Chem 3150                                         Fall 2006                                 Syllabus

Instructor:      Dr. Robert Swindell                           Office Hours: 10:00 – 11:00 MW

Office:             SCLB 273                                                                   1:00 – 2:00 W

Phone: 569-8833                                                                     Other times by appointment

e-mail: rtswindell@ualr.edu

The lab period will normally consist of two sessions:  a one hour prelab instruction period followed by a two hour segment devoted to performing the experiment.  Being late or missing the prelab period will result in a deduction of points from that experiment. 

Grade Assignments:

3 Quizzes............................ .90 pts.                                              90%+          (306+)             =A

Laboratory Work.............                                                        80-89%           (272-305)        =B

            2 Lab Reports.......     60 pts.                                        70-79%           (238-271)        =C

5 Product Reports..... 50 pts.                                        60-69%           (204-237)        =D

3 Data Sheets............ 30 pts.                                         0-59%           (Less than 204)=F

Notebook..........................…10 pts.

Final Exam……………….. 100 pts.

Total Points Possible = 340

Attendance:  You are expected to meet each lab session.  Absences due to sickness or other documented acceptable reasons may be excused at the discretion of the instructor.  Unexcused absences will result in a grade of 0 for that experiment. 

Laboratory Notebooks:

Notebooks must be hard cover and bound.  All  permanent notes, experimental observations and data must be recorded in this book.  Indicate:  What was done (procedure), how it was done and what happened (notes, comments, observations, data, etc).  Thus the notebook will contain information on apparati used, steps in the procedure, all measurements, significant times, changes in appearance and other relevant data.  Do not erase.  If an error is made, simply mark through the error and make the correction above or following the error.  Recording observations or data on loose leaf pages MAY RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN LAB GRADES!

Use the first two or three pages as an index.  NUMBER all pages.  Use left hand pages as scratch pages, for your notes, reminders, etc.  Pre-lab notes, calculations and the like can be jotted down on these left handed pages.  Use the right hand pages for (a) date and time of the experiment  (b)  sketch of the apparatus used (c) a listing of all reagents and materials used, including gram and mole quantities when appropriate (d) a listing of all cautions and potentially hazardous materials and/or conditions (e) a neat  and concise listing of each of the steps in your procedure.  (f) tables or other organized formats for recording experimental data and observations (g) calculations (h) chemical reactions if any.

 A data sheet will be provided for 3 experiments and turned in the period following completion of that experiment.

The experiments distillation and nucleophilic substitution will require submission of formal lab reports.  These are expected to be submitted the period after the experiment is completed and are to be typewritten.  They are to be written in the third person, passive tense.  Points will be deducted for improper grammar, spelling and punctuation.  No, this is not an English class, but you are at a University and are thus expected to act and sound educated.  Therefore you will be judged, in part, on how well you communicate what you have learned back to me.  This is done, in part, by your lab reports.

The lab report must include:            

Cover Sheet:  Title of the experiment, your name, date submitted, course

Table of Contents

Purpose of experiment

Introduction of the experiment to include (if appropriate)                                                           

Theory and background of the experiment

Main reaction and any important side reactions

Mechanism

Other methods of preparation

Labeled diagram of any apparatus used

Listing of all reagents used

Safety considerations

Concise stepwise procedure in your own words. 

Results and observations. 

a)       report data in tables when appropriate

b)       include calculation of theoretical yield and percent yield when appropriate

Discussion  and Conclusions

Remember: a conclusion is not an observation.  You do not conclude the stuff was green.  You observe that the stuff is green.  Most of the time you can equate a conclusion with a therefore statement:  A 98% yield of high purity product was obtained (observation), therefore this procedure is an effective means of preparing this material (conclusion).

The products prepared

Products are handed in for grading;  liquids in small-mouth bottles and solids in large mouth bottles. 

Bottles should be labeled clearly and neatly as follows:

Your Name                            Name of  Compound           

Theo. Yield____ (g)            Actual Yield_____g

Lit. B.P. or M.P.                    B.P or M.P. (that you determined)

(% yield)                               Date                                        

Students with Disabilities.  It is the policy of UALR to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law.  Any student with a disability who needs accommodation, for example in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations, should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course.  The chair of the department offering this course is also available to assist with accommodations.  Students with disabilities are also encouraged to contact  the Office of Disability Support Services, which is located in the Donaghey Student Center, Room 103, telephone 569-3143.