COURSE PLAN FOR CHEM3030L
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
Spring Semester, 2013
Xavier University of Louisiana
1 credit hour
Classroom 36-310
Section 1: M 2.00-4.50
Section 2: T 1.15-4.05
Section 4: R 1.15-4.05
Instructor
Office Phone
Email
Dr. V. Kolesnichenko 36-301F 5430 vkolesni@xula.edu
Dr. Kevin Riley
36-301B 5075 kriley3@xula.edu
Section 5: F 2:00-4:50
Office Hours
M, W 9-10; R 4-5; F 11-12
Sections
1,2
4,5
Course Description
A selection of experiments featuring the applications of principles of physical chemistry.
Experiments include the use of physical chemistry techniques to examine the properties of solids, liquids
and gases, and the study of reaction kinetics. The course requires extensive computational and writing
skills. Prerequisite, CHEM3210/3210L; Co-requisite, CHEM3010/ 3030.
Required Texts and Other Materials
1. C.W. Garland, J.W. Nibler and D.P. Shoemaker, Experiments in Physical Chemistry, 7th Edition,
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2003. Newer edition is ok. One copy is on reserve in the library.
2. Jian Zhang and Vladimir Kolesnichenko, Physical Chemistry Laboratory Manual, a supplement to
Experiments in Physical Chemistry, Edition 6, Spring 2013.
3. Laboratory Notebook.
4. Goggles and lab coat.
Course Objectives
Upon the successful completion of this course, the students should be able to
 apply the physical chemistry principles to the practical laboratory experiments,
 perform the accurate and quantitative physical measurements,
 analyze data statistically and assess reliability of the results,
 interpret the experimental results and draw the reasonable conclusions, and
 communicate effectively through oral and written reports.
Course Policies and Requirements
1. All students are required to check in each class by scanning ID in the classroom card reader. In the
event of an excused absence, a student is responsible for having the missed experiment made up as
soon as possible in another section with the instructor’s permission.
2. Students are expected to come to the lab on time and in full preparation for the scheduled
experiment, and to stay in the lab until the data collection is completed.
3. A 10-pts quiz for the scheduled experiment is to be given at the beginning of each lab period. No
make-up quiz will be given if it is missed.
4. Each student is required to keep a bound lab notebook. Students should prepare the notebook with
title, date, objective(s), and brief procedures in advance, which will be initialed by the instructor
before starting the experiment. Three points will be deducted if the student fails to do so. A carbon
copy must be turned in at the end of the experiment. The 10-pts notebook is graded based on the
completeness, legibility and comprehensibility.
5. A lab report must be written for each experiment. The report must be an independent work. Only the
hard copy is accepted for grading. All reports are due one week after the completion of the
respective experiments unless otherwise announced. Late reports including the computer project
will be penalized at 5 pts per workday. The reports over 2 weeks late will receive a grade of zero.
Early reports will be credited at 5 pts per workday for up to one week (5 buisness days).
6. The lab performance grade includes factors such as: being on time for class, wearing safety goggles, taking
safety precaution, and cleaning up work space.
7. An oral presentation on an assinged topic is required. A comprehensive final examination will be
given at the end of the semester.
Course Evaluation
Computer project
Quizzes 6@20
Notebook 6@5
Lab performance 6@5
Lab reports 6@50
Oral report
Final exam
Total points
30
120
30
30
300
50
100
660
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
<60%
A
B
C
D
F
Academic Misconduct
The CAS Academic Integrity Policy will be followed in this course. According to the policy, academic
misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Using unauthorized materials in completion of an exam, quiz, or assignment.
2. Assisting or gaining assistance from an unauthorized source during an exam, quiz, or
assignment.
3. Providing assistance to another student in a manner not authorized by the instructor.
4. Obtaining an examination or assignment in an unauthorized manner.
5. Using material from a source without giving proper citation.
6. Fabricating or altering data.
7. Submitting work to one class that is substantially similar to work submitted for another class
without prior approval from the instructors involved.
8. Submitting written work that is not completely one’s own or allowing others to submit one’s
work.
