CHEMISTY IN SOCIETY
NS110
Fall 2005
Instructor: Roger Blanchard, Ph.D.
Office: CRW Hall 311 phone ex. 2431
rblanchard@lssu.edu
Office Hours: T 8:00-10:00 am, R 1:00-3:00 pm
E-mail:
Required Textbook and Lab Manual: Chemistry in Context, Applying Chemistry to Society, 5th
edition and Chemistry in Context 5th addition Laboratory Manual
Welcome to “Chemistry in Society”! In this class we take the approach that non-science students
can best learn chemistry if the chemistry is introduced as we discuss societal problems that the
students are already somewhat familiar with and hopefully somewhat interested in! These “societal
problems” fall into three general categories: 1) the environment; 2) energy; and 3) health, medicine,
and drugs. Rather than use the standard chemistry pedagogy that starts with the structure of atoms
and continues through periodicity etc., we introduce the chemistry concepts on an as needed basis
to understand the application of chemistry to the real world problem at hand. The goal of this class
is to arm the student with a working understanding of chemistry and the scientific method that can
be applied on a daily basis in our technological society.
Lab Policies: Labs are a compulsory and an integral part of the course. You must read the lab
before the scheduled laboratory meeting! You must arrive on time for lab! There will be no make up
labs. Under special circumstances one lab, missed because of a documented medical reason, may
be waived. Each lab is worth 10 points. If you miss two labs you fail the course or you may
withdraw. There are no exceptions.
Lab Schedule
Lab number and title
3 – Weighing Air and Cooling Water: A Graphic Experience
6 – Visibly Delighted; A spectrophotometric Study of Color
Solutions
2 – Chromatographic Study of Felt-Tip Pen Inks
7 – Chemical Bonds, Molecular Models, and Molecular Shape
10 – Hot Stuff: An Energy Conservation Problem
11 – Comparison of the Energy Fuels
9 – Chemical Moles: Converting Baking Soda to Table Salt
13- Analysis of Vinegar and stream pH
24 -Classification and Identification of Common Plastics
26-Synthesis of Aspirin
Lab to be announced
4 – Solids in Cigarette Smoke
Grading:
5 quizzes
2 exams
1 Final
12 Labs
x
x
x
x
10 pts each
100 pts each
150 pts
10 pts each
=
=
=
=
50
200
150
120
520 pts total
A=90-100%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F<59%
Disability Services and Accommodations for Students. In compliance with Lake Superior
State University policy and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are
available. Students who desire such services are to meet with the professor in a timely manner,
preferably the first week of class, to discuss their disability-related needs. Students will not receive
services until they register with the Resource Center for Students with Disabilities (RCSD). Proper
registration will enable the RCSD to verify the disability and determine reasonable academic
accommodations. RCSD is located in KJS Library, Office 104, Ext. 2454 (Vicki Fox).
Academic Misconduct: Scholastic misconduct is cause for a failing grade, and I reserve the right
to place a letter about the incident in the student’s permanent file in the Office of Academic Affairs.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on assignments or examinations,
plagiarizing, misrepresenting as your own work any part of work done by another, or interfering with
another student’s work.
Finally, this syllabus is my best estimate of the topics we will cover. I reserve the right to modify this
syllabus as I see fit during the course of the semester.
Goal
The primary goal of this course is to promote critical thinking about important current technological
issues. The course will consider the interrelations of energy resources, environmental quality and
the impact of chemical technologies under review. Enough chemistry will be presented to
understand the technologies under review. A common theme in the course will be perception of
risk and the implementation of technologies, which involve chemistry.
Objectives
Chapter 1-The Air We Breathe
a). Learn the chemical symbols of common elements
b). Learn the distinguishing characteristics of atoms and molecules
c). Learn the differences between elements, compounds and mixtures
d). Learn the nature of earth’s atmosphere
e). Learn how to name inorganic compounds and determine chemical formulas
f). Learn the characteristics of oxygen that make it such as important atmospheric
molecule
g). Learn about common air pollutants
Chapter 2-Protecting the Ozone Layer
a). Learn the nature of ozone and where it is located
b). Learn about atomic structure and periodicity
c). Learn how to draw electron dot diagrams for molecules
d). Learn the nature of electromagnetic radiation
e). Learn about the oxygen/ozone screen in the stratosphere
f). Learn about the biological effects of ultraviolet radiation
g). Learn about how stratospheric ozone is destroyed
h). Learn about the nature of chlorofluorocarbons
i). Learn about how the Antarctic ozone hole is created
j). Learn about how the issue of stratospheric ozone destruction is being addressed
Chapter 3-The Chemistry of Global Warming
a). Learn about the earth’s energy balance
b). Learn about the shape of molecules, how molecules vibrate and why that is important in
terms of
absorbing infrared radiation
c). Learn the scientific history of the Greenhouse Effect including contributions by Jean
Bapiste Fourier,
Svante Arrhenius, John Tyndell and George Callender
d). Learn about the carbon cycle including contributions from nature and humans
e). Learn the quantitative concepts of atomic/molecular mass and moles
f). Learn about the characteristics of Greenhouse gases
g). Learn about the scientific evidence of global warming and the arguments made by
dissenters
h). Learn about the basics of the Kyoto Protocol and why the U.S. and several other
nations won’t sign it
Chapter 4-Energy, Chemistry and Society
a). Learn about the nature of energy, work and heat
b). Learn about how energy is released from chemical reactions
c). Learn about energy sources-oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, etc.
d). Learn about why oil is such an important energy sources
e). Learn about the nature of the global oil supply
f). Learn about how oil refineries work
g). Learn about alternatives to conventional energy sources
h). Learn about the virtues of energy conservation and efficiency
Chapter 5-The Water We Drink
a). Learn about where water comes from
b). Learn about water as a solvent
c). Learn the terms associated with solute concentrations in aqueous solutions
d). Learn about water’s molecular structure and physical properties
e). Learn about the nature of hydrogen bonding
f). Learn about water solutions of ionic compounds
g). Learn about covalent compounds and their solutions
h). Learn about federal legislation that protects drinking water
i). Learn about the process of municipal drinking water treatment
j). Learn about hard water, how lead gets into drinking water, the effects of lead on
humans, how
trihalomethanes get in drinking water
Chapter 6-Neutralizing the Threat of Acid Rain
a). Learn about what acids and bases are
b). Learn about neutralizing reactions
c). Learn about pH
d). Learn about the sources of acid in acid precipitation
e). Learn about the effects of acid precipitation on humans, materials, and ecosystems
f). Learn about control strategies
g). Learn about the politics of acid rain
Chapter 7-The Fires of Nuclear Fission
a). Learn about the nature of the nucleus and why some nuclei are unstable
b). Learn about the different types of nuclear reactions
c). Learn about how the fission reaction produces energy
d). Learn about how nuclear reactors produce electricity
e). Learn about how historically significant nuclear accidents occurred-Chernobyl and
Three Mile Island
f). Learn about radioactivity and the hazards of radioactivity
g). Learn about the half-life of radioactive materials
h). Learn about the long-term disposal of nuclear materials
i). Learn about the risks and benefits of nuclear power
Chapter 8-Energy of Electron Transfer
a). Learn the basics of how batteries work
b). Learn about the common commercially available batteries
c). Learn how the lead-acid battery works
d). Learn how fuel cells work
e). Learn about how a fuel cell powered vehicle works and the problems associated with
their widescale use
f). Learn about how water electrolysis is achieved
g). Learn about the hydrogen economy and the problems associated with its
implementation
h). Learn about how photovoltaic cells work
Chapter 9-The World of Plastics and Polymers
a). Learn about the nature of polymers
b). Learn about the major types of commercially available polymers
c). Learn about the process of polymerization
d). Learn, in detail, about how polyethylene is made
e). Learn about how condensation polymers are made
f). Learn about polyamides
g). Learn about the recycling of plastics
Chapter 10-Manipulating Molecules and Designing Drugs
a). Learn about carbon-containing molecules
b). Learn about functional groups
c). Learn about how aspirin works
d). Learn about modern drug design
e). Learn about right- and left-handed molecules
f). Learn about steroids-cholesterol, sex hormones and more
g). Learn about “The Pill” and how it works
h). Learn about anabolic steroids and designer steroids
i). Learn about drugs of abuse-marajuana, MDMA, OxyContin, etc.
Chapter 11-Nutrition: Food for Thought
a). Learn about food categories-carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
b). Learn about saturated and unsaturated fats and oils
c). Learn about the nature of cholesterol
d). Learn about vitamins
e). Learn about the importance of minerals
f). Learn about how energy is derived from food