General Chemistry 1 Lab
CHEM 1215, Spring 2012
Science 204
Section 01: Wed 1:00 – 2:50
Section 02: Wed 4:00 – 6:50
Instructor: W. Dale Felix, dfelix@dixie.edu
Course Description: This course will familiarize you with laboratory techniques/equipment common to chemistry laboratories and reinforce concepts learned in lecture. There are 4 main themes that we will focus on during the semester that repeat in any chemistry laboratory: Moles, Mole Quantities, Concentrations and Equivalencies. Each Lab
Report will reflect any or all of these themes if applicable.
Co-requisite: CHEM 1210. If you drop lecture, you must also drop lab.
Office Hours: To be determined, Room 108
Required Materials:
1) Textbook: Experiments in General Chemistry. Ebbing Gammon, 9 th ed. 2009. If you do not want to purchase the entire text, you can purchase the specific chapters being used from www.ichapters.com
. If you purchase specific chapters in this way, also purchase Appendix A and B.
2) Scientific Calculator
3) Student Lab Notebook, Carbonless, 100 pages
3) Safety goggles – You can use ours or get your own; they must be chemical safety goggles.
Tentative Schedule:
Date Lab
Jan 11
Safety Check in
Jan 18
Jan 25
Exp 2: Isotopes and Mass Spectroscopy
Exp 1C: Some Measurements of Mass and Volume
Feb 1
Feb 8
Exp 1B: Separation of a mixture by Paper Chromatography
Exp 1A: Identification of an Unknown Compound
Feb 15
Feb 22
Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide
Exp 3B: Hydrates and their Thermal Decomposition
Feb 29
Mar 7
Exp 4B: Ionic Reactions in Aqueous Solutions
Exp 6: Thermochemistry and Hess’s Law
Mar 14
Mar 21
Spring Break
Exp 7: The Absorption Spectrum of Cobalt(II)Chloride
Mar 28
Apr 4
Exp: Handout – Molecular Geometry and Hybridization
Exp 5A: Boyles Law and the Empty Space in Air
Apr 11
Apr 18
Exp 5B: The Decomposition of Potassium Chlorate
Student presentations
Apr 25 Student presentations
WD Felix, Chem 1215, Spring 2012 ---- 4 Jan 2012

Each Lab is worth a maximum of 100 points, Poster Presentation 100 points.
Grading: Grades will be determined by percentages based on overall points available
A A-
≥ 93 92.99-90
B+ B B-
89.99-87 86.99-83 82.99-80
C+ C C-
79.99-77 76.99-73 72.99-70
D+ D D- F
69.99-67 66.99-63 62.99-60 <60
You will lose one letter grade for each lab that is missed. You are expected to attend the section of lab you registered for so be sure you attend the correct section. Makeup labs are NOT available. We recognize that an emergency or sickness may cause you to miss a lab; therefore, one lab may be dropped without penalty. However, if you will not be able to attend a particular lab, let me know in advance and I may be able to arrange for you to attend a lab earlier or later in the week.
Poster Presentations: The last 2 class periods of the semester will consist of poster presentations by student groups. Groups will be
2 persons in size and posters will reflect on a lab that we performed during the course of the semester. The posters will focus on the experimental work and data in context of the main themes of the semester. Students will also give a 10 minute presentation of their work in the lab class. All students will attend the entire event or lose half of the credit given for their poster and presentation. Ten percent (10%) of your grade will be determined by the poster presentation at the end of the semester.
Late lab report policy: Pre-lab assignments are due when you walk in the door; they will not be accepted after that. Laboratory reports are due at the beginning of the next week’s lab session. Late reports will lose 5 points for each week late for that report.
Laboratory Safety: The chemistry lab can be a dangerous place if certain safety rules are not followed. In light of this we will require each student abides by certain safety policies and procedures when working in the chemistry lab. Failure to comply with these procedures will result in the student being asked to leave the laboratory and being assigned a “0” on the lab. You will be required to wear departmental approved safety goggles, long pants, and closed-toed shoes at all times when working in the lab. This means that on lab days you must plan ahead to assure you will not be in violation of laboratory dress-code.
WITHDRAWAL: March 2 - Last day to DROP or AUDIT classes.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken each class period and a withdrawal (W/Y) MAY be initiated if not present on the first day of class. Withdrawal from class is the student's responsibility. See the current Dixie State College catalog for withdrawal procedures. It is my experience that attendance and class performance are very closely related; arrive prepared and on time each day.
STUDY HABITS AND WORK ETHIC: This is a rigorous class. It requires a great deal of time to master the material covered in this course. Students MUST work preliminary study problems before coming to the lab.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you are a student with a documented physical or mental impairment that will substantially limit a major life activity, please contact the Disability Resource Center on the main campus. The Center Coordinator and staff will assist you in analyzing your eligibility for services. If you are deemed eligible, reasonable accommodations that are appropriate for your disability will be assigned. If you have any questions concerning this process, please contact the
Center at 652-7516; we are located in the Student Services Center, Room #201 of the Edith Whitehead Building.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER: Excellent resource for FREE tutoring and other assistance.
The Tutoring Center is located in the Browning Resource Center (downstairs from Testing Center).
WD Felix, Chem 1215, Spring 2012 ---- 4 Jan 2012