Back to previous Page.. Syllabus for the Chemical Science Laboratory (CHEM 100L, 1 credit) August1, 2002
Notes: 1. This syllabus can be found at http://webpages.shepherd.edu/evolker/main.htm
2. The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. It is not a contract.
Instructor: Dr. Eugene J. Volker, 304 876 5285 (office) , evolker@shepherd.edu. Outside of class, communicate with me by email, if possible.
Textbook: "Chemical Science Experiments" by E. J. Volker, available from the book store.
Purpose: To introduce students to experiments that either
A. Illustrate important chemical principles and techniques or B. can be done in the public schools.
Content: The following experiments were performed the last time the course was offered. Modifications to this list are likely.
Safety in the laboratory. Writing the laboratory notebook.
Weighing pennies. Statistics with Microsoft Excel.
Determination of melting points and boiling points.
Determination of the density of a liquid and of a solid.
Thin layer chromatography of food coloring.
Thin layer chromatography of drugs.
Chemical magic: The properties of carbon dioxide.
The behavior of ice and water on heating. Graphing with Excel.
Building models of hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons.
Isolation of lactose from milk. Characterization by melting point, solubility, and Benedict's test.
Can a floating stick measure the salt concentration of water? Constructing a calibration curve. Determination of an unknown concentration.
Distillation of aqueous solutions under atmospheric and under reduced pressure.
Determination of the formula weight of an unknown acid by titration.
Identification of dangerous drugs with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer.
Attendance: You are expected to attend every laboratory period. If you are absent from the laboratory, report the reason to the instructor immediately upon your return to school. Arrangements will be made at that time to make up the missed work.
Notebook and safety goggles: 1. Purchase a thin11 by 8 1/2 inch spiral notebook and a pair of safety goggles from the Bookstore.
2. You have to keep a record of every experiment, demonstration, film, or model-building exercise in your notebook.
3. Use the format described in "The Laboratory Notebook" handout. Pay particular attention to the "Results" and "Discussion" sections.
Grading:
The laboratory grade will be composed of four graded experiments in the laboratory notebook (80 points) and a 20 point comprehensive laboratory quiz attached to the final exam in the lecture..
An "A" is given to the student who obtains 87.5% or more of the 100 points possible for the course, a "B" if he/she is within the next 12.5% bracket, and so on. You can compute your grade at any time during the course. Let's say you have a 15 and an 19, respectively, on the first two graded experiments. The maximum possible scores being 20 and 20, you are at (34/40)*100=85% and you have earned a "B".