Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Chemistry 3550L
Fall Semester 2014
Instructor: Dr. John E. Hansen
Office: Room 2126
Phone: 678 839-6021
Laboratory: 2:30 - 4:30 TR
Office Hours: 7:30 – 9:30 MTWRF
e-mail: jhansen@westga.edu
Objectives: This is the first in a series of laboratory courses to familiarize the student with
the physical basis and application of chemical measurement. Special emphasis will be placed
on electronics, optical spectroscopy, kinetics and thermodynamics. This course has been
designated as a writing intensive course for the Writing Across the Curriculum Program
(WAC).
Course Outcomes: In this course, students will demonstrate their understanding of the
physical basis and general applications of experimental techniques in physical chemistry and
experimental instrumentation. In particular, they will demonstrate their ability in applying the
theories from thermodynamics, kinetics, quantum mechanics and spectroscopy to interpret
experimental data. They will also learn how to maintain a laboratory notebook – collect data
in a professionally acceptable way. Finally, they will demonstrate their ability to
communicate their data and results to others.
Tentative Laboratory Schedule
08/26
08/28
09/02
09/04
09/09 & 09/11
09/16 & 09/18
09/23 & 09/25
09/30 & 10/02
10/07 & 10/09
10/14 & 10/16
10/21 & 10/23
10/28 & 10/30
11/04 & 11/06
11/11 & 11/13
11/18 & 11/20
Writing Lab Reports
Error Analysis
Presentations
Lecture on First Set of Labs
Brownian Motion Lab
Viscosity Lab
Fluorescence Stokes shift
Fluorescence Quenching
Bomb Calorimetry
Kinetics of Bromophenol Blue Hydroxylation
Stopped Flow Kinetics
NMR Inversion Recovery Experiment
TBA
TBA
TBA
1
12/02 & 12/04
Oral Exams
Grading
Laboratory Reports (100 points each)
Oral Exams
1000
150
Total
1150
Grade Scale: > 90% = A; 80 - 90% = B; 70 - 80% = C; 60 - 70% = D; < 60% = F.
Writing Laboratory Reports
One of the purposes of an advanced laboratory course is to provide experience in
writing scientific reports. In accordance with the WAC requirement, we will edit and
grade each lab report. Resubmission of your report may occur if I deem it necessary.
2