Queensborough Community College, CUNY
Chemistry Department
Dr. Benny
COURSE OUTLINE
CH-106: CHEMISTRY AND THE ARTS; Section G4
Time: Thursdays 1:10-4:00pm
Fall 2014
Room: S-415
Professor: Dr. Hemraj-Benny (Office: S-443)
Email: themrajbenny@qcc.cuny.edu
Office Hours: Room S443
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 12-1pm
Website: As part of this course we will be using Blackboard 9.1 (bb13). Instructions on how to
access the course website on Bb9.1 can be found at:
“http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/qccOnline/blackboard.html”. I will post announcements, homework and
helpful hints on this link. The complete departmental and instructor’s syllabi are posted on
Blackboard for your access anytime during the semester. Any PowerPoint lecture notes presented
during the class will be available for you to download from Blackboard under Course Documents
Section. You should go to the Bb9.1 website regularly to check for announcements, course
assignments and to communicate with your classmates. All grades will be posted on your
Blackboard account.
Email: You can find information about your QCC email account at “https://tigermail.qcc.cuny.edu/” .
It is important that you check this account regularly since I will be communicating with you via this
email, during the semester, about important information about this course and ultimately you grade.
Email Forwarding: You can forward your tigermail to an alternative email account. To do this,
please follow the instructions at “http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/qccOnline/forwardTigermail.html”.
Please note you should reply directly from your tigermail account.
In Class: Students are expected to arrive on time for all lecture class. Please turn OFF your
cell phones and electronic devices and place them away or in your bags.
Grade Distribution:
There will be no “make-up” exams/presentations. No late assignments will be accepted. You will be
given three (3) exams during the semester. Your lowest exam grade will be dropped.
Queensborough Community College, CUNY
Chemistry Department
Dr. Benny
LECTURE SCHEDULE
Date
Topics
28th Aug.
Introduction to the course; Introduction to Light and Color
4th Sept.
Visible Light; Bending of Light; The Electromagnetic Spectrum; Luminous Vs.
Illuminated Objects
11th Sept.
State of Matter; Physical and Chemical Changes; Subtractive Vs Additive Color
Mixing and Primaries
Review for Exam #1
18th Sept.
Exam #1
Introduction to Matter and Energy; Atoms and Elements; Excited Atoms; Energy
Level and Color; Periodic Table; Chemical Symbols Formulas, Equations
25th Sept.
No Class
2nd Oct.
Student Presentation #1: Five minute presentation on Periodic Table,
element/compound related to Art
Paper #1 due.
9th Oct.
Art Conservation: How scientists preserve and Restore art objects; Authentication
of Art Objects. Some Famous Forgeries Detected using
Chemistry
Watch Art Authentication Video
Bonding: Covalent vs. Ionic; Molecules and Compounds; Naming Compounds
Review for Exam #2
Paper #3 due: Art Authentication
16th Oct.
23rd Oct.
Exam #2
Dyes, Pigments and Paints
30th Oct.
Ceramics, Glasses, and Glazes
Review for Exam #3
6th Nov.
Exam #3
Black and White and Color Photography
13th Nov.
Hazards of Artists' Materials
Topic for presentation #2 due
20th Nov.
Review for final
27th Nov.
No Class
4th Dec.
Student Presentation #2: Ten minute presentation on any topic covered in class
ALL Paper #2 due
11th Dec.
Student Presentation #2: Ten minute presentation on any topic covered in class
18th Dec.
Final Exam