9. Destroying or altering the work of another student.
10. Committing any other violation of academic integrity as described in this syllabus.
Specific examples of academic misconduct include:
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the use of a cell phone during an exam or quiz for any reason (even as a calculator);
talking during an exam or quiz;
using anything other than explicitly authorized materials on a quiz or exam;
attempting to read from another student's quiz or exam;
copying class assignments, including sharing files to analyze or present data;
using data that you did not collect in a report without proper attribution;
working with others on any assignments (in or out of class) when not authorized.
You are responsible for arriving on time for all quizzes or exams, as you will not be permitted to
begin after any other student has left the room. You are responsible for all written materials on,
under, and near your seat during quizzes and exams, so it is in your best interest to ensure that the
desk surface is clear of writing and that no extraneous papers are within your line of sight (both
when you begin and finish). Cell phones should always be off and inside a bag during a quiz or
exam; your instructor will not give you the benefit of the doubt if a cell phone is used or visible.
The CAS policy makes no distinction between the person receiving unauthorized assistance
(copying an assignment) and the person providing the assistance (allowing work to be copied);
both actions are academic misconduct.
All cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the CAS Dean's Office per Xavier's Academic
Integrity Policy. Any case of academic misconduct on assignments will result in a grade of zero for
the assignment and may result in a grade of F for the entire course. Premeditated academic
misconduct during an exam (for example, using a cell phone to text or preparing a “cheat sheet”)
will result in the student being asked to leave immediately and in a failing grade for the course.
Further comments regarding academic misconduct in writing lab reports and computer project
report are as follows.
 Copying any part of the report from the lab partner, or any other sources is plagiarism. In
cases where such is detected, all students involved will receive a grade of zero for the report
 It is never acceptable to falsify experimental data. Any lab reports with the data not taken in
the scheduled time by the student will receive a grade of zero.
 It is also considered cheating for a student to use somebody else’s electronic file as a template
to write the report, or for two students to collaborate on the same report.
Schedule
Two expeiments will be going on in each lab period due to the limited equipment. A pair of
students will work together to collect data in each lab period. The detailed schedule will be anounced by
the instructor. Each student will write 3 long lab reports, and 3 short reports which does not include
introduction as assigned by the instructor
WEEKS
1/14-1/18
1/21-1/25
1/28-2/01
2/04-2/08
2/11-2/15
2/18-2/22
2/25-3/01
3/04-3/08
3/11-3/15
3/18-3/22
3/25-3/23
3/26-3/29
4/01-4/05
4/08-4/12
4/15-4/19
4/22-4/26
4/29
M
Introduction
MLK Day
Lecture I
Lab 1
Mardi Gras
Lab 2
Lecture II
Lab 3
Lab 4
Lecture III
Spring Break
Lab 5
Lab 6
ACS Meeting
Oral report
Oral report
Final Exam
T
Introduction
Lecture I
Lab 1
Lab 2
Mardi Gras
Lecture II
Lab 3
Lab 4
Lecture III
Lab 5
Spring Break
Lab 6
Oral report
ACS Meeting
Oral report
Final Exam
W
Introduction
Lecture I
Lab 1
Lab 2
Mardi Gras
Lecture II
Lab 3
Lab 4
Lecture III
Lab 5
Spring Break
Lab 6
Oral report
ACS Meeting
Oral report
Final exam
F
R
Introduction Introduction
Lecture I
Lecture I
Lab 1
Lab 1
Lab 2
Lab 2
Lecture II
Lecture II
Lab 3
Lab 3
Lab 4
Lab 4
Lecture III
Lecture III
Lab 5
Lab 5
Lab 6
Lab 6
Spring Break Spring Break
Review
Review
Oral report
Oral report
ACS Meeting Oral report
TBA
Oral Report
Final exam
Final exam
Experiments to be performed in this course
Lecture and Experiment Topics
Introduction
Introduction to physical chemistry laboratory course.
Lect. I
Thermodynamics
Expt. 1
Heat Capacity of Gases
Expt. 2
Heat of Combustion
Lect. II
Kinetics and Colligative Properties
Expt. 3
Cryoscopic Determination of Molar Mass
Expt. 4
Kinetics and Mechanism of the Redox Reaction
Lect. III
Electrochemistry and Chemical Equilibrium
Expt. 5
Expt. 6
Temperature Dependence of Electromotive Force
Chemical Equilibrium in Solution