CHM 111L Fall 2009

Information Page

A copy of the syllabus for CHM 111L is here.

The MSExcel spreadsheets needed for the class are below. 
For best results, click on the link and SAVE it to your computer or USB drive, then reopen using MSExcel.
These spreadsheets will not change all semester, so you can download all of them at once, instead of waiting until you perform the experiment.  What if you didn't bring your USB drive?  Try emailing the file to yourself, so you will have a copy as a back-up. 
The spreadsheet for the Spreadsheet Assignment (Lab 0)
The spreadsheet for the Basic Lab Techniques exercise (Lab 1)
The spreadsheet for the Physical Properties Lab (Lab 3)
The spreadsheet for the Solutions and Titrations Lab (Lab 5)
The spreadsheet for the Thermochemistry Lab (Lab 10)
The spreadsheet for the Gas Laws Lab (Lab 11)
 

To view video content of ChemPages, follow these directions:

Recitation and Lab Announcements

Week 16:  Nov 30, Dec 3, 4 (Mon, Thur, Fri), 2009
What to turn in:  "Gas Laws” report pages , PLUS the spreadsheet, PLUS the formula page, PLUS the graph (be sure it has a title AND that the axes are correctly labeled).  The lab portfolio is also due during the last lab period--turn back ALL graded assignments (reports, exams, quizzes, spreadsheets, abstracts, etc.).

Note:  You will take the lab final exam (same format as the lab midterm exam) in lab.  Click here for the lab exam topic list.

You will also perform check-out in lab--be sure to take your personal items (goggles, pens, pencils, paper, etc.) out of your drawer and replace and broken or missing glassware.  This is worth 10 lab points! 

Week 15:  Nov 26, 27 (Thur, Fri), 2009
No labs on Thursday or Friday due to Thanksgiving--LAB IS MEETING on Monday.

Week 14:  Nov 19, 20, 23 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  "Thermochemistry” report pages 5-6, PLUS the spreadsheet, PLUS the formula page, PLUS the abstract (click here for the rubric).

How to prepare for lab:  Read “Gas Laws” and answer the prelab questions.  View the ChemPages modules on the

Heads up!  Get your portfolio ready to turn in (see syllabus).  Also, your exam topic list for the final exam is here.

Week 13:  Nov 12, 13, 16 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  "Molecular Shapes” report pages 5-8.

How to prepare for lab:  Read “Thermochemistry” and answer the prelab questions.  View the ChemPages modules on

You will also need to write an abstract for this experiment--here's the grading rubric.

Heads Up:  Students will need to turn in a portfolio of all graded work from this semester during the last week of lab.  The portfolio should include all graded lab reports, the abstract(s), the safety quiz, the safety exercise, and the spreadsheet exercise.


Week 12:  Nov 5, 6, 9 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  Pages 7-9 of the "Chemistry of Copper Lab."  Weigh your copper and calculate the percent yield at the start of lab, then turn in your lab report.

How to prepare for lab:  Read the Molecular Shapes lab (experiment 9) and answer the prelab questions. Be sure to keep current with the lecture material since we will be just covering the background for this lab in lecture at the same time.


Week 11:  Oct 29, 30, Nov 2 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
THE LAB MIDTERM EXAM WILL BE IN RECITATION THIS WEEK!!! (Click here for the exam topic list.)

What to turn in:  The “Solutions and Titrations” lab report (pages 9-11, a spreadsheet, and a formula page—be sure to use formulas for all calculations).  Skip questions 4a and 4b on page 9 (you did not do this part of the experiment)--but answer all other questions!  Also, the abstract for the alum experiment is due.  See posting for last week and the appendix in the lab manual for guidelines on writing an abstract.

How to prepare for lab:  Read the "Chemistry of Copper" experiment and answer the prelab questions.  Notice that in the reading for the lab, you will see examples of synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, and double replacement reactions (just like in lecture!!!!).  View ChemPages on "Filtration, Vacuum" (already should have done this for the alum lab) and for "pH paper".


Week 10:  Oct 22, 23, 26 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  The alum lab report (pages 7 and 8).  The alum abstract will be due in lab NEXT week (Oct 29, 30, Nov 2)--the same week as your lab exam.  Click here for a grading scheme.  Be sure to read the lab manual appendix which gives TWO examples of abstracts and some "rules to remember".

What you need to do to prepare for lab:  Read Lab 5 (Solutions and Titrations).  This lab is normally performed over a two week period, but you will only do Week #1.  Read the lab, answer the prelab questions, and look at the ChemPages modules on the following topics:

HEADS UP!!!  THE LAB MIDTERM EXAM IS NEXT WEEK IN RECITATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!  OCT 29, 30,  & NOV 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CLICK HERE FOR THE TOPIC LIST!!!

