CHM 111L Spring 2012

Information Page

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

ChemPages may be accessed here:  http://www.chem.wisc.edu/deptfiles/genchem/lab/labdocs/Index.htm

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 8)
The spreadsheet for the Thermochemistry Lab (Lab 10)
The spreadsheet for the Gas Laws Lab (Lab 11)
 

Recitation and Lab Announcements

 

Week 16: April 23, 2012
What to turn in:  Gas Laws Lab (including spreadsheet, formula page, and graph), and the lab portfolio.  The lab portfolio consists of ALL graded lab work.  You may keep any lecture material with grades on it. The lab final exam will cover just the topics shown here--and will take place in lab.  Note the thermochemistry and gas laws will not be on the test, and as a result, the test will only be worth 160 points, instead of 200.

Week 15: April 16, 2012
What to turn in:  Thermochemistry lab (pages 5 and 6), the spreadsheet, and the formula page.  Note that you will have to write an abstract for this experiment (click here for the abstract grading rubric--the file will open as a pdf file).

How to prepare for lab:  To prepare for the prelab quiz, read the “Gas Laws” experiment, answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages modules on the

You will also perform check-out.

Week 14: April 9, 2012
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.

What you need to do to prepare for lab:  Read the "Thermochemistry Lab” (lab #10), answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages on the “Coffee-Cup calorimeter” and the “Thermometer”.  Expect a prelab quiz.  Heads-up:  you will have to write an abstract for this lab, too.  Details will be forthcoming.

Week 13: April 2, 2012
 What to turn in:  The Solutions and Titrations Report (pages 9-11, plus a spreadsheet and formula page). You must write an abstract for this experiment, too. PLEASE see the section in your lab manual about writing abstracts BEFORE writing this--and look at the rubric as to how it will be graded. (Click here for the rubric.)

What you need to do 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.  Expect a prelab quiz based on the reading, prelab questions, and the ChemPages modules on

Week 12: March 26, 2012
NOTE: in recitation on March 28, you will have the lab midterm exam! This is worth a HUGE number of lab points (as much as all the labs so far--combined! Click here for the exam topic list!

What to turn in:  The Alum report (pages 9 & 10).

What you need to do to prepare for lab:  Read Lab 8 (Solutions and Titrations).  This lab is normally performed over a two week period, but you will only do Week #1.  To prepare for the prelab quiz, read the lab, answer the prelab questions, and look at the ChemPages modules on the following topics:

Week 11:  March 19, 2012
 What to turn in:  The “Molecular Structures and Shapes” lab report (pages 5-8).

What you need to do 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). You will have a prelab quiz covering your readings from Experiment 4, the prelab questions, as well as the ChemPages module.  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 10: March 12, 2012
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 the Molecular Shapes lab and answer the prelab questions; expect a prelab quiz.  No ChemPages to look at in preparation, but keep up with the current lecture material since it is directly related to this!

Week 9: March 5, 2012
Spring Break, No Lab!!!

Week 8:  Feb 27, 2012
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 at the end of the experiment).  The calibration curve needs to have a formal title (include your name in parentheses), labeled axes, and the R2/equation of the line--if you made a "quickie" version in lab, that is not enough.

How to prepare for lab:  Read “Periodic Properties”, answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages module on the “Gas Burner” (read the lab manual appendix on the gas burner, too).  Expect a prelab quiz.

Week 7:  February 20, 2012
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.  

How to prepare for lab:  To prepare for the quiz:  read the "Hydrogen Emission" lab and answer the prelab questions; view the ChemPages modules on

Week 6:  February 13, 2012
What to turn in:  The Paper Chromatography lab report pages 7-9 AND the chromatogram. 

What you need to do to prepare for lab:  Read Experiment 3 (Physical Properties) and do the prelab questions.  There are no new ChemPages modules to view and you will not have a prelab quiz.

Week 5:  February 6, 2012
What to turn in:  The BLT report (pages 13-15), spreadsheet, AND formula page.  Be sure to use formulas for all calculated values on the spreadsheet.
How to prepare for lab:  Read the Paper Chromatography experiment, answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages module for:

You will have a prelab quiz.

Week 4:  January 30, 2012
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 AND A PRELAB QUIZ.  The safety quiz will cover the lab tour, the reading in the safety lab, and the video.  You absolutely need goggles for this lab--be sure to have them or you won't be able to do the lab procedure.  To prepare for the Basic Lab Techniques (BLT) quiz:  read the experiment, answer the prelab questions, and view the ChemPages for:

Reading the text, viewing the movies, and answering the questions should be sufficient for you to learn the material.

Material for your pre-lab quiz will come from the reading, the prelab questions, AND the ChemPages.

Week 3:  January 23, 2012
Finally!  Lab will meet!  Bring your lab manual, calculator (CASIO fx-260Solar), goggles, close-toed shoes, and a way to save data from a computer (USB drive is the easiest).  You can prepare by reading the safety lab.

Week 2:  January 16, 2012
There are no labs this day due to observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Reflect on the legacy of this pioneer for civil rights.

Week 1:  January 9, 2012
No labs the first week of classes. Get the lab manual when it becomes available from the bookstore, get goggles with impact rating of at least Z87.1 (goggles are different from glasses in that goggles must have a strap to keep them on your head), and the required calculator for the course (CASIO fx-260Solar).