single line
through the part in error. You should
still be able to read the original entry since people sometimes cross out
things that they later realize were correct.
All data collected in the experiment should be written first in
the notebook. Don’t worry about having a
perfectly neat and clean notebook. A
real lab notebook never looks impeccably neat and clean because, if it is used
correctly, it will probably be stained and have a fair amount of crossed-out
data.
All
data should have appropriate units and an appropriate number of significant
figures. For example, the weight of a
penny on an analytical balance should be reported as 2.5345 g. If the weight had been 2.5000 g it should be
entered with four decimal places. 2.5 g
does not mean the same thing. It is
usually best to organized data into a table if possible. In that case the units can be placed at the
top of the column.
You
do not have to write the complete procedure for every part of the
experiment. You can assume that the
details are in the lab manual. However, any changes in procedure from those in
the manual should be indicated. All data
and observations should be written directly into the notebook. This information should be easily correlated
with the lab procedure as written in the manual. It is often easiest to organize data if you
prepare a table in the notebook before starting the experimental work.
Although not
required, it is good practice to include some sample calculations in the
notebook.
Graphs and Charts etc.
The graphs or
charts that you include in your reports can be duplicated and included in the
notebook if you want.
REPORTS
Reports
are due one week after the completion of the experimental work. 2 points will be deducted from the score for
every day that the report is late. The
use of computer spreadsheets for data tabulation, analysis and creation of
graphs is strongly encouraged. A properly
annotated printout of a spreadsheet is sufficient for the lab report.
Reports should include the following:
The first page should
include your name, the title and number of the experiment and the dates on
which the experiment was performed and submitted.
ALL data collected must be recorded in your notebook and
must be included in the report.
Tables
All data should appear in
Tables.
All
tables should include a title.
All
columns in tables should include headings.
All
tables entries should have units unless the quantity is unit-less
Estimated
uncertainties should be give for all measured quantities.
Plots
All plots should have
titles.
The axes on plots should be
labeled and the dimensions (units) of all quantities should be indicated.
All plots should be
computer generated. Plots should be
constructed so that they can be read to the maximum possible precision. Adjust the x and y ranges so that they are
slightly larger than those needed to contain all of the data points.
Calculations
A sample calculation
showing every step used to treat the raw data should be presented. It is neither necessary nor desirable to show
repeated examples of the same basic calculation. Describe the purpose of each step and
indicate clearly the source of every quantity which you use in the calculation.
Appropriate units should be used throughout the calculation. The sample calculations can be included on
the spreadsheet printout. Be sure that
purpose of each is clearly indicated.
Deductions will be taken as follows
missing
or improper units - 5 pts
missing
data - 5 pts
missing
sample calculations - 5 pts
GRADING
The
final grades are based on the lab reports and on the notebook. There are no tests or quizzes. Reports are graded on a scale from 0 to 100
and all have equal weight. The score on
a report depends on the accuracy of your determination of the unknown and the
clarity and completeness of the report.
Typically the unknown is worth 20% of the grade but in a few cases, it
is worth more. The instructor will give
details as the experiments are done.
Grading for Course
reports 90%
notebook 10%
FINAL GRADE
The
final grade will be based on the following scale
A 90 %
to 100 %
B 80 %
to 89+ %
C 70 %
to 79+ %
D 60 %
to 69+ %
SAFETY
The experiments have been
designed with safety as a major consideration. However, the equipment and
procedures will be unfamiliar to you and mistakes can and will happen. Be sure that you understand the hazards associated
with the equipment and reagents before starting an experiment. Do not be afraid to ask questions. SAFETY
GOGGLES OR GLASSES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.
STUDENTS MAY NEVER WORK ALONE IN A LAB.
LABS
Laboratory
experiments will focus on environmentally important samples such as soils,
ground water, and plant matter.
Some of the techniques used will
include
Atomic
Absorption Spectroscopy
High
Performance Liquid Chromatography
Gas
Chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy
pH
measurement
Ion
Chromatography
UV Visible
Spectroscopy