Chemistry 112 FYC

(12/7/04): (1) The key to PS 10 is posted below. (2) Here is the Test 4 preview sheet. Remember that the test will be this Thursday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in our normal classroom (Olin-Rice 370). You may fill and use one side of one piece of paper as a cheat sheet. (3) I will have office hours from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday. (4) The lab report for Experiment 7 has been canceled. See my discussion of this assignment. Remember that your spreadsheets and notebooks are due to Rob by Friday 10/17. (5) There will be a dinner party at my house this Friday starting at 6 p.m. Directions to my house will be provided on Friday.

(12/2/04): Please note the following: (1) Our final unit exam will be on Thursday, December 9, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in our regular classroom. You are allowed to fill one side of one piece of paper with whatever reference information you deem valuable, and use it during the test. (2) There will be a class party, including dinner and entertainment, on Friday, December 10. More details to follow.

(11/22/04): A couple of people have requested extensions due to long-standing medical issues. After much thought and discussion with Rob and Emma, I have decided on the following compromise: (1) I would really encourage people to meet the original deadline, which is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24. (Emma will be leaving for Madison at 2:00 p.m., so you should e-mail your paper to her (ewhitcomb@macalester.edu) if you don't have a hard copy ready by 2 p.m.) As an incentive, I will increase whatever Emma gives you on the first draft by a half grade if you meet the original deadline. (So, for example, if Emma gives you an A- on content and a B+ on writing, I will raise those grades to A and A-, respectively.) (2) However, if by Wednesday night, you will only have something "embarrassingly pathetic" (Rob's phrase), turning in such a first draft to Emma will just be a waste of her time (and yours). Therefore, I will give you until Monday, November 29, at 11:59 p.m., to turn in (or e-mail) the first draft of the paper. Note that Emma will not have time to grade reports after the Thanksgiving break, so I will grade the first draft and meet with you to discuss it. (3) I will be in e-mail contact over the break to answer questions. I may be available for one-on-one appointments over the break, but I can't guarantee that. (4) Absolutely no first drafts will be accepted for credit after Monday, November 29, at 11:59 p.m.! I would be willing to read a late first draft and give you feedback, but you will have forfeited those 50 points of your grade.

Click here for information on the final paper (including links to the articles)

(11/15/04): (1) Remember that Problem Set 8 is due on Tuesday by 5:00 p.m. (2) Here is a preview sheet for Test 3. Note that (a) the test will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in Olin-Rice 370 and (b) you should bring your textbook as a reference during the test. (3) Here is the schedule of advising appointments. Please e-mail me to sign up for a time.

(11/8/04): (1) The due date for the final version of Lab Report #2 (on Experiment 6--Reaction of Al/Zn with HCl) has been postponed to Monday 11/15. Here is a list of Emma's appointments with all eight lab teams. (2) Remember that there will be no class meeting this Thursday (11/11)--no lab, no lecture, no nothing! I will be available to answer questions about your final papers. (3) PS 8 was handed out today. See below if you need a copy of the assignment.

(11/1/04): (1) Midterm Grade Distribution (2) Feedback on 1st Lab Report (plus announcements)

(10/22/04): (1) Remember that the MO lab is due to Rob on Monday. (2) The computer lab is now open from 2-5 p.m. and from 6-9 p.m. on Sundays. (3) Test 2 will be from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday 10/26 in Olin-Rice 350. Here is the preview sheet. (4) The tutors in the chemistry computer lab now have access to the solutions for all problems in Atkins and Jones. You can consult with them as you do extra problems from the text.

(10/15/04) The final version of your formal lab report is due on Tuesday 10/19. Please leave (a) your report and (b) your lab notebooks at my office by 5:00 p.m. that day. If you are not finished with your molecular orbital lab (Experiment 5) on Tuesday, I will make a photocopy of your Experiment 3 notebook content and return the notebook to you Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. You have until Monday 10/25 to turn in Experiment 5. But you should really finish it up before then, since you have Test 2 the following day, Tuesday 10/26.

(10/8/04) (1) Problem Set 5 was handed out today. The handout details a slight change in the course schedule: we will be skipping Chapter 4 on gases. (2) Remember to make an appointment to talk next week with your writing assistant, Emma Whitcomb (ewhitcomb@macalester.edu, x8281) about your lab report.

(Thursday 9/30/04): (1) Here is a preview sheet for Test 1. Note the information that I will give you on the exam. Also note that virtually all the points on the test will be awarded based on what we have covered in class and on Problem Sets 1, 2, and 3. That is, coverage of "summer" material will be minimal. (2) Remember my regular office hour this afternoon from 4-5 p.m. and my special office hours tonight from 7-9 p.m.

(9/20/04) (1) Remember that PS 3 is now due on Wednesday 9/29 (your syllabus says 9/28). (2) Remember to complete the Advance Study Assignment (ASA) for Experiment 2 before you come to lab this Thursday. (3) I will re-grade homework assignments if you lost points due to significant figure errors. Please turn them into my office.

(9/17/04): In case you haven't been able to buy your notebooks for General Chem lab, I just got word that the Highlander has replenished its supply. Remember that Chem 112 will start its "real" lab work this coming Thursday (9/23), and Chem 111 starts real lab work the following week (9/28 and 9/30).Thanks to Clara for the heads-up on the notebooks!

(9/14/04): (1) I am postponing the due date for PS1 one day. It will now be due Thursday at 5 p.m. (2) I would be happy to give you a copy of the chapter from the Chem 111 text (by Silberberg) that covers the same material. Just send me an e-mail, and I'll make a copy for you. Again, let me assure you that you are not responsible for any material that is not covered in lecture or in homework.

(9/5/04): (1) Because some students did not get the summer reading and assignment until a few days ago, I am postponing the due date of the Summer Problem Set to Monday, September 13, at 5 p.m. in my office. (2) Remember that we will meet for class this Thursday in Humanities 302. We will spend about an hour on a computer and information services orientation. We will then move to Olin-Rice 350 for an hour of teaching on Chapter 1. (3) I would like to have lunch with the class (at the cafeteria) on Tuesday, September 14. I'll meet you in the Turck first-floor lounge at 11:45 a.m.

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Last modified 21 January 2005