CHEM 461 Spring 2008

 

Dr. Barry L. Westcott

westcottb@ccsu.edu

NC 414

860.832.2677

http://www.chemistry.ccsu.edu/westcott

Office hours: M 12-1, 2-3; T 10:30-12; F 12-1 other times available by appointment

 

Text: Main Group Chemistry, 2nd Ed., A. G. Massey 2000

 

Scope of the Course: The primary focus of this course is a survey of the history, industrial uses, compounds, electronic structure, and basic chemistry of the main group elements. Students are expected to have a working knowledge of organic, analytical, and thermochemistry. A basic understanding of quantum mechanics, physics, and math are also expected.

 

The course will consist of lectures, readings from the text, and outside readings. The majority of topics covered in the lecture are not in the text; however, students are responsible for material in the text as well as that provided through lecture or outside readings. Students will also be required to write a paper (vide infra).

 

Quizzes: There will be 13 quizzes during the semester, with each quiz having a maximum point total of 50. Twelve of the quizzes will cover previous material with an emphasis on readings and lectures from the previous week. The 13th quiz will be administered in five parts. Five times during the semester students will be given a blank periodic table to fill in with elemental symbols only. Each attempt will be worth 10 points with a possible 50 for the semester. Each student must receive a perfect score at least once during the semester. If a student fails to earn 10/10 at least once, that student’s overall grade will be lowered by on-third (e.g., an earned B+ will be changed to a B for the course). The blank table quizzes are unannounced. No make up quizzes will be administered.

 

Paper: Each student is required to write a paper on one of the rare earth elements. There is no minimum or maximum page requirement; however, the paper must be a thorough description of the chemistry of the element with a minimum of 25 unique references and contain, at a minimum, each of the following:

1)      a history of the elemental discovery, name origin, and crustal abundance.

2)      a description of the current industrial uses and sources

3)      the basic chemistry of the element (formation and reaction of compounds, etc..)

4)      historic uses

5)      current advances (must have at least five references from the past four years)

 

The paper will be written in ACS format and will be submitted by 4:00 PM Friday, May 2. Papers with internet references or those submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Final Exam: A comprehensive final exam will be given Friday, May 17 at 8:00 AM.

Course Policies:

Attendance is not required; however, DO NOT come to class late. If you cannot make it by 8:00 AM for lecture do not come at all. Students who are habitually late or absent should also remember that at some point they may want letters of reference for jobs or professional programs.

Academic Dishonesty: I strictly enforce the University Academic Misconduct Policy. Any form of misconduct will result in an F for the assignment and/ or the course.

Make-Up Assignments and Late Work: I do not give make-up quizzes, assignments, or exams. If you have a valid reason for missing a graded assignment, your score will be a weighted average of all previous similar assignments. If you miss an assignment, you must notify me as soon as possible (preferably by e-mail) as to your reason. Traffic and faulty alarm clocks are not excuses for tardiness.

 

Contact information is given at the header of this syllabus. I strongly recommend using e-mail to contact me. I do not return student phone calls, but I do respond to e-mails quickly during regular university hours. I do not respond to e-mail during evenings, weekends, or state holidays.

ACS Meeting: The week of April 6 is the ACS Meeting in New Orleans. I will make special accommodations for students who attend the meeting.

Inclement Weather: The University may cancel classes due to inclement weather. Call the University Snow Phone: 832-3333, check the website, or listen to WTIC-AM, 1080 kHz.

Special Needs: If you require course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please notify me of your situation ASAP.

 

Point Distribution

quizzes (13 @ 50 pts.)

650

Paper

150

Final Exam

100

Total

1000

 

 

Grading Scale

900

A

875

A-

850

B+

775

B

750

B-

725

C+

650

C

600

C-

550

D

0

F

 

Tentative Course Schedule1

 

Week of

M

W

F

Text2

01.22

No class

Intro

No class

Ch. 1

01.28

Inorg. Spec.

H

H

Ch. 2

Ch. 3

02.04

Group 1

Quiz 1

Group 1

Group1

Group 2

Ch. 4

02.11

Group 2

Group 2

Quiz 2

No class

Ch. 5

02.18

No class

B

B

Ch. 7

02.25

B

Quiz 3

Group 3

Group 3

Ch. 7

03.03

C

Quiz 4

C

C

Ch. 8

03.10

Si

Quiz 5

Si

Si

Ch. 8

03.17

Spring Break

03.24

Ge, Sn, Pb

Quiz 6

Ge,Sn,Pb

Ge,Sn,Pb

Ch. 8

03.31

N,P

Quiz 7

N,P

N,P

Ch. 9

04.07

As,Sb,Bi

Quiz 8

As,Sb,Bi

As,Sb,Bi

Ch. 9

04.14

O

Quiz 9

O

S

Ch.10

04.21

S

Quiz 10

Se,Te,Po

Se,Te,Po

Ch.10

04.28

Halogens

Quiz 11

Halogens

Halogens

Ch.11

05.05

Nobles

Quiz 12

Nobles

No class

Ch.12

05.12

Final Exam: Friday 8:00 AM

 

1Any changes to the above schedule will be announced in class.

2The instructor will provide additional reading material.

 

ACS meeting dates