syllabus/General Chemistry Laboratory II, NSC506
Spring 2017
Todd Smith, Allison Turner
Science 112
Thursday, 1:30-4:50
Readings: Journal articles; laboratory protocols
Course Description
The laboratory sessions for the second semester will continue to be an opportunity for students to hone their lab skills and to explore topics and ideas discussed in class. Students will work in teams to devise, conduct and analyze experiments on the synthesis and properties of biofuels, and bio-remediation. We will use primary literature to provide some context for our experiments, and we will continue to focus on employing the principles of green chemistry in our lab experiments. Through this laboratory course you will become familiar with basic lab equipment and protocols. You also have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of chemistry concepts discussed in class (especially the idea that science is a process), and to continue to hone your problem-solving skills.
Goals of the course
Through this laboratory course you will become familiar with basic laboratory equipment and protocols. You also have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of chemistry concepts discussed in class (especially the idea that science is a process), while gaining experience designing experiments and analyzing data, and presenting results. You will also continue to hone your skills at working in groups and your general problem-solving skills.
Grading Policy
Students are expected to attend all labs and to complete all assignments on time. I will not accept late work. The assignments are: three lab write-ups (30 pts each) and keeping a lab notebook (see below), which will be evaluated at the end of the semester, and will be worth 30 points. Attendance is also counted: 5 points off of your final, total score for each lab missed. The grade received in the course will be the ratio of points earned over points possible: 90% & above = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D. Diligent and conscientious participation in lab and on assignments will boost borderline grades to the higher grade.
Attendance policy: you must attend all laboratory sessions. There will be no lab make-ups. If you miss a lab session you must write a 2-page paper on the topic that was explored in that particular lab session – it is your responsibility to write this paper and submit it to Todd or Allison at the next week’s lab session.
Laboratory Notebooks
For this course you will need a dedicated laboratory notebook. For each laboratory session you should record the purpose of the lab, what you did in the lab, and what you found. Your notebook is a place to keep detailed notes of these activities in a format that will allow you to make sense of your lab activities at a later date, e.g. when writing a laboratory report at 3 a.m.
Projected syllabus
Date | Topic | Assignment
1/19
Intro: Course organization and goals
1/26
Laboratory notebooks are part of the process of science | Bring a notebook!
Caffeine as a marker of human activity
Introduction to phytoremediation
2/2
Designing a model wetland – what supplies do you need?
2/9
Constructing your wetland
2/16
Applying samples to wetland | Notebook check
Measuring caffeine in the GC
2/23
Sample the wetland, analyze caffeine content of samples
3/2
Modify wetland or experimental protocol | Draft report due
3/9
Sample analysis and clean-up | Notebook check
Spring Break
3/30
Changing color with electricity – electrochromic compounds | Final wetland report is due
4/6
Selecting compounds and system for adjusting color
4/13
Building the electronic color change system | Draft report due
4/27
Clean-up, semester debrief & evaluation | Report and notebooks due
