SYLLABUS
CHEM 342 Lab
Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
2:00pm - 4:50pm Tuesday
Currens Hall 108
Spring, 2016
Instructor: Dr. J. Scott McConnell, Professor of Chemistry.
Office and Office Hours: The instructor’s office is 519A. Office hours are 10:00 - 12:00
Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call the Chemistry Department (309-298-1538) or e-mail
JS-McConnell@WIU.edu, and make an appointment prior to meeting.
Laboratory Manual: Laboratory exercises will be handed out prior to lab meetings.
Laboratory Times: As scheduled.
Laboratory Location: Currens 108
Laboratory Assistant: Erik Sarnello
Expense Materials Required: Costs for these materials are the responsibility of the student.
Laboratory Manual. Lab materials will be provided. No lab manual is needed.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of all chemicals utilized in the laboratory can be found
at the following web site. http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/#MSDS. E-copies are free of
charge.
Approved eye protection used for the laboratory component of this class.
A scientific calculator.
Information Regarding CHEM 342 Lab:
Lab work is an integral part of the CHEM 342 course. Lab attendance is important and you
must attain a passing grade in lab to pass the course regardless of the lecture grade. It is
important that you complete the lab assignment BEFORE the day of the lab so that you are
familiar with:
 The lab procedure and can conduct the lab in a time efficient manner,
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 The equipment used and the lab techniques involved, and
 The calculations used in the lab.
All labs are worth 25 points and the grade will be worth 25% of the total course grade for
CHEM 342. The 25 points will be divided between a pre-lab quiz (5 points) and the lab
report (20 points).
Lab reports are due at the beginning of the next lab period. A penalty of five points per day
will be levied for late labs, until the value is zero. Lab reports must be composed according
the techniques described in the lab report directions.
Safety goggles and proper dress are mandatory at all times within the lab. Those not in
safety compliance must leave the lab.
Any situation, condition, or circumstance not
covered in the syllabus is subject to the decisions of
the instructor, only.
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Date
Lab No.
Experiment
Jan 26
Lab 1
LAB CHECK IN
Lab Report Forms and Expectations
Feb 2
Lab 2
Analysis of Variance and Least Significant Differences
Feb 9
Lab 3
Analysis of Acid Rain Samples
Feb 16
Lab 4
Collection of Water Samples - Trip (less than ten (10) miles)
Feb 23
Lab 5
Solids in Natural Water Samples
Mar 1
Lab 6
Calcium and Magnesium Content of Natural Water Samples
Mar 8
Lab 7
Nitrates in Natural Water Samples
Mar 22
Lab 8
Collection of Soil Samples Trip (less than ten (10) miles)
April 5
Lab 9
Soil Preparation, Water Content, and Bulk Density
April 12
Lab 10
Soil pH and Acidity
April 19
Lab 11
Soil Nitrate-Nitrogen
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