Welcome to CH131 Introductory Chemistry for Engineering Sciences. This syllabus is designed to answer many questions you may have. Please read it over and then keep it handy to use throughout the semester. If you have questions about the material or the course, please email Dan Dill at dan@bu.edu.
Staff
The course is given by Professor Dan Dill, SCI/450, dan@bu.edu.
Discussion is led by graduate teaching fellow David Stelter dstelter@bu.edu) and lab is led by graduate teaching fellow Raavi Raavi (raavi@bu.edu).
Meeting times
The course consists of three required components:
- There are four two-hour lectures each week, Monday–Thursday, 10 am–11:50 am in PRB/150. The first lecture is Tuesday, May 21.
- There are three one-hour discussions each Tuesday–Thursday, 9–9:50 am in PRB/150. The first discussion is Wednesday, May 22.
- There are two three-hour laboratory sessions each week, Monday and Wednesday, 1–4 pm in SCI/268.The first laboratory session is on Wednesday, May 22, at 1 pm in SCI/268.
If you have not yet registered for all of the three components of the course, please do so right away. All grade records are based on the registrar information, so we require that you be officially registered and that you attend the lecture, discussion and lab.
Office hours
In addition to the scheduled meeting times, the following open office hours will be held.
- Discussion, David Stelter, Tuesday, 2–3 pm, SCI/344
- Lab, Ronghai Cheng, Tuesday, 1–2 pm, SCI/344
Required course materials
- Oxtoby et al., Principles of Modern Chemistry, 8e. This text is available as an eBook, from https://www.cengage.com/c/principles-of-modern-chemistry-8e-oxtoby
- The Turning Technologies ResponseCard RF Clicker (ISBN 978-1-934931-68-4).
- laboratory notebook, Hayden McNeil Publishing, ISBN 1-930882-23-8
- approved safety goggles, item #9301, also required in organic chemistry
- laboratory coat, also required in organic chemistry
Be aware that it is a Massachusetts State Law that safety goggles are mandatory in the laboratory. In the lab, all students who wear contact lenses should wear prescription glasses under their safety goggles. Contact lenses are forbidden in the lab. Also, all students must wear the appropriate clothing: long pants, long sleeves and closed shoes (no sandals or flip-flops).
You are also required to have your own calculator for this course. It should display scientific (exponential) notation and have logarithm functions. Be sure to bring it to discussions and laboratory sessions.
Course schedule, exams, quizzes and labs
The detailed course schedule is at
http://quantum.bu.edu/courses/ch131-summer-1-2019/schedule.html
There will be two lecture exams, lecture quizzes, discussion quizzes, and a course final exam as follows:
- Lecture exams: Monday, June 3 and Monday, June 17
- Lecture Quizzes: Every lecture, based on material to be covered in the lecture
- Discussion quizzes: See schedule.
- Labs: See schedule.
- Final exam: Thursday, June 27
There are no makeup quizzes, exams, or quizzes. The final exam will not be given at any other time and failure to take the exam will result in 0 for the exam, so please make end-of-semester travel plans accordingly. A missed quiz or lab counts as 0.
The course grade will be computed with weighting 30% lecture exams, 15% lecture quizzes, 10% discussion quizzes, 25% lab, and 20% final exam.
Academic Conduct
All students at Boston University are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity. It is the responsibility of every student to be aware of the Academic Conduct Code’s contents and to abide by its provisions, as detailed at
http://www.bu.edu/academics/resources/academic-conduct-code/
Please note carefully that we treat cheating with zero tolerance. The consequences of cheating are at a minimum that the score for work on which cheating occurs counts as 0, and a letter detailing the cheating is sent to the student's advisor, the dean of CAS, and placed in the student's academic file. Possible further consequences are referral to Academic Conduct Committee and additional penalties, including possible expulsion from university.
Course Web and Email
The course Web is at
http://quantum.bu.edu/courses/ch131-summer-1-2019
Should you have question about the course, please email them to dan@bu.edu.
Each student is required to have an email account on the Boston University computer network. It is easy to activate your account, if you have not already done so (there is no charge to use your account):
Please note that use of university computing facilities is governed by the BU Conditions Use and Policy on Computing Ethics,
http://www.bu.edu/tech/policies/computing-ethics/
Abuse can result in severe sanctions, including fines and academic probation or suspension.
What we will cover
We have designed the course as an introduction to general chemistry that integrates laboratory explorations with the development of the analytical tools necessary to understand and guide those explorations. Some particular aspects that we will emphasize are
- mathematics as a tool for the exposition and manipulation of chemical concepts
- the connection between microscopic models of matter and its macroscopic properties
- the connections between applications from pure and applied research and from technology to chemistry
Our goal is to help you share in our excitement for and the wonder of science, to challenge you to excel, to give you a sense of empowerment about science, and to encourage you to continue study in science—and hopefully chemistry. We intend to focus especially on what are the core ideas of chemistry.
Lecture
We will cover portions of the following chapters and related problems of Oxtoby et al.
- Chapter 1. The atom and modern chemistry, Appendix A and Appendix B:
Lecture 1;
Problems 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35; p. A.7a: 1, 7, 11, 13, 17; and page. A.20a: 7, 9, 11
- Chapter 2.1--2.6. Chemical formulas, equations, and reaction yields:
Lecture 2 and 3;
Probelms 1, 5, 7, 11, 13, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37
- Chapter 3.1--3.11. Chemical bonding: The classical description:
Lectures 3 and 4;
Problems 9, 15, 21, 23, 33, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 65, 69
- Chapter 9.1--9.6. The gaseous state:
Lectures 5 and 6;
Problems 5, 9, 11, 19, 21, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 55
- Chapter 10.2--10.6. Solids, liquids, and phase transitions:
Lectures 6 and 7;
Problems 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 35, 37, 39, 43, 45, 47
- Chapter 11.1, 11.5--11.6. Solutions:
Lectures 8 and 9;
Problems 1, 3, 5, 11, 41, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61
- Chapter 12.1--12.4, 12.6--12.7. Thermodynamic processes and thermochemistry:
Lectures 9, 10, and 11;
Problems 1, 7, 9, 11, 17, 19, 21, 27, 31, 33, 35, 39, 43, 45, 47, 55, 57
- Chapter 13.1--13.7. Spontaneous processes and thermodynamic equilibrium:
Lectures 11, 12, and 13;
Problems 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 25, 29, 31, 33, 35, 57
- Chapter 14.1-14.9. Chemical equilibrium:
Lectures 13 , 14, and 15;
Problems 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 31, 33, 39, 41, 45, 49, 51, 53, 61, 63, 65, 67
- Chapter 15.1--15.4, 15.6. Acid-base equilibria:
Lectures 15 and 16;
Problems 1, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 51, 53
- Chapter 16.1--16.4, 16.6. Solubility and precipitation equilibria:
Lecture 17;
Problems 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33
- Chapter 17.1, 17.2, 17.4, 17.6. Electrochemistry:
Lectures 17, 18, 19 and 20;
Problems 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 51, 53, 57
Laboratory
The detailed laboratory schedule is here.
The laboratory part of the course will let you see first-hand chemical principles and processes in action. It will also give you experience with some of the methods scientists use to do chemical research. Your laboratory will consist of the following. The worksheet for each lab is provided as a PDF link below.
- Hydrates
- Charles' Law
- Freezing-point depression
- Calorimetry
- Equilibrium
- Acid-base titration
- Electrochemistry
Here are the two appendices referred to in the labs:
Homework assignments
- Chapter 1: 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35; p. A.7a: 1, 7, 11, 13, 17; and page. A.20a: 7, 9, 11
- Chapter 2: 1, 5, 7, 11, 13, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37
- Chapter 3: 9, 15, 21, 23, 33, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 65, 69
- Chapter 9: 5, 9, 11, 19, 21, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 55
- Chapter 10: 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 35, 37, 39, 43, 45, 47
- Chapter 11: 1, 3, 5, 11, 41, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61
- Chapter 12: 1, 7, 9, 11, 17, 19, 21, 27, 31, 33, 35, 39, 43, 45, 47, 55, 57
- Chapter 13: 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 25, 29, 31, 33, 35, 57
- Chapter 14: 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 31, 33, 39, 41, 45, 49, 51, 53, 61, 63, 65, 67
- Chapter 15: 1, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 51, 53
- Chapter 16: 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33
- Chapter 17: 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 51, 53, 57
Grading
Your scores for each part of the course will always be available to you on Blackboard, at https://goo.gl/91zpuu. Also there will be the running total of your overall course score, computed as described below.
Each lecture exam will be graded on a 100-point scale. No makeup exams will be given. The lecture exams count for 30% of your course grade.
Each lecture quiz will count equally. Lecture quizzes are based on the material to be covered each day and so that is to be prepared for beforehand. Lecture quizzes will be administered using the TurningPoint respond pad only, so please bring your response pad to each lecture. No makeup quizzes will be given. The lecture quizzes count for a total of 15% of your course grade.
Each discussion quiz will count equally. These quizzes are meant to assess your understanding of topics covered in previous lectures and homework. If you are absent, the missed quiz counts as 0. No makeup quizzes will be given. The discussion quizzes count for a total of 10% of your course grade.
The lab score counts for 25% of your course grade. The lowest grade single lab (or one missed lab) will be dropped.
Questions about grading
Any question concerning the grading of a lecture exam, lecture quiz, or laboratory report must be brought to the attention of your discussion or laboratory teaching fellow during the class session in which it is returned to you; material will not be accepted for regrading afterwards.
Indicate on the face of the exam, quiz or laboratory report the questions you wish re-graded and your reasons for believing that they were mis-graded. The entire work will be re-graded. Be sure you have made no alterations in your work. We occasionally photocopy your graded work as a check. Please note that the penalties for academic misconduct are severe, as detailed in Boston University's Academic Conduct Code, available from CAS Academic Advising, Room 105.
Course grade
The course grade will be determined as follows:
| Contributions to overall course score | |
|---|---|
| Lecture exams | 30% |
| Final exam | 20% |
| Laboratory | 25% |
| Lecture quizzes | 15% |
| Discussion quizzes | 10% |
We do not assign letter grades to exams, labs, or quizzes. Your overall course letter grade is assigned based on your total score for the course. There are no fixed percentages of A grades, B grades, etc. Rather, we assign course letter grades based on our assessment of how someone should have performed to receive an A, B, etc.
Learning chemistry requires persistence, diligence and hard work. We suggest that you plan to spend about 30 hours per week on this course over and above the scheduled contact hours. If you are willing to devote this time, and you spend it wisely and effectively, you will be able to perform your best in this course. Here are some specific suggestions that we have found helpful.
Lecture preparation
You will get the most out of lecture if you have studied the textbook readings, related web exercises and assigned problems beforehand.
A particularly effective way to do this is to first read through several pages of the material in the course texts. Next, when you think you have understood what you have read, set the texts aside and then make a written summary of what you have understood. It is important to carry out this step without looking at the texts. Finally, compare what you have written with the material in the texts, to identify those parts that are unclear or where your understanding is incomplete.
If you follow this procedure, you will have a quite detailed idea of what will be covered in each lecture, and, most important, you can be particularly alert to those parts that are unclear for you and, if the lecture still doesn't clarify things, you will be able to ask questions right in lecture. You may even want to collect your summaries in a journal that you can then update and refine throughout the semester. and so make an excellent set of notes for review prior to the final exam.
Lecture follow up
After each lecture, you should work through your lecture notes to be sure you understand everything that was covered. You may even want to rewrite your notes. That way, as you do so, you can test your understanding. If material is still unclear, then be sure to ask for specific help with it, in email, office hours or discussion.
Homework
Chemistry is a quantitative science and understanding of its concepts is obtained by solving problems. The text and supplementary materials offer many problems. For success you should do as many of these as you can and if you run into difficulties ask your teaching fellow or professor, in email, office hours or discussion. You will get the most out of lectures if you have worked through problems related to material to be covered before lecture.
Discussions
Discussion is a particularly good time to bring up problems you haven't been able to solve. Chances are others are experiencing similar difficulties and you will be able to learn from their questions too. It is essential that you have worked on your own to solve your problems, because then you will be most able to understand their solution.
Exams will be returned and discussed during these discussions. Any questions about exams or problem sets should be addressed to your discussion TF during this time.
If you have concerns
If you are experiencing difficulty, please come to see your lecture professor without delay. Often, students in this course perceive that they are doing poorer work than they actually are. Particularly for first-year students, we recognize that it may be difficult for you to judge your academic standing in the course, since we do not use the same type of grading scheme with which you may be familiar from high school. That is why it is important for you to speak to us before making any major decision, such as dropping the course.
If dropping the course appears to be in your best interest, we still would like to work through the decision with you. We are also happy to advise you on appropriate choices for your academic program. If you drop the course by Tuesday, May 28, no record of it will appear on your transcript. After that date, until the end of the day Thursday, June 13, you may drop the course but with a W grade (withdrawn). If you must drop the course, note that CH131 will be given during Fall 2019.
Copyright
The syllabus, course descriptions, notes, handouts, and all class lectures, are copyrighted. Except with respect to enrolled students as set forth below, the materials and lectures may not be reproduced in any form or otherwise copied, displayed or distributed, nor should works derived from them be reproduced, copied, displayed or distributed without the written permission of the copyright holder. Infringement of the copyright in these materials, including any sale or commercial use of notes, summaries, outlines or other reproductions of lectures, constitutes a violation of the copyright laws and is prohibited.
Students enrolled in the course are allowed to share with other enrolled students course materials, notes, and other writings based on the course materials and lectures, but may not do so on a commercial basis or otherwise for payment of any kind. Please note in particular that selling or buying class notes, lecture notes or summaries, or similar materials both violates copyright and interferes with the academic mission of Boston University, and is therefore prohibited in this class and will be considered a violation of the student code of responsibility that is subject to academic sanctions.