CHEMISTRY 1A03 Fall 2008: Information Sheets

These sheets provide answers to most of your questions about the organization of the course.
We suggest that, after reading them carefully, you keep them with your notes for future reference. The
online version contains useful links and updates.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Chemistry 1A03 is an introductory chemistry course intended to:

• discuss chemical concepts, theories and examples of fundamental chemistry
• apply chemistry to current examples within the themes of health, energy and the environment
• help develop skills needed to solve chemical problems (this largely takes place in the tutorials)
• provide some experience in the experiment-driven investigation of chemical questions (this largely
takes place in the laboratory)

SECTIONS AND INSTRUCTORS

Chemistry 1A03 is taught in four sections.

Students may not transfer between these sections unless there is a genuine and serious conflict. Such
students should see the Year One Laboratory Coordinator, in ABB/121, during the first week of classes.
All lectures are held in BSB/147 or MDCL/1305.
LECTURE TIMES/LOCATIONS
SECTION 01 – Dr. P. BRITZ MCKIBBIN (ABB/205) Mon, Wed, Thur 10:30 (BSB/147)
SECTION 02 - Dr. G. GOWARD (ABB/268) Mon, Wed 8:30 & Fri 10:30 (MDCL/1305)
SECTION 03 - Dr. P. LOCK (ABB/160) Mon, Thurs 15:30 & Tues 16:30 (BSB/147)
SECTION 04 - Dr. P. LOCK (ABB/160) Mon, Thurs 12:30 & Tues 13:30 (BSB/147))

The instructor facilitates the in-class sessions, which include, but are not limited to: presentation of some
the course material, interactive activities, demonstrations, and discussion. The instructor is also available
for one-on-one discussions during office hours, and monitors the on-line postings. As often as possible
s/he will also visit the labs and tutorials, which are run by graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants.

LABORATORY COORDINATOR
Dr. J .C. LANDRY (ABB/121) EXT. 22485
The laboratory coordinator coordinates the teaching assistants, labs and tests for all sections of the course.
Scheduling, permission and exemption issues for labs or tests should be addressed to him.

SCI 1A00
All students taking chemistry courses must complete (or have previously completed) this safety course
presented by Environmental & Occupational Health Support Services (formerly Risk Management).
Locations, dates and times will be posted online at http://www.workingatmcmaster.ca/eohss/ along with
WebCT. You must attend a 1-hour session and complete a short multiple-choice test. Please bring your
student card and a pencil.

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LABORATORIES
Labs are held from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m., Monday to
Friday, in the Arthur Bourns Building (ABB). There are five labs scheduled every other week through
the term. Your personal timetable will indicate your assignment to a lab section. Each lab section is
assigned to a particular room and to week A (even section numbers) or week B (odd section
numbers). If you have not been assigned to a lab section, see the Laboratory Coordinator in ABB-121 as
soon as possible.
Lab section changes should be done on-line using SOLAR within this introductory week. If space is not
available, see the lab coordinator in ABB-121 for assistance. Please note that students with genuine
conflicts with other mandatory Year-1 courses will be given priority.
2.5-hour lab experiments start during the week of September 15th for Lab Week A; Lab Week B start labs
during the week of September 22nd. Consult the schedule below lab experiment schedule (available also
on WebCT). Safety goggles (available at the University Bookstore) must be worn at all times in the
laboratory. You must have these goggles and your lab books, before your first scheduled lab
experiment.
Consult WebCT for information on what you will need before coming to your first laboratory.

In order to be allowed to do the experiments, all students must watch the Safety Video on
WebCT and pass the safety quiz associated with the video. THE SAFETY QUIZ will be available
ON-LINE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14th. Students who complete the quiz with a score of 10/10 will
receive a 0.5% bonus added to their final course mark (multiple attempts are allowed).

LAB EXEMPTIONS

All students repeating Chemistry 1A03 who want to be exempted from the lab program must see the Lab
Coordinator by September 12th. The criterion used for lab exemption is two-fold: completion of Chem
1A03 or Chem 1E03 courses at McMaster University within the last 4 years, and completion of all lab
experiments. Lab exemption will not be given to students who withdrew from the course. There is no
partial exemption for some of the labs. There is no lab exemption granted on the basis of courses taken at
another university. If the exemption is granted, the lab mark obtained previously will be used to calculate
your final mark. Students must see the Lab Coordinator in ABB 121 to be granted a lab exemption!

TUTORIALS
Weekly tutorials are run by teaching assistants and concentrate on the development of problem-solving
skills. They are scheduled Monday to Friday at 9:30 – 10:20 a.m. and 3:30-4:20 p.m. in ABB-136
and will start the week of September 8th. You may attend tutorials any day you choose, and it is
recommended that you attend at least once every other week; more often if you need. Seating is on a first-
come-first-served basis.
Tutorial questions and other resources will be found on WebCT. If you wish to work on the tutorial
questions, you must access and print them before attending a tutorial session. The solutions to tutorial
questions will be posted on WebCT at the end of each week.

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OFFICE HOURS
A Chemistry tutor is available in the basement of the Thode Science and Engineering Library for one-to-
one and group assistance. There is no charge for this service. Hours will be posted on WebCT and on the
door to the tutor room in Thode Library.
The Laboratory Coordinator’s office hours will be posted within WebCT.
Instructors will hold office hours in ABB-159, Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m., Friday
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and Monday – Friday 2:30 – 3:20 p.m. These hours will be staffed by Chemistry
1A03 and 1E03 instructors. Please check the schedule on the door to ABB-159 or on WebCT.

WebCT
Chemistry 1A03 will make use of WebCT (short for Web Course Tools), an integrated set of tools for
delivering course components over the Internet. For example, an assumed knowledge practice quiz,
sample tests, previous years’ tests, personalized quizzes, tutorials, a course bulletin board, and a calendar
of Chemistry 1A03 events will be available.
Since WebCT courses are maintained in a secure environment on the Internet, only students registered in
Chemistry 1A03 have access to the materials. In order to login to WebCT you need:
1. the internet address: http://webct.mcmaster.ca
2. your user name: it is your McMaster AP1 account userid (if the Registrar has not yet added you to
the electronic course list, we will not have your userid on our database)
3. your password: you will be given a password when you sign-up for your AP1 account.
If you attempt to login to WebCT and find that you are not registered under the expected user name and
password, follow the steps described on the WebCT login page. If your registration is delayed and you
need early access to the website, contact your instructor. Other WebCT issues can be addressed to the IT
help desk in the Mills library (2nd floor).
It is essential that you login to WebCT as soon as possible, since the assumed knowledge practice quiz,
the safety quiz, and your personalized Quiz 1 (due Monday September 22nd, 8:00 am) are located there.
WebCT can be accessed from your home or dormitory room, or from over 200 computers linked to the
University's network; these are located in ABB 166, BSB 241-245, JHE 233A/234, HSC 2B24C, KTH
B110/B121/B123. Their current hours of operation are posted outside each computer lab and online.
You will need to set up a proxy account with CIS to use the on-campus computer clusters. You can
register for such an account online through MUGSI. If you have any difficulties in the computer clusters,
ask for help from a Student Consultant.
If you do not have regular access to the internet and will not be on campus regularly, please contact your
instructor immediately. For information on the best browsers and browser settings to use with WebCT see
their help site, http://www.webct.com/support/. Please see Dr. Dumont (ABB 234) or your instructor if
you would like further assistance with WebCT.

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QUIZZES, TESTS, AND EXAMINATIONS

• There will be six personalized WebCT Quizzes during the term. Your answers for the quizzes are to
be entered via WebCT. Quizzes not submitted by the due dates and times will not be marked.
Solutions to your quizzes will be available for you on WebCT shortly after the due dates. If all six
quizzes are completed, then one quiz (lowest grade) will not be counted towards your final grade. If
you complete 5 or fewer quizzes the lowest grade will not be dropped (all completed quizzes will
count towards your quiz grade).
Quizzes can be submitted anytime once they have become available on WebCT but they must be
submitted before 8:00 a.m on the following dates: Monday Sept. 22, Monday Oct. 6, Monday Oct. 20,
Monday Nov. 3, Monday Nov. 17, and Monday Dec. 1. Please note that quizzes cannot be submitted in
written form or by email to any of the instructors or the lab coordinator; you must use WebCT. It is your
responsibility to ensure that your quiz is submitted on time. Save each question once you have an answer
and try to submit before the deadline to avoid unexpected server problems on the last day. Past the due
time, any saved work (even if incomplete) will be considered as your final submission.

• Two Term Tests will be scheduled on the following days:

Friday, October 10th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 7th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Depending on enrolment, there may be a second sitting of each test at a later time on the same dates.
Pre-existing conflicts should be discussed with the course coordinator well in advance.

• The December Final Examination (3 hours), scheduled by the Registrar’s Office, will test all course
content from the Fall term. This examination must be written in order to pass the course.

MISSED WORK
Students unable to submit quizzes, write tests or attend laboratories due to illness, or for other valid
reasons, should contact the Associate Dean of Science (Studies) in GS/116, the Associate Dean of
Engineering in JHE/345, the Arts and Sciences Programme Administrator in C/105A, or appropriate dean
or administrator in your programme or faculty. Once suitable medical certification has been received by
the Associate Dean/Programme Administrator, a note will be sent to the Lab Coordinator. Some faculties
and programmes will ask you to have a form filled out. This form should be brought to the Laboratory
Coordinator in ABB/121. As a result of this procedure, your missed quiz and/or test will not count
against you. There are no make-up quizzes or tests. Students wishing to do make-up labs must have
permission from their respective faculty and need to see the Laboratory Coordinator (ABB/121) as soon
as possible to reschedule a lab.

CALCULATORS
The two term tests and the final examination all require a calculator. THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE
CALCULATOR IS THE CASIO FX 991, available at the bookstore. NO OTHER CALCULATOR IS
PERMITTED DURING TESTS AND EXAMS.

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CALCULATION OF FINAL MARK FOR THE COURSE

Quizzes 10%
Labs 15%
Term Test 1 15%
Term Test 2 15% Cumulative
Final Exam 45% Cumulative/Mandatory
Total 100%
All grades will be posted on WebCT one week before the final exam. Please ensure they are correct.

Your final grade will be calculated by two different methods: (1) using the percentages listed above, and
(2) by replacing the lower of your two test grades with your grade on your final exam. You will receive
the highest of the grades calculated by these 2 methods. (Note: this calculation assumes that you have
written both midterm tests. If you miss a midterm test and are not exempted from that test, then option (2)
does not apply).

The purpose of this policy is to minimize anxiety about marks, and hopefully allow you to focus your
energy more constructively on the course material. In the long run, students who work hard on each
assignment tend to receive the higher marks overall. Know that the policy exists as insurance against
unforeseen difficulties.

REQUIRED ITEMS

• The Textbook for the course is General Chemistry, 9th edition, by R.H. Petrucci . The text is bundled
with a Study Guide. This package must be purchased at the bookstore during the first week of
classes. Buy your lab goggles and calculator while you’re there.

• A “Student Lab Notebook” (Hayden – McNeil) with carbonless sheets must be purchased from the
bookstore. No other notebooks will be acceptable. Laboratory manuals will be available on
WebCT. Please print and compile all the required information before attending each experiment.

• Safety goggles (approximately $12) may be purchased from the bookstore. Lab coats are strongly
recommended.

COURSE CONTENT
• Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are Assumed Knowledge (Matter, Measurements, Significant Figures,
Atomic Theory, Elements, Ionic and Molecular Compounds, Basic Nomenclature, Concept of Mole,
Oxidation States, Stoichiometry, Solutions, Limiting Reactant and Gas Laws excluding Kinetic-
Molecular Theory). These topics will not be discussed in class but will figure in the quizzes, term tests
and final examination. It is your responsibility to study this material.

• The Chapters and Sections listed below, as well as additional material used in class to support the
themes of health, energy and environment, represent the Core Course Content common to all
sections of Chem 1A03. This material will be covered in the common quizzes, term tests and final
examination.
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• Laboratory Experiments are a formal part of the course content. The term tests and final
examination will include questions related to the laboratory material.

Chapter 8 Electrons in Atoms

8-1 Electromagnetic Radiation
8-2 Atomic Spectra
8-3 Quantum Theory
8-4 The Bohr Atom
8-5 Two Ideas Leading to a New Quantum Mechanics
8-7 Quantum Numbers and Electron Orbitals
8-9 Electron Spin: A Fourth Quantum Number
8-11 Electron Configurations

Chapter 9 The Periodic Table and Some Atomic Properties

9-2 Metals and Nonmetals and Their Ions
9-3 The Sizes of Atoms and Ions
9-4 Ionization Energy
9-5 Electron Affinity
9-6 Magnetic Properties
9-7 Periodic Properties of the Elements

Chapter 10 Chemical Bonding I: Basic Concepts

10-1 Lewis Theory: An Overview
10-2 Covalent Bonding: An Introduction
10-3₪ Polar Covalent Bonds and Electrostatic Potential Maps
10-4 Writing Lewis Structures
10-5 Resonance
10-6 Exceptions to the Octet Rule
10-7 Shapes of Molecules
10-8 Bond Order and Bond Lengths
10-9 Bond Energies

Note
₪ In section 10-3, Electrostatic–potential maps will not figure in term tests or the final examination.

Chapter 15 Principles of Chemical Equilibrium

15-1 Dynamic Equilibrium
15-2 The Equilibrium Constant Expression
15-3 Relationships Involving Equilibrium Constants (not p. 631/632)
15-4 The Magnitude of an Equilibrium Constant
15-5 The Reaction Quotient, Q: Predicting the Direction of Net Change
15-6 Altering Equilibrium Conditions: Le Châtelier’s Principle
15-7 Equilibrium Calculations: Some Illustrative Examples

Chapter 5 Introduction to Reactions in Aqueous Solutions

5-1 The Nature of Aqueous Solutions
5-2 Precipitation Reactions

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5-3 Acid—Base Reactions

5-4 Oxidation—Reduction: Some General Principles
5-5 Balancing Oxidation—Reduction Equations
5-6 Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
5-7 Stoichiometry of Reactions in Aqueous Solutions: Titrations

Chapter 16 Acids and Bases

16-1 Arrhenius Theory: A Brief Review
16-2 Brønsted-Lowry Theory of Acids and Bases
16-3 Self-Ionization of Water and the pH scale
16-4 Strong Acids and Strong Bases
16-5 Weak acids and Weak Bases
16-7 Ions as Acids and Bases
16-8 Molecular Structure and Acid-Base Behaviour
16-9 Lewis Acids and Bases

Chapter 7 Thermochemistry
7-1 Getting Started: Some Terminology
7-2 Heat
7-3 Heats of Reaction and Calorimetry
7-4 Work
7-5 The First Law of Thermodynamics
7-6 Heats of Reaction: ΔU and ΔH
7-7 Indirect Determination of ΔH: Hess’s Law
7-8 Standard Enthalpies of Formation
7-9 Fuels as Sources of Energy

Chapter 20 Electrochemistry
20-1 Electrode Potentials and Their Measurement
20-2 Standard Electrode Potentials
20-3 Ecell, ΔG, and K
20-4 Ecell as a Function of Concentrations
20-5 Batteries: Producing Electricity Through Chemical Reactions

Chapter 19 Spontaneous Change: Entropy and Free Energy

19-1 Spontaneity: The Meaning of Spontaneous Change
19-3 Evaluating Entropy and Entropy Changes
19-4 Criteria for Spontaneous Change: The Second Law of Thermodynamics
19-5 Standard Free Energy Change, ΔG°
19-6▼ Free Energy Change and Equilibrium
19-7 ΔG° and K as Functions of Temperature

Note
▼ In section 19-6, the derivation of equation 19.11 will not figure in term tests or the final examination.

More detail about the course content will be provided by your Instructor.

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SENATE POLICY STATEMENTS

All students should read and become familiar with the Statement on Student Academic Responsibility and
the Academic Integrity Policy as found in the Senate Policy Statements distributed at the time of
registration and available in the Senate Office. Any student who infringes on these resolutions will be
treated according to the published policy.
DISCRIMINATION POLICY
McMaster University is concerned with ensuring an environment that is free of all adverse
discrimination. If there is a problem that cannot be resolved by discussion among the persons concerned,
individuals are reminded that they should contact their Department Chair, or Human Rights & Equity
Services, as soon as possible. Issues involving teaching assistants should also be brought to the attention
of the Lab Coordinator.

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Chemistry 1A03 Schedule – September to December 2008

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

September
1 2 3 4 5
Classes Begin
8 9 10 11 12
Quiz # 1 Released
15 16 17 18 19
Week A– Exp # 1
22 23 24 25 26
Week B– Exp # 1 Quiz # 2 Released
Quiz # 1 Due
October
29 30 1 2 3
Week A – Exp # 2
6 7 8 9 10
Week B – Exp # 2 Quiz # 3 Released Term Test # 1
Quiz 2 Due
13 14 15 16 17
Thanksgiving
No Labs this week
20 21 22 23 24
Week A – Exp # 3 Quiz # 4 Released
Quiz # 3 Due
27 28 29 30 31
Week B – Exp # 3

November
3 4 5 6 7
Week A – Exp # 4 Quiz # 5 Released Term Test #2
Quiz # 4 Due
10 11 12 13 14
Week B – Exp # 4

17 18 19 20 21
Week A – Exp # 5 Quiz # 6 Released
Quiz # 5 Due
24 25 26 27 28
Week B – Exp # 5

December
1 2 3 4 5
Classes End
Make-up Labs
Quiz # 6 Due

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FINDING CHEMISTRY ON CAMPUS

All lectures are held in the Burke Science Auditorium, BSB/147 (building 11) or Michael DeGroote
Centre for Learning and Discovery, MDCL 1305 (building 52). Labs, tutorials and all staff and
instructors’ offices are in the Arthur Bourns Building ABB (building 25). This building also houses the
main Chemistry office (ABB 156) and the chemistry tutorial room (ABB 136). You will find a lot of
recent construction around campus. Do not be surprised to find new wings and new buildings, not shown
on the latest maps.

ABB

JHE BSB

MDCL

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