I will be discussing the chemistry of this article in class on Monday. You might find it interesting…
Chemistry 201: Prep for Quiz One
Here is a check list to help you prepare for the first quiz on Monday:
1. Be able to state the difference between a hypothesis and a theory and a law.
2. Be able to determine if a change is a physical change or a chemical change (hint: chemical changes involve the making and/or breaking of chemical bonds).
3. Know the following metric prefices: Giga, Mega, Kilo, milli, micro, nano, pico (and you should also know centi- for centimeters).
4. Be able to do density problems. There is a drill sheet on density in the review section of the handouts.
5. Review the rules about significant figures but I will not be taking points off for errors with sig. figs. in this first quiz.
6. Be able to describe electrons, protons and neutrons (charge, location, relative mass) and also be able to describe the three main types of radioactive decay products (alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays)
7. Review isotopic notation. Pay special attention to the equation 2.2 on page 45 and Example 2-3.
8. Be able to convert grams to moles and moles to grams.
9. Be able to determine how many particles are present given the mass of a compound.
10. Be able to calculate percent by mass of an element in a compound e.g. what percentage by mass is oxygen in water.
Chemistry 201: Rusty Squirrels
Here is a photo taken in Duluth, MN. This is an area full of iron ores – so much so that the land is the color of rust.
Here are the rusty squirrels I mentioned in class. The squirrels have figured out how to blend in with their lovely coats that are a perfect match for iron oxide.
Taconite is the most common ore in this area.
Chemistry 201: A new semester begins…
Because of the holiday Chemistry 201 met only once and spent a fair amount of that first class taking a test. Why? Because in order to be successful in Chemistry 201 it is critical to have a good foundation in Basic Chemistry – names of the elements, basic structure of matter, simple chemical equations, nomenclature of inorganic compounds, the metric system and it is also critical to have a good foundation is basic algebra – rearrange equations of solve for an unknown, carry out conversions, use proportional reasoning. Any student who is not very comfortable with these skills should immediately seek out support and hit the books! (and the Internet – there are so many useful videos, worksheets, explanations)
On Monday we will have our first lab so be sure to download and print it! We’ll be analyzing an unknown white powder – one of several common household white powders: sugar, baking soda, etc.
Having a laboratory notebook is very, very important! Please bring it to every class.
New Semester Begins in 26 days…
It seems a long way off but now is the time to being to prepare for your new classes. Early preparation can consist of light review, reading and media viewing that is more fun than work, browsing around the Internet following your interests. The idea is to keep your mind active and develop your curiosity. Once the semester begins you will not be able to control the pace of the learning you are expected to achieve – but you can now!
Chemistry Grades Submitted
All grades for both Chemistry 201 and Chemistry 203 are posted in Blackboard and have been submitted in PeopleSoft. I will be on campus on Wednesday afternoon if you wish to pick up your lab books. Otherwise I’ll hold on to them until June. Please stop by and collect them. Have a wonderful holiday.
Chemistry 201 and 203: Grading Update
Dear Students,
It is Friday late afternoon and I am still grading lab reports and lab notebooks. It takes time and I ask for your patience. I will keep you posted and let you know when the grades are posted to Blackboard. This will not happen before Monday.
Chemistry: Summer Internship at Northwestern
Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates at Northwestern University
The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Northwestern University offers a 9-week, paid summer research experience for undergraduates. The students are paired up with some of the leading research professors in science and engineering fields. Research areas include ceramics, nanocomposites, photonics, nanoparticles, and molecular electronics. While there are many REU programs, the NU-MRSEC stands out in offering students an interdisciplinary research experience. Students currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in science or engineering who are US citizens or permanent residents are eligible. The program dates this year are June 18 to August 17, 2012; Applications are due Feb. 15, 2012. Participants are paid a $4500 stipend and a travel allowance and on-campus housing is provided. For more information,
please visit our website:
http://www.mrsec.northwestern.edu/content/educational_programs/reu.htm
If you have any questions, please contact our program assistant, Nic Tat
at mrc-reu@northwestern.edu, 847-491-3606.
Chem 201: Molarity/Molality Conversions
Here is a link to some very good practice problems with answers on the topic of solution concentrations:
http://www.chemteam.info/Solutions/Molality-from-density-and-percent.html
Also I’ve created two handouts which summarize the steps in these conversions:
1. Conversion from molarity to molality
2. Conversion from molality to molarity
Chem 201 and 203: Pre-exam office hours
Since both classes have exams this week I’ll be available for questions and problem solving practice as follows:
9:00 – 11:00 Monday – focus on Chem 201
11:00 – 12:30 Monday – focus on Chem 203
5:00 – 6:00 Monday – focus on Chem 203
Chem 201: New Practice Exam Available
I’ve posted a fourth practice exam under student resources/exams on my website that covers solution concentrations and colligative properties. There is also a key to this exam. Happy studying!
Chem 201: Outline for Exam Three on Monday
1. Review section 4.2 Concentration Units: ppb, ppm, Molarity.
2. Review section 4.3 Dilutions: M1V1=M2V2
3. Review section 4.4 Electrolytes vs. Non-electrolytes
4. Study Figure 10.2 regarding sizes of ions.
5. Be able to put compounds and molecules in order of increasing intermolecular interactions: ion-ion, ion-dipole, H-bonds, dipole-dipole, dipole-induced dipole, dispersion
6. Related intermolecular forces to physical properties such as mp and bp.
7. Identify all the regions of the phase diagram.
8. Know more ways of expressing solution concentration: molality, percent by mass.
9. Be able to interconvert concentration units.
10. Carry out calucations for all colligative properties: vapor pressure lowering, boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, and osmotic pressure.
11. Use the van’t hoff factor correctly.
Chem 201: Problem Solving Session
Solutions problems and collegative properties problems take lots of practice. I will be in my office tomorrow at 9:00 ready to solve problems for whomever arrives!
Chem 201: Lab Posted
Determination of Molar Mass by Freezing Point Depression is now available on my website.
Physical Science 107: Current Public Issues in Physical Science
This Spring I will be teaching a course for the first time – Physical Science 107. This course is IAI approved as a 3 credit hour General Education science course (no lab). I’ll be presenting the course in four units: Air, Water, Earth and Fire. The course will exam a variety of fascinating and very current issues: Climate Change, Sustainability, Energy, Environmental Concerns – whatever is in the news. The goal of the course will be to develop the scientific literacy of the non-scientist and to allow students to gain an in-depth understanding of complex problems that affect all of us from the perspective of the scientist. I’ll be developing the syllabus and course website over the next few months. Please let others know about this course and let students know that they can email me, jwalker@ccc.edu, with any questions. I’m looking forward to teaching this course and anticipate many interesting demonstrations, lively discussions and fun projects.
Chem 201: Exam Two
Exam Two
Chapter Six
All types of problems with PV=nRT and P1V1/T1=P2V2/T2
Problems about gas density and the relationship to molar mass.
Graham’s Law of effusion (relationship with rate of effusion and molar mass)
The general conditions required for ideal gas behavior.
Description of common gases (as listed on worksheet)
Chapter Seven
Frequency/Wavelength conversions
Identification of areas of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Relationship between energy and wavelength/frequency
Three main experiments: Photoelectric Effect, Blackbody Radiation and Emission/Absorption Spectra
Quantum numbers and relationship to properties of orbitals (size, shape, orientation in space)
Aufbau principle (1s22s2…)
Chapter Eight and Nine
Lewis dot structures
Periodic Properties: size and ionization energy
VSEPR Theory
Formal Charge
Shape and polarity of molecules