Week 9:  Oct 15, 16, 19 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  The Periodic Properties Lab (pages 11-14) AND two graphs assigned in lab  Be sure to COMMENT on the periodic trends that you see.

How to prepare for lab:  Read Experiment 4 (Alum from Waste Aluminum Cans) and answer the prelab questions.  Please review the ChemPages module on "Filtration, Vacuum" since you will be using similar equipment in this week's lab (you may skip the part on "Connecting the trap" since you will not be using a trap, but you will be using a water aspirator, so pay particular attention to those parts).  Also, you will need to bring in a piece of aluminum can that has been cleaned/scraped of the outer plastic/paint coating.  Using a piece of sand paper, steel wool, or a brillo pad works well.  See the lab manual for details (step 1 of the procedure).  Doing this procedure BEFORE lab will save you quite a bit of time...

Week 8:  Oct 8, 9, 12 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  Nothing.  No labs due to Fall Break.

How to prepare for lab:  No lab on Thursday or Friday *OR* Monday Oct 12 (to keep the labs synchronized).  Note, however, there WILL be lecture on Monday!


Week 7:  Oct 1, 2, 5 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  "Hydrogen Emission" experiment (pages 9-12) AND the calibration curve (Excel plot) AND the energy level diagram (use the graph paper given to you by your instructor).

How to prepare for lab:  Read “Periodic Properties”, answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages module on the “Gas Burner”.


Week 6:  Sept 24, 25, 28 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  The Physical Properties report including the RAW DATA and post lab questions (pages 5-7).  You will also need to turn in the spreadsheet (and a formula page) for this lab.  You will also make a graph of the class averages versus the concentrations of the standard NaCl.  Please include an appropriate title (SEE PAGE TWO IN THIS EXPERIMENT!!!!), label the axes, and draw a trendline for the graph.  If you have questions, please ask for help.  

What you need to do to prepare for lab:  Read Experiment 7 (Hydrogen Emission), answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages modules on "The Spectroscope, Hand-Held" and "Vernier Scale" (inside the "Scales" module).

Week 5:  Sept 17, 18, 21 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
What to turn in:  The PC lab sheets and post lab questions (pages 2-7 to 2-9) with the chromatogram stapled to page 9.

What you need to do to prepare for lab:  Read Experiment 3 (Physical Properties), answer the prelab questions, and, if you haven't already viewed the ChemPages modules on "the balance", "the volumetric pipet", and "the standard bulb", do so before lab.


Week 4:  Sept 10, 11, 14 (Thur, Fri, Mon), 2009
(no lab on Monday Sept 7--Labor Day)
What to turn in:  The BLT lab sheets and post lab questions (pages 1-13 to 1-15) are due along with a spreadsheet showing your calculated values, AND a formula page of your spreadsheet.

What you need to do to prepare for lab: 
Read Experiment 2 (Paper Chromatography), answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages module on "chromatography, paper".  Your experiment will be a little different because you will not use string to suspend the paper, but otherwise it is pretty much the same.  Watch all parts of the module. 
 

Week 3:  Aug 31, Sept 3,4, 2009
Turn in:  Safety lab (pages 7 & 8) and the spreadsheet assignment (computed version, formula page, and the graph).

Prepare for lab:  BE READY FOR A SAFETY QUIZ covering the lab tour, the reading, and the video.  Furthermore:  read the Basic Lab Techniques (BLT) experiment, answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages for:

Currently, the ChemPages are ONLY available on the computers in the Smith 4th floor computer lab (we are trying to get the program moved to Blackboard or other web-based location).  Due to recent restrictions, the computer lab is closed for printing, but viewing the videos, reading the text, looking at the pictures, etc. should be ample enough to familiarize you with the glassware and techniques.  The lab is technically closed, but as long as there is not a class using the computer lab, you have permission to view the ChemPages.

Week 2:  August 24, 27-28, 2009
You need to go to both recitation and lab this week.  You will perform the safety lab and watch a safety video, check into lab drawers, take a lab tour, get assigned numbers for a spreadsheet assignment, etc.  Starting this week, bring safety goggles (not safety glasses--the goggles must have a strap to keep them on your head) and close-toed shoes.

Week 1:  August 20-21, 2009
For this first week, there are no labs or recitations, but do get the lab manual from the bookstore, along with goggles and some type of device to save files from a computer (USB drive or learn how to save files to your Windows Live account).