Wayland Baptist University

                                           Plainview Campus

                                         School of Mathematics and Sciences

 

WAYLAND MISSION STATEMENT: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success, lifelong learning, and service to God and humankind.

 

Course Title:  CHEM 4405  Physical Chemistry I

 

Term:

 

Instructor: 

                  Phone:                        Email:

 

Office Hours and Location: 

 

Students are encouraged to call or stop by the office any time the instructor is available including non-posted office hours.

 

Class Meeting Time and Location:

 

Catalogue Description:  An introductory study of the laws of thermodynamics with emphasis on chemical equilibrium, phase equilibrium, and electrochemistry.  The laboratory introduces studies using the bomb calorimeter, heats of solutions, dilution, and neutralization.  Lecture three hours, laboratory three hours.

 

Prerequisites:  CHEM 2402, MATH 2306

 

Required Resources: 

Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula, Physical Chemistry 9th Edition.

              David P. Shoemaker et al, Experiments in Physical Chemistry 6th Edition.                

*Refer to booklist

 

Outcome Competencies:

At the conclusion of the course, the student should be able to

  1. Understand the role of important individuals and events in the history of chemistry.
  2. Understand important chemical terminology from the area of physical chemistry.
  3. Understand the principles of scientific investigation in the laboratory.
  4. Understand the importance of proper laboratory notebook documentation and reporting techniques.
  5. Understand the basic principles of thermodynamics.
  6. Understand the basic principles of chemical equilibria.
  7. Understand the basic principles of chemical kinetics.

 

Attendance Policy:

 “The University expects students to make class attendance a priority.”

  1. Three unexcused absences from lecture may result in lowering the course grade by one letter grade.
  2. Participation in University sponsored events is an excused absence.  Other absences MAY be excused at the discretion of the instructor.
  3. ALL absences (including for University sponsored events) must be discussed with the instructor BEFORE the absence or they will be unexcused.
  4. If an hour exam is missed due to an excused absence, it must be made-up within a week of the scheduled date.  Unexcused absences from exams can NOT be made-up and a grade of 0% will be recorded for that exam.
  5. Labs must be completed during the week in which they are assigned or a grade of 0% will be recorded for that lab.
  6. If a student misses 25% of lecture classes or laboratories the student can be dropped from the class.
  7. Students must agree on a lab time within a lab group and make every effort to show up at that scheduled time.  Upon arrival, ALL students in the lab must sign in with the instructor before beginning lab activities. 

 

 

Accommodations for Disability:

“In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university.  The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291- 3765.  Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.”

 

It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any disability that may require accommodation during the lecture or laboratory portions of the course.  It is of particular importance to report any condition or disability that may affect the laboratory safety of the individual or others.  Information provided for this purpose will be kept strictly confidential and will not in any way affect the individual’s course grade.

 

Course Requirements:

  1. Three Section Exams
  2. Final Exam
  3. Laboratory  The Lab grade will be primarily from written lab reports (due the Monday after the assigned lab date).  5% points will be deducted for each day the report is overdue.  In addition, lab notebooks will be periodically checked for completeness.  Lab notebooks should be current and legible at all times.
  4. Reading the textbook and completion of homework assignments will be required for success on the exams
  5. Abiding by laboratory safety guidelines at all times.  Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the lab and subsequent reduction in course grade.

 

Course Evaluation: 

A           90-100%

B           80-89%

C           70-79%

D           60-69%

F            0-60%

W          Withdrawal

I             Incomplete*

 

*An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of the semester to a student who is passing but has not completed required work for reasons beyond the student’s control.

The incomplete will be removed only if the required work is completed by the date during the next academic term given in the academic catalogue.  Failure to complete the work by this date will result in the grade of F. 

 

 

Course Outline:

Chapter 1.    Equilibrium and Gases

Chapter 2.    1st Law of Thermodynamics

Chapter 3.    2nd Law of Thermodynamics 

Test 1

 

Chapter 4.   Phase Transformations of Pure Substances

Chapter 5.   Simple Mixtures

Chapter 6.   Chemical Equilibrium

Test 2

 

Chapter 21:  Molecules in Motion

Chapter 22:  Reaction Rates

Chapter 23:  Kinetics of Complex reactions

Chapter 24:  Reaction Dynamics

Test 3

 

Final Exam

             

Academic Honesty:

“University students are required to conduct themselves according to the highest standards of academic honesty.”

 

Any student guilty of cheating will be penalized at the instructor’s discretion by one or more of the following:

 

  1. Assigning a grade of F to the work in question.
  2. Assigning a grade of F for the entire course.
  3. Recommendation for more severe punishment; including probation, suspension, or expulsion from the University (see student handbook for further information).

 

Revised 09/26/11
Format for Written Lab Reports

 

Lab reports are to be handed in separately from the lab notebooks, which will be collected only periodically.  Lab reports should be professional quality representations of the lab work performed.  The format below should be followed for all lab reports unless otherwise approved by the instructor.

 

 

Abstract                       Up to 250 word summary of the report complete with encapsulated results and conclusions

 

Introduction                 The motivation, or scientific interest behind this project.  Background material into the instrument or method is appropriate here.

 

Experimental               Often divided into two sections:  methods (including apparatus description and diagram) and materials (description of chemicals their sources, purity, concentration etc.)
 
Results                          Data tables and PRESENTATION of results of the experiment.  Carefully kept distinct from a discussion of the conclusions or implications of the data.
 
Discussions                   Section where theory is connected with results and conclusions about the data are drawn with appropriate level of discussion.  Some speculation is inevitable and acceptable, but great effort should be made to stick with only statements strongly supported by the data.
 
Conclusions                  The report is wrapped up and the results and discussions are connected to the introduction section once again.
 
References                   All resources must be appropriately referenced.          
                                      Exception:  lab manual need only be referenced once for procedure and apparatus.
 
Students are encouraged to model their reports on scientific journal publications.
 
 

 

 
 

 

Revised 10/07/11 RM