Kuwata
Fall 2010
Chemistry 111. General Chemistry I: Structure and Equilibrium (Sections 02 and 03)
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Keith T. Kuwata, Olin-Rice 318, 696-6768, kuwata@macalester.edu.
Web page: www.macalester.edu/~kuwata (for class handouts, slides, and answer keys)
REQUIRED TEXT: Martin S. Silberberg, Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change, 5th
Edition, Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009.
ALSO REQUIRED: A scientific calculator, preferably one that solves equations (such as a TI-83).
DESCRIPTION: This course, along with Chemistry 112 offered in the spring semester, lays the
foundation for all subsequent study in chemistry. During this semester, we will focus on the key chemical
themes of structure and equilibrium. We start with a quick review of typical high school topics like
atoms, molecules, and ionic compounds, writing equations to describe chemical reactions, particularly, in
solution, mass and mole relationships, and stoichiometry (Chapters 1-4). The first four lab experiments
will help review these topics as well as the basics of ideal gas behavior (Chapter 5).
The rest of the semester fleshes out the themes of structure and equilibrium. First, we introduce
key concepts about light and quantum mechanics and use them to explain the properties of atoms and the
structure of the periodic table (Chapters 7 and 8). Next, we develop a set of powerful models that explain
how atoms form chemical bonds, and how macroscopic, observable properties result from the threedimensional structures of inorganic and organic molecules (Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 23). We conclude
with a rigorous mathematical treatment of chemical equilibrium—that is, the mixture of reactants and
products spontaneously sought in a chemical reaction. We pay particular attention to gas-phase reactions
relevant to atmospheric chemistry, as well as the solution-phase reactions of acids and bases, whose
properties are critical for understanding the chemistry of natural waters and of living systems. Chemistry
112 will pick up the theme of spontaneity in chemical reactions, explaining equilibrium in terms of the
laws of thermodynamics.
LECTURES: MWF from 10:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. (Section 2), or from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. (Section
3) in Olin-Rice 350. Attendance is not mandatory, but highly encouraged. It is your responsibility to
read (or at least skim) the assigned sections of Silberberg (see p. 3) before lectures on the material begin.
Doing the reading will help you understand the lectures better, and equip you to ask questions during and
after class.
LABORATORIES: Usually in Olin-Rice 343. Attendance every week is mandatory. Please see p. 4 for
the schedule of experiments. Lab work begins the week of September 13. You will be provided a pair of
goggles, a manual, and a notebook. More details will be provided separately by your lab instructor
PROBLEM SETS: You will be required to turn in solutions to selected problems (usually from the end
of a chapter in Silberberg) 12 times this semester. Assignments will be handed out at least one week
before they are due (see p. 3 for the due dates). Homework must be turned in by 4:00 p.m. (in the
appropriate mailbox next to Olin-Rice 310), and no late homework will be accepted for any reason.
However, I will drop your lowest two homework scores in computing your course grade.
Doing the assigned homework is an essential part of learning the material and doing well on
exams. You cannot learn chemistry without repeated problem solving. However, do not expect the
specific problems I assign to be a targeted rehearsal for, or preview of, test questions. The goal is for you
to master concepts and principles on which you will be tested. You are encouraged to work with other
people, but what you turn in must be your own work. You should also make time to do additional
Page 1 of 4
Kuwata
Chemistry 111
Fall 2010
problems as you study for this course. Answers to the end-of-chapter problems numbered in blue can be
found in Appendix E of your text. Please feel free to ask me about any problem, assigned or unassigned.
You should show in writing the process by which you have obtained your answers. Explanations
should be clear and concise. In addition, final numerical answers must contain the correct number of
significant figures (see pp. 27-31 of Silberberg for rules) and have the right physical units attached to
receive full credit. I will hold you to the same standards when I grade your exams.
Student teaching assistants will grade problem sets according to answer keys I write. Any
questions about the grading of an assignment should be directed to me.
Note that Problem Sets 3, 6, and 9, which are due the class periods immediately before tests, will
not be graded before the tests are administered. However, my solutions for these (and all other) problems
sets will be posted on the course web page to help you study.
