COURSE PLAN for CHEM3040LB
ADVANCED PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
Fall 2012
Class Specs:
Instructor:
1 s.h. Class hours: Monday 2:00-4:50 PM; Classroom: 36-310
Dr. Jian Zhang: Office, 37-340: Phone, x7372: E-mail, jzhang@xula.edu
Office Hours: MW 10:00 am -12:00 pm, R 9:00 am -11:00 am or by appointment.
Course Description:
A selection of experiments featuring the applications of the principles of physical chemistry in
spectroscopy and other areas. Experiments include the use of physical chemistry techniques to
examine the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
Prerequisites: CHEM3210/3210LB: Prerequisites or co-requisites: CHEM3040.
Course Materials:
“Experiments in Physical Chemistry,” 8th ed. 2009, D.P.Shoemaker, C.W. Gaeland, and J.W.
Nibler, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
“A laboratory Manual for Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory,” 7th Ed. 2012, Jian Zhang,
Xavier University of Louisiana.
A standard laboratory notebook
Safety glasses and lab coat.
Course Objectives:
Upon the successful completion of this course the students should be able to
 determine atomic and molecular properties using spectroscopy and other methods.
 perform accurate measurements and access the reliability of the collected data.
 perform data analysis and error analysis to obtain useful physical properties of molecules.
 write the formal scientific reports. .
Course Requirements:
 Attendance and participation in the laboratory is required. Any missed lab due to excused
absence must be made up and arranged in advance.
 Students are responsible for keeping a detailed and complete laboratory notebook of the work done
in lab. A carbon copy must be attached at the end of the lab report when the report is turned in.
 A pre-lab exercise assignment will be given or posted on the Blackboard one week prior to a
scheduled experiment. It must be turned in before the experiment starts.
 A written report must be submitted for each experiment. The report is due two week after the
completion of the scheduled experiment. The late reports are penalized at 2 points per weekday
for up to 3 weeks. The report will receive a grade of zero after it has passed due date three weeks.
The early reports are credited at 2 points per weekday for up to one week.


Please follow all safety procedures in the laboratory. Failure to follow safety regulations may lower
your grades.
An independent project may be carried out. A comprehensive final exam will be given at the end
of the semester.
Course Evaluation:
The final grade consists of notebooks, (5@10pts), lab reports (5@60pts), independent project
(50pts) and final exam (50pts). The letter grade will be assigned on the following: A (86-100%), B (7685%), C (66-75%), D (56-65%), F (<55%).
Academic Misconduct
Cheating, as defined by University policy, will result in an automatic grade of F and possible
disciplinary action by the University for all parties involved. The full text of academic integrity and
academic misconduct policy can be found at http://www.xula.edu/cas.
Duplication of any part of a report from partner or any other sources is considered cheating.
Writing a lab report must be an individual effort, not a collaborative work. Closely working on the
same report with the partner, which will result in the highly similar reports, will significantly reduce
the grades of both reports.
Evacuation Policy
In the event that classes are cancelled due to hurricane evacuation, assignments and other
course materials will be posted on the blackboard and e-mailed to all students.
Schedule:
Week
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3-4
Week 5-6
Week 7-8
Week 9-10
Week 11-12
Week 13-14
Week 15
Lectures and Experiments
Hurricane
Labor Day
Introduction: Advance Physical Chemistry Lab
Lecture: Atomic structure and atomic spectrum
Experiment 1: Atomic spectra of hydrogen and deuterium atoms
Lecture: Model for translational motion of electron: “Particle in a box”
Experiment 2: Absorption spectra of conjugated dyes
Lecture: Electronic spectra of molecules
Experiment 3: Absorption spectrum and dissociation energy of iodine or bromine
Lecture: Magnetism and electronic structures of transition metal ions
Experiment 4: Magnetic moments of paramagnetic salts
Lecture: Vibration-rational spectra of a diatomic molecule
Experiment 5: Vibration-rational spectra of HCl and DCl
Independent project: Synthesis and UV spectra of gold nanoparticle
Final exam