Chemistry 542L
Syllabus
Spring 2013
Physical Chemistry Laboratory II
Instructor: Lisa Lever, Ph.D.
Phone: 503-5713
Office: Smith 215
email: llever@uscupstate.edu
Web site: http://faculty.uscupstate.edu/llever
Office hours: M-F 8:30-5 (Please call or email for an appointment)
Course Description: The application of physical chemical techniques to quantum mechanics,
spectroscopy. Prerequisite: SCHM 541L Corequisite: SCHM 542.
Goals: Students will test theoretical principles, obtain basic experience with physical measurements,
learn to keep a laboratory notebook, apply computer skills to analyze data, learn to interpret findings,
communicate results, make judgements based on experimental data, and work cooperatively in a group
setting.
Lab notebook: Students must have a laboratory research notebook with carbonless paper. These are
available in the USC Upstate bookstore.
Attendance: All lab work must be completed. Since lab experiments are performed in groups, students
are responsible for their contribution to the group. If an absence is unavoidable, laboratory work may be
made up at a later time.
In preparation for lab: Students should carefully read the lab handout and do any prelab assignments
before coming to lab. If solutions need to be prepared during the first lab period, the student should do all
the necessary calculations to determine the masses or volumes needed before coming to lab. These
calculations should be done in the lab notebook. Before the second week of the lab experiment, students
should complete all lab calculations from the previous week's work, and be prepared to discuss their
results. During lab, students should record their lab procedures, observations made, and data taken in
their lab notebook.
Grades: Grades for the laboratory course will be based on lab reports, lab notebooks, preparation for
lab, and participation in lab. Grades will be calculated as follows:
Abbreviated lab reports for 3 expts.
Cl2O4 in the Stratosphere formal report
Polymers R Us formal report
Preparation for lab, lab participation, lab notebooks
Laser safety test
45%
20%
20%
5%
10%
Grading scale: A ≥ 90 > B+ ≥ 87 > B ≥ 80 > C+ ≥ 77 > C ≥ 70 > D+ ≥ 67 > D ≥ 60 > F
Lab Reports: Abbreviated lab reports will be due one lab period after completion of the lab. The
Polymers R Us lab report will be due on Feb. 21. The Cl2O4 lab report will be due on Apr. 29. There is a
3 point deduction per day (including Sat. and Sun.) for late lab reports, and reports more than one week
late will not be accepted.
Lab reports should be your report and analysis of the experiment which will be based on the
knowledge you have gained from this course. Outside sources for your report should be
appropriately cited. Plagiarism (using others’ work, including paraphrasing—from the web or
University of South Carolina Upstate
Chemistry 542L
Syllabus
Spring 2013
anyplace else—without proper attribution) is a violation of the student honor code (see the USC
Upstate Student Handbook).
Chemistry 542L Tentative Schedule Spring 2013
Date
Jan. 17
Jan. 24
Jan. 31
Feb. 7
Feb. 14
Feb. 21
Feb. 28
Mar. 7
Mar. 14
Mar. 21
Mar. 28
Apr. 4
Apr. 11
Apr. 18
Apr. 25
Group 1
Group 2
Organizational meeting, safety, laser safety training
Polymers R Us
Polymers R Us
Polymers R Us
Fluorescence quenching
Flash photolysis
Fluorescence quenching
Flash photolysis
IR & Raman spectroscopy Fluorescence quenching
IR & Raman spectroscopy Fluorescence quenching
Spring Break
Flash photolysis
IR & Raman spectroscopy
Flash photolysis
IR & Raman spectroscopy
Cl2O4 in the stratosphere
Cl2O4 in the stratosphere
Cl2O4 in the stratosphere
Make-up day
USC Upstate supports the ongoing development of an accessible university that embraces
diversity through educational programming, services, resources, and facilities that are usable by
all members of the campus community. In keeping with University policy, any student with a
disability who requests academic accommodations should contact Disability Services at 5035199 to arrange an appointment with a Disability Services staff member. Students are
encouraged to seek an appointment as early in the semester as possible, as accommodations are
not provided retroactively.
Consult a physician if you are pregnant or have any other medical condition which might render
you susceptible to exposure to the chemicals used in this laboratory.
March 28: Last day to withdraw without penalty
This is a tentative syllabus, and the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments in the syllabus and schedule as
necessary.
University of South Carolina Upstate