Appreciation of Chemistry
Chemistry 100
(Spring Semester 2003)
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
SYLLABUS and COURSE POLICIES
Instructor:Dr. C.Marvin Lang, Professor of Chemistry; Department of Chemistry;
University of Wisconsin –Stevens Point
Office:Science Building D-145; Telephone: (715)346-3609 or –2888
E-mail: URL:
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 11:00 – 14:00; Tuesday & Thursday 09:00 – 11:00 Other times by appointment. Fridays may be a “freer” time for me than other days and may fit into your schedule. Some informal “help sessions” may also be scheduled during the semester. Please do not hesitate stopping by my office even if it isn’t during scheduled office hours.
Class Meeting
Times: Lecture hours are 11:00 Tuesday and Thursday in Science Building A-121. All students must be enrolled in either of two sections of Laboratory. Laboratory Section 1 meets 12:00 – 14:00 Tuesday in C-128 Science Building while Section 2 meets 12:00 – 14:00 Thursday in C-128. You are expected to attend all class sessions for which you are enrolled.
Required
Texts: Chemistry in Context – 4th edition by C. L. Stanistski, L. P. Eubanks, C. H. Middlecamp and N. J. Pienta; A Project of the American Chemical Society and McGraw Hill Higher Education (2003). Available from University Text Rental
Laboratory Manual for Chemistry in Context by W. J. Stratton, G. A. Steehler, N. J. Pienta and C. H. Middlecamp; A Project of the American Chemical Society and McGraw Hill Higher Education (2003). Available for purchase from the University Bookstore.
Additional
Materials:A calculator capable of performing basic scientific calculations … including exponentials, logarithms and square roots … is required. Having a laboratory apron or frock is a good idea for use in laboratory sessions. Consider procuring one.
WWW
Assistance:As a registered student in Chem 100, you will have access to the “Premium McGraw-Hill Online Resources” which are keyed to Chemistry in Context –4th Edition. There is a registration card in the front of the book with instructions for registration. PLEASE use the card but DO NOT LOOSE the card. Also, please make note of the UserID and PASSWORD that you use when registering.
Appreciation of Chemistry
Chemistry 100
Dr. C. M. Lang
SYLLABUS and COURSE POLICIES
This course is a unique course in chemistry. First, it is designed for non-science majors; second, the chemistry will be taught on a “need-to-know” basis; and third, the course looks at more than just chemistry … it looks at the interplay between chemistry, your surroundings and life in general. Consequently, this course especially invites knowledge from other fields whether that is history, economics, business, law, the social sciences, psychology, education, the arts, or things gleaned from the public press. I can and will provide the chemistry. You will have to integrate its ramifications into your decision-making process. I probably have little expertise in your chosen academic field and perhaps you have little in mine. But, together we should experience a sort of synergism with all of us learning. Much of the context for our perspective on chemistry will be “the environment” … a topic which has been and still is very much in the news. When all is said and done, hopefully you will have a better understanding of scientific principles and an appreciation for the academic discipline of chemistry. But, more importantly, I wish for you to be a wiser, more critically analytical citizen and a responsible steward of our precious natural resources.
Written Assignments
There will be three (3) written assignments for Chem 100. All submitted papers should include a cover page and be typed or constructed using a word processing program. Papers should use “Times New Roman” font - size 12, with margins of 1.5 inches on left and 1.0 inch on right, 1.0 inch header and footer, and be single spaced with double spacing between paragraphs. All papers are due on or before announced deadline dates. Late paper will be severely penalized. One paper is to be constructed from each of the following categories.
Category A – “Consider This:” or “Sceptical Chymist:” are scenarios presented within the chapters of the text. A two to three page paper (excluding cover page) is too be constructed from one of the following scenarios:
1.12, 1.14, 1.242.17, 2,21, 2.243.6, 3.8, 3.27, 3.28, 3.32
4.12, 4.18. 4.305.4, 5.5, 5.24, or 5.25
The due date for Category A papers will be announced. (DUE DATE: ______) You should note that some of the scenarios are written as if there is going to be a class discussion, debate, etc. on this topic. You are to ignore that impression and write a paper that focuses on the issue raised in the scenario. If, for example, the scenario refers to two positions on an issue, you should “detail” those two positions and remember, above all, to discuss the chemical principle(s) involved.
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Written Assignments (continued)
Category B – Submit an article from a recent newspaper or legitimate news magazine which has an environmental theme and that makes at least one statement that is erroneous or misleading. Remember to include full bibliographic information regarding the article. Use a highlighter or someway show the statement(s). Then, on an accompanying page or two, state why you think the statement is incorrect, false or misleading. Submit you position with explicit support from at least three sources. A due date for this assignment will be announced. (DUE DATE: ______)
Category C – Select a Risk/Benefit issue related to one of the topics below. Remember, risk has often been coupled to cost where cost is not necessarily financial.
PCB’sRadon
Food preservation by irradiation“Organic” vs. Inorganic” gardening
Leaded vs. Unleaded gasolineLead poisoning and various sources
Artificial sweetenersFood additives
“Green Chemistry”Drinking water – Chlorination and Fluoridation
Stringent Character of FDA rulingsPaper or Plastic packaging
Stringent Character of EPA rulingsElectric cars
Nuclear powerRecycling
Health foods vs. “regular” foodsNuclear energy as a home energy source
Clearly spell out the risks and benefits of the issue selected and evaluate the risk/benefit ratio. Give support for your position. Cite sources in correct bibliographical form at the end of your paper. Number the sources sequentially and refer to them by number and page as a footnote reference. As an example, if page 11 of reference 4 is the source of a quotation, put (4:11) as a superscript following the quotation. I.e., “…………..”4:11 The cover page of this assignment should contain information in the following form:
Name, title of the assignment, date submitted and a 150 word maximum summary (abstract). The summary should include a statement of the problem or issue, reason(s) why the issue is important, risks identified, benefits identified, risk/benefit ration and your reflection on its significance.
This is to be a 3 to 5 page paper, excluding references. The references should include at least 5 significant sources other than Chemistry in Context – 4th. In general, this paper will have these parts: Abstract, issue, risk (perceived or real), benefits, and analysis of the risk-benefit ratio. Again, the due date will be announced. (DUE DATE ______)
Problem Assignments
There will be no assigned problems to be graded. Rather, you are encouraged to work through the various exercises within the body of each chapter (“Your Turn”, Consider This” and “Sceptical Chymist”) There are numerous “Questions” at the end of each chapter … many of these questions are numerical problems which emphasize the material covered in lecture or in the text. As many of these items as possible ought be worked out so as to enhance your understanding of the principles being taught. They will not be collected but you should keep an organized notebook of such items. Solutions to these items can often be found “on the web” at “Premium McGraw-Hill Online Resources” (
Laboratory Experiments
The experiments are an integral part of this course and you will note that many are scheduled. Often students find that laboratory experiments give concrete insights into understanding chemical concepts. Thus, experiments help to clarify and extend the thinking process. It is my hope that you find them interesting, challenging and even fun. You are expected to be prepared to do the experiment(s) on the scheduled date. This means you will have to carefully study the relevant material in the text and laboratory manual prior to conducting the experiments.
Most experiments will be taken from Laboratory Manual for Chemistry in Context by W. J. Stratton, G. A. Steehler, N. J. Pienta and C. H. Middlecamp; A Project of the American Chem-ical Society and McGraw Hill Higher Education (2003). This manual is available for purchase from the University Bookstore. Report forms are an integral part of the manual and selected pages are to be torn-out and submitted for evaluation. Reports shall be turned-in at the close of the laboratory session. Evaluation of your laboratory reports will emphasize evidence of prior planning; i.e., it is hoped that nothing has to be “rewritten.”
Bring your textbook and laboratory manual with you every class period as we will likely have many opportunities to use each. Bring a calculator also as it could save you hours of work.
Further, all students must follow the safety rules as established by the UW-SP Chemistry Department. Read over the section on safety on page vii of the laboratory manual and all hand-outs provided in Laboratory C-128. Generally, contact lenses should not be worn in a chemistry laboratory. At all times, students must wear goggles and a protective garment (such as a lab apron, lab frock, lab coat, etc.) when present in the laboratory. Remember … the safety rules are designed to protect you from your neighbor as well as from yourself! (Think about that for a moment.)
Examinations and Quizzes
There will be two (2) “hour examinations” and a cumulative final examination. The dates for the examinations are as follows:
1st Hour Examination – Thursday, March 6 covering material from Chapters 1, 2, 3.
2nd Hour Examination – Thursday, April 17 covering material from Chapters 4, 5, 6.
Final Examination (2 hours) – Wednesday, May 14, comprehensive but with an emphasis on material from Chapters 7, 8, 9.
These times are fixed. No provisions have been made for “make-ups.” Further, there may be unannounced “short” quizzes conducted during the semester. I have not yet determined whether or not to include them in this course. If so, there would be six (6) at maximum. As with the examinations, no provisions have been made for “make-ups.”
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Attendance and Class Participation
It is expected that you will be present at all class sessions for which you are enrolled unless suffering from illness. In general, it is not possible to “make-up” missing a class. However, see me about making special arrangements if a laboratory session is unavoidably sassed.
Remember, the “Your Turn”, Consider This” and “Sceptical Chymist” sections of your textbook give you an opportunity to apply chemistry to everyday life or, perhaps offer a view of things from a different perspective. It is in these cases where your background, prior experiences and initiative can really shine. Come to class prepared for taking an active role in our consideration of the issues in these sections.
Grading
Two (2) hour examinations @ 100 points each …………….200 points
Final examination @ 200 points ………………………….….. 200
Three (3) writing assignments @ 100 points each …………… 300
Fifteen (15) lab reports @ 25 points each ……………………. 375
Class participation and Quizzes ……………………………… 125
Total ………………………….. 1200 points
The grading scale will be no more stringent than …
90 – 100% A
80 - 90% B
70 – 80% C
60 – 70% D
less than 60% F
Appreciation of Chemistry
Chemistry 100
Dr. C. M. Lang
Tentative Schedule – Spring 2003
DateLecture*Laboratory**
Week#11/21 & 1/23Chp#1 – The Air We BreatheCheck In “Density”
Week#21/28 & 1/30Chp#1 – The Air We BreatheExpts #1 & #3
Week #32/04 & 2/06Chp#2 – Protecting the Ozone LayerExpt #5
Week #42/11 & 2/13Chp#2 – Protecting the Ozone LayerExpt #6 - Parts I & II
Week #52/18 & 2/20Chp#3 – Chemistry of Global Warming“Microscale Gas Chem”
Week #62/25 & 2/27Chp#3 - Chemistry of Global WarmingExpt #9
Week #73/04 Chp#3 - Chemistry of Global WarmingExpt #7
3/06First Hour Examination (Chps 1, 2, 3)
Week #83/11 & 3/13Chp#4 – Energy, Chemistry, and SocietyExpt #11
3/18 & 3/20SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES
Week #93/25 & 3/27Chp#4 – Energy, Chemistry, and SocietyExpt #10
Week #104/01 & 4/03Chp#5- The Water We DrinkExpt #14 or Expt #16
Week #114/08 & 4/10Chp#6 – Acid Rain – Threat & SolutionsExpts #18 & #19
Week #124/06Chp#6 – Acid Rain – Threat & SolutionsExpt #20
4/17Second Hour Examination (Chps 4, 5, 6)
Week #134/22 & 4/24Chp#7 – The Fires of Nuclear Fission“Smoke Detectors”
Week #144/29 & 5/01Chp#8 – Energy From Electron TransferExpt #22
Week #15 5/06 & 5/08Chp#9 – World of Plastics and PolymersExpt # 23; Check Out
Week #165/14 (Thurs)Final Examination, 08:00 – 10:00, A-121
*Chemistry in Context – 4th edition by C. L. Stanistski, L. P. Eubanks, C. H. Middlecamp and N. J. Pienta; A Project of the American Chemical Society and McGraw Hill Higher Education (2003). Available from University Text Rental
**Laboratory Manual for Chemistry in Context by W. J. Stratton, G. A. Steehler, N. J. Pienta and C. H. Middlecamp; A Project of the American Chemical Society and McGraw Hill Higher Education (2003). Available for purchase from the University Bookstore.