Chemistry 140A Syllabus
California State University, Sacramento
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Fall 2016, Chemistry 140 A – Physical Chemistry Lecture I (3 units)
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Tues, Thurs 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
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Eureka Hall 309
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Instructor:
Office Hours:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Website:
Benjamin Gherman
Wednesdays, 11:00a.m. – 12:30p.m. and by appointment
(appointments must be made 24 hours ahead)
Sequoia Hall 416-C
916-278-6600
ghermanb@csus.edu (please include “Chem140A” in the subject line)
www.csus.edu/indiv/g/ghermanb/F16_140A.htm
Course description
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Introduction to chemical thermodynamics and kinetics. Prerequisite: CHEM 001B, CHEM 024, CHEM 031,
MATH 032, PHYS 005A, PHYS 005B, or PHYS 011A, PHYS 011B, PHYS 011C; PHYS 011C may be taken
concurrently.
Course Texts
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Required:
T. Engel, P. Reid, “Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Kinetics,” 3rd edition, 2012. (ISBN: 0-32176618-0)
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Recommended:
T. Engel, P. Reid, Student Solutions Manual for “Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Kinetics,” 3rd
edition, 2012. (Solutions Manual ISBN: 0-321-76684-9)
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Course Website
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The course website is www.csus.edu/indiv/g/ghermanb/F16_140A.htm. The main page of the website will show
announcements, and have links to the syllabus, course calendar, and homework assignments. Solutions to quizzes,
exams, and practice exams can be found here. Any material presented in PowerPoint in lectures will also be posted.
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Chemistry 140A Syllabus
Problem Sets
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Problem sets composed of problems from the text will be assigned approximately weekly. Homework assignments
will generally be assigned on Tuesdays; it is expected that they will be completed within one week.
Solutions to the problems will be posted on the course website on the same day that homework is assigned. It is
strongly recommended that the solutions not be accessed until after the problem set is completed. The solutions are
provided to check your work and should not be used as a crutch for solving the problems.
Problems sets will neither be collected nor graded. They will however form in part the basis for the quizzes.
Quizzes
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A total of 8 quizzes will be given during the course of the semester. Each quiz will be worth 20 points. Your lowest
quiz score will be dropped. There will be no make-up quizzes; if you miss a quiz, your score on that quiz will be 0.
Quizzes are generally scheduled for the Thursday of every week (see page 4 for details), except for exam weeks.
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Each quiz will be comprised of 2-3 problems. At least one of these problems will be taken directly from the past
week’s problem set (only the numbers will change; everything else will remain exactly the same as the assigned
problem). Consequently, careful attention to the problem sets will lead to greatly improved quiz performance.
Exams
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There will be 3 exams and a final exam according to the following schedule:
Exam 1
Thursday, September 29
Exam 2
Thursday, October 27
Exam 3
Tuesday, November 22
Final Exam
Thursday, December 15, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Each mid-term exam will be worth 100 points; the final exam will be worth 150 points. There will be no make-up
exams. If you miss an examination, your score will zero. Exceptions regarding missed exams will be made only in
legitimate cases, in which case an appropriate fraction of the final exam score will replace the missed exam.
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Regrade Requests
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All regrade requests must be made in writing within 1 week of when papers are returned. Your attached note must
make clear why you think an error exists. Any requests beyond this point will be not be considered.
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Course Grade
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Grades in the course will be based on the total number of points received on quizzes and exams:
7 best quizzes
x 20 pts each
= 140 points
3 mid-term exams
x 100 pts each
= 300 points
1 final exam
x 150 pts each
= 150 points
----------------590 points
Grade Scale (Subject to Change)
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A to AB to BC to CD to DF
100-90%
89-80%
79-70%
69-60%
<60%
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Chemistry 140A Syllabus
Attendance
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Class sessions will typically involve a mix of lecture, example problems, and in-class exercises. Lectures will not
repeat the content of the assigned readings and will be used to highlight key points, concepts, and applications.
Quizzes and exams will be based upon both the material from class and the readings. Thus, attendance is highly
encouraged.
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How to succeed in this course
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 Complete the assigned readings before the class session. Lecture can than serve to reinforce, build upon, and
add to the material in the text.
 Allow adequate time to complete the homework assignments. Completion of the homework is crucial to
developing a real understanding of the material. The importance of the homework lies not so much in obtaining
the right numerical answer at the end of a problem, but much more so in experiencing how concepts, equations,
and questions work together. Homework provides essential practice of the steps involved in solving a full range
of thermodynamics problems.
 Review the solutions posted on the course webpage for homeworks, quizzes, and exams. Do not peak into your
solutions manuals until you have worked on the homework problems yourself.
 One of the most important goals of the course is to learn to how to approach and solve thermodynamics and
kinetics problems. On all homeworks, quizzes, and exams, you must show your work to receive full credit on a
problem.
 Take advantage of the resources available to you. Ask questions when there are things you don’t understand.
Come to my office hours. Visit the course webpage regularly.
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Academic Dishonesty
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Academic integrity is essential to a positive teaching and learning environment. All students enrolled in University
courses are expected to complete coursework responsibilities with fairness and honesty. Failure to do so by seeking
unfair advantage over others or misrepresenting someone else's work as your own can result in disciplinary action.
The University policy on academic honesty can be found at http://www.csus.edu/umanual/student/STU-0100.htm.
Special Needs
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Students with special needs should contact the office of Services to Students with Disabilities
(http://www.csus.edu/sswd/sswd.html, Lassen Hall 1008, 916-278-6955) and be prepared to provide them with
disability documentation. Please then discuss accommodation needs with me after class or during my office hours
early in the semester.
Disruptive Classroom Behavior
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Please silence all cell phones during class. You may use an audio recorder if you wish.
page 3
Chemistry 140A Syllabus
Course Calendar
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T 8/30
R 9/1
T 9/6
R 9/8
T 9/13
R 9/15
T 9/20
R 9/22
T 9/27
R 9/29
T 10/4
R 10/6
T 10/11
R 10/13
T 10/18
R 10/20
T 10/25
R 10/27
T 11/1
R 11/3
T 11/8
R 11/10
T 11/15
R 11/17
T 11/22
R 11/24 *NO CLASS *
(Thanksgiving)
T 11/29
R 12/1
T 12/6
R 12/8
R 12/15
(10:15am – 12:15p.m.)
topic
intro to thermodynamics
The First Law
reading
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Internal Energy and
Enthalpy
Thermochemistry
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
The Second and Third Laws
Chapter 5
EXAM #1
Equilibrium
Chapter 6
Properties of Gases
Chapter 7
Phase Equilibria
Chapter 8
EXAM #2
Solutions
Chapter 9
Electrolyte Solutions
Chapter 10
Electrochemistry
Chapter 11
homeworks & quizzes
HW #1 due
quiz #1
HW #2 due
quiz #2
HW #3 due
quiz #3
HW #4 due
HW #5 due
quiz #4
HW #6 due
quiz #5
HW #7 due
HW #8 due
quiz #6
HW #9 due
HW #10 due / quiz #7
EXAM #3
Kinetics
Chapter 18
Reaction Mechanisms
Chapter 19
HW #11 due / quiz #8
HW #12 due
FINAL EXAM
Note: This schedule is tentative and subject to change. However, the dates of the exams will remain fixed.
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