TESTS: There will be four hour tests consisting of math problems, short answer questions, and
sometimes a few multiple-choice questions. You will be responsible only for material from lecture and
problem sets. I will grade your tests, and post answer keys documenting how I assigned points.
The final exam for both Sections 02 and 03 will be Thursday, December 16, from 4:00-6:00
p.m. The final will not be administered at any other time--make your travel plans accordingly!
One half of the final will test material covered after the fourth hour exam, and the other half will be a
comprehensive, standardized multiple-choice exam from the American Chemical Society. (Note that
Macalester chemistry students have an excellent track record on these standardized exams!)
If you have a legitimate reason for missing the scheduled time for an hour exam, such as an
athletic event, you must take the test before you leave for the event. If you are seriously ill the day before
an hour exam, I may grant you a postponement if you contact me before the exam. If I grant you a
postponement, you must make every effort to make up the test before the next class period, when I will
usually hand the graded exams back.
GRADING: Homework: 15%
Lab Work: 20%
4 Hour Exams: 50%
Final: 15%
Grades will be assigned using a curve based on your cumulative percentage of points. However,
everyone who earns at least 90% is guaranteed an A or an A-. Typically, if your cumulative score is close
to the class average, you will receive a B. Note that non-permanent midterm grades will be assigned
based on the first two hour exams only
GETTING HELP: I will be usually be available in my office Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from
1:00-2:00 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. If you cannot make one of these
scheduled office hours, you can also make an appointment with me, or just come by—I’ll usually be
somewhere in Olin-Rice during the day. Other helpful people include the chemistry major tutors in the
department computer lab (OR 341, hours to be announced), the MAX Center tutors, the other Chemistry
111 instructor, Prof. Susan Green, and the Chemistry Department Laboratory Supervisor, Dr. Rob Rossi.
We are all eager to help you master the material in this course!
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Obtaining copies of tests prior to their administration, using unauthorized
materials during tests, sharing or stealing information during an exam, alteration of a graded exam and
then requesting a re-grade, copying another student’s lab data, lab report, or homework, or copying
homework keys from past years, all constitute cheating and are forbidden. As per the Macalester Student
Handbook, I will report any clear violation of the above integrity standards to Ann Minnick, the Director
of Academic Programs.
Page 2 of 4
Kuwata
Chemistry 111
Fall 2010
COURSE SCHEDULE
Date
9/8
9/10
9/13
9/15
9/17
9/20
9/22
9/24
9/27
9/29
10/1
10/4
10/6
10/8
10/11
10/13
10/15
10/18
10/20
10/22
10/25
10/27
10/28
10/29
11/1
11/3
11/5
11/8
11/10
11/12
11/15
11/17
11/19
11/22
11/24
11/25
11/26
11/29
12/1
12/3
12/6
12/8
12/10
12/13
Day
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
Th
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
W
Th
F
M
W
F
M
W
F
M
What’s Due?
PS 1
PS 2
PS 3
PS 4
PS 5
PS 6
PS 7
PS 8
PS 9
PS 10
PS 11
PS 12
Topics/Event--Silberberg reading assignments in ( )
Fundamentals of Chemistry (read Ch. 1 pp. 27-32; skim rest of Ch1)
(read Ch. 2 pp. 52-71)
(read Ch. 4 pp. 141-153)
(Fundamentals of Chemistry continued)
(read Ch. 3 pp. 90-96; 104-112; 114-118; 121-123)
(Fundamentals of Chemistry continued)
Light, Quantum Mechanics, and the Atom (Ch. 7)
TEST 1: Lectures thru 9/20; PS 1, 2, and 3
(Light, Quantum Mechanics and the Atom continued)
(Light, Quantum Mechanics, and the Atom continued)
(Light, Quantum Mechanics, and the Atom continued)
(Light, Quantum Mechanics, and the Atom continued)
Multi-Electron Atoms; Periodic Table (Ch. 8; not pp. 325-327)
(Multi-Electron Atoms; Periodic Table continued)
(Multi-Electron Atoms; Periodic Table continued)
(Multi-Electron Atoms; Periodic Table continued)
Chemical Bonding (Sections 9.1, 9.2 (skim only), 9.3, 9.5, 10.1)
TEST 2: Lectures thru 10/13; PS 4, 5, and 6
(Chemical Bonding continued)
(Chemical Bonding continued)
Molecular Shape and VSEPR Theory (skim Sections 10.2-10.3)
Molecular Orbital Theory (Section 11.3)
Fall Break (no class)
Fall Break (no class)
(Molecular Orbital Theory continued)
(Molecular Orbital Theory continued)
Hybridization (Sections 11.1-11.2)
(Hybridization continued)
Coordination Compounds (pp. 1024-1025, skim Sects 23.4, 23.5)
TEST 3: Lectures thru 11/8; PS 7, 8, and 9
(Coordination Compounds continued)
(Coordination Compounds continued)
Chemical Equilibrium (Ch. 17; not Section 17.3)
(Chemical Equilibrium continued)
(Chemical Equilibrium continued)
Thanksgiving Break (no class)
Thanksgiving Break (no class)
(Chemical Equilibrium continued)
Acid-Base Chemistry (Sections 18.1-18.7)
(Acid-Base Chemistry Continued)
TEST 4: Lectures thru 11/29; PS 10 and 11
(Acid-Base Chemistry Continued)
(Acid-Base Chemistry Continued)
(Acid-Base Chemistry Continued)
Thursday, December 16, 4:00-6:00 p.m.—Comprehensive Final Examination
(same time for both Sections 02 and 03)
Page 3 of 4
CHEMISTRY 111 FALL 2010 LAB SCHEDULE: MACALESTER COLLEGE
Lab will meet in OR 343 unless an alternate location is indicated below.
Monday
Sep 6
Labor
Day
Sep 13
Sep 20*
Sep 27*
Oct 4*
Oct 11*
Oct 18*
Oct 25
Nov 1*
Nov 8*
Nov 15*
Tuesday
7
Wed
8
Thursday
9
10
Classes begin
No lab this week
14
An Atomic
Introduction to Excel
(in OR 341)
21
Ion Recovery
(and lab check-in)
28
Stoichiometry:
Vitamin C
5
Reaction of Al and
Zn with HCl
12
Investigating Periodic
Trends
19
Cobalt Complex
Synthesis
15
An Atomic
Introduction to Excel
(in OR 341)
22
Ion Recovery
(and lab check-in)
29
Stoichiometry:
Vitamin C
6
Reaction of Al and
Zn with HCl
13
Investigating Periodic
Trends
20
Cobalt Complex
Synthesis
16
An Atomic
Introduction to Excel
(in OR 341)
23
Ion Recovery
(and lab check-in)
30
Stoichiometry:
Vitamin C
7
Reaction of Al and
Zn with HCl
14
Investigating Periodic
Trends
21
Cobalt Complex
Synthesis
26
No lab this week
27
No lab this week
28
Midterm
2
3
No lab this week
Fri
No lab this week
4
VSEPR: Molecular
VSEPR: Molecular
Shapes (in OR 341)
Shapes (in OR 341)
9
10
11
Visualizing Molecular
Visualizing Molecular
Visualizing Molecular
Orbitals (in OR 341)
Orbitals (in OR 341)
Orbitals (in OR 341)
16
17
18
Cobalt Complex
Cobalt Complex
Cobalt Complex
Analysis
Analysis
Analysis
VSEPR: Molecular
Shapes (in OR 341)
17
24
Oct 1
8
15
22
29
Break
5
12
19
Nov 22
23
No lab this week
24
No lab this week
25
Thanksgiving
26
Break
Nov 29*
30
Chemical Equilibrium
Dec 1
Chemical Equilibrium
2
3
7
8
9
Dec 6*
Dec 13
Classes
end
Unknown Acid
Titration
(and lab check-out)
14
Study day
Unknown Acid
Titration
(and lab check-out)
15
Final exams
Chemical Equilibrium
Unknown Acid
Titration
(and lab check-out)
16
Final exams
10
17
Final
exams
* Your Advance Study Assignment (ASA) for the upcoming lab