Spring 2009 Chemistry 10301 City College of New York

General Chemistry I

Instructor: Professor Gosser

Phone: 212-650-8375 email:

Office Hours for Prof. Gosser

Monday after lecture (Marshak Café)

Friday after lecture (Marshak Café)

Textbook and supporting materials

  • General Chemistry, Hill, Petrucci, McCreary and Perry, Fourth Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.
  • Solutions Manual, Hassell.
  • Peer-Led Team Learning General Chemistry, Gosser, Strozak, Cracolice, 2nd edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.
  • Catalyst, Laboratory Manual, Berlant
  • Blackboard Course Web Site

Calculator: A simple scientific calculator is necessary for CHEM 10301.

Course Description:

An in-depth introduction to the fundamental laws and techniques of chemistry for majors in science and engineering. Topics include: measurement; stoichiometry; the gaseous state; thermochemistry; atomic structure; and chemical bonding; redox reactions; solids, liquids and intermolecular forces. This course is the first of a two-semester sequence and consists of three components (lecture, laboratory, and workshop), which are integrated to provide a comprehensive but thorough introduction to the principles of chemistry. The laboratory component introduces students to common laboratory methods including visible spectroscopy and titration. The workshop is a peer-led, small group discussion of concepts and problem solving in general chemistry.

Sect CC M,W,F 11:00-11:50AM MR-2

M 12:00-01:50PM MR-1307

T 10:00-11:50AM MR-1001

Sect CC2 M,W,F 11:00-11:50AM MR-2

M 02:00-03:50PM MR-1307

TH 10:00-11:50AM MR-1003

Sect CC3 M,W,F 11:00-11:50AM MR-2

M 04:00-05:50PM MR-1307

W 12:30-02:20PM MR-1003

Grading Scheme

40%Semester Exams: Exam I (Chapters 1-3), Exam II (Chapters 4-6), Exam III (Chapters 7-10)

35%Final Exam (Chapters 1-10 cumulative)

15%Laboratory

10%Workshop: Workshop quiz, Weekly Class Quiz (Friday).

Homework: Assigned for each chapter and due at workshop following the last lecture of each chapter. Students must hand in homework to workshop leader, who will grade it as (10) complete, (5) incomplete, or (0) no assignment.

Note: There will be no make-up semester exams.

Schedule: Unit from PLTL Book / Chapter from Text / Problems from Text

Week 1 (Jan 26,28,30): Unit 1, Chapter 1: 24, 26, 36, 38b, 50, 52, 54, 60, 64, 81

Week 2 (Feb 2,4,6): Unit 2, Chapter 2: 22, 26, 32, 40, 50, 52, 58, 64, 68

Week 3 (Feb 9,11,13):Unit 3, Unit 4, Chapter 3: 18a,f, 22a, 24c, 34, 36, 54a-e, 58a, 64, 74

Week 4 (Feb 18,20): Review & Exam I: Wednesday, Feb 20

Week 5 (Feb 23,25,27) :Unit 5: Chapter 4: 26, 30, 37, 46, 54, 58, 68, 73, 78

Week 6 (March 2,4,6): Unit 6, Chapter 5: 22a,b, 32, 38, 48, 54, 68, 74, 82, 94

Week 7 (March 9,11,13): Unit 7, Chapter 6: 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 56, 66, 68, 72

Week 8 (March 16,18,20): Review & Exam II, Friday, March 20

Week 9 (March 23,25,27): Unit 8 Chapter 7: 32, 38, 40, 46, 48, 60, 62, 64

Week 10 (March 30, April 1,3): Unit 9 Chapter 8: 24, 28, 36, 44, 46, 50, 58a,b

Week 11 (April 6,20,22,24): Unit 10 Chapter 9: 26, 28, 34, 36, 40, 46, 48, 50, 54, 70

Week 12 (April 27,29, May 1): Unit 11, Chapter 10: 22, 24, 30, 44, 46, 54, 62

Week 13 (May 4,6,8): Review & Exam III, Friday, May 8

Week 14 (May 11,13,15): Review for Final

After completing this course, students should be able to:

  1. Perform unit conversions and express values with the correct number of significant figures.
  2. Express and interpret atomic symbols, atomic number, mass number, and molar mass.
  3. Understand and apply concepts of balancing chemical reactions, and be able to perform stoichiometric calculations.
  4. Define enthalpy and solve thermochemical equations.
  5. Express quantum energy levels of atoms and relate these to atomic properties.
  6. Draw and interpret Lewis-dot structures, predict three dimensional structure of simple molecules, and draw simple molecular orbital diagrams.
  7. Apply the ideal gas law to problems involving changes in moles, pressure, volume and temperature.
  8. Solve problems involving solution chemistry such as titration and precipitation.
  9. Write a laboratory report including data and analysis.
  10. Be able to conduct a variety of experiments (titration, spectroscopic) including accurate recording of results and preparation of calibration curves.
  11. Be aware and follow the safety requirements in a chemical laboratory.
  12. Analyze molecular modeling and graphic plots using computers.
  13. Communicate concepts and problem solving of chemistry that have been presented in lecture.
  14. Work as part of a problem solving team to solve chemistry problems.
  15. Apply chemical principles to selected applications in life science or technology.

Topics covered:

1. Matter and Measurement2. Atoms, Molecules, and Ions

3. Stoichiometry 4. Solution Chemistry

5. Gases 6. Thermochemistry

7. Quantum theory and the hydrogen atom8. Electron-configuration & Periodicity

9. The Chemical Bond 10. Structure of Molecules

Study Guide:

  1. Plan at least two hours of study (reading the chapter and completing the problem sets -“homework”) time for every hour you spend in class.
  2. Do the problem sets individually (without help from friends or classmates) initially. Please look at a related problem in the solution manual to help you solve the assigned problem. If you are still unable to solve the problem, then ask a friend, classmate, workshop leader, TA, or Professor for help.
  3. Read the book and take notes as you read.
  4. Attend workshop: finish the Self-Test, finish the workshop problems, and ask questions.
  5. Seek help when you have difficulty (office hours, tutoring, study groups with workshop).

How to succeed in General Chemistry… or A word to the wise…

Learning Chemistry is cumulative – if you miss a class you will miss a significant building block, which will affect your exam performance, scores, and final grade as well as your ability to understand material in future courses. So, attendance for all lectures, labs, and workshops while required is critical to your success. Further, your own practice by doing homework and becoming engaged with the material as well as engaged with your classmates in workshop and lab discussions of chemical concepts will help you build your knowledge to succeed.

Statement on Academic Integrity

The CCNY policy on academic integrity will be followed in this course. The document can be found through the CCNY website by clicking on Current Students  Academic Services  Policy on Academic Integrity. All students must read the details regarding plagiarism and cheating in order to be familiar with the rules of the college. Cases where academic integrity is compromised will be prosecuted according to these rules. In addition, the Policy of Academic Integrity can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin 2007-2009 in Appendix B.3 on page 312.

Quotes to study by!

Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler
Albert Einstein

Mixing one's wines may be a mistake, but old and new wisdom mix admirably
Bertolt Brecht

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg
Abraham Lincoln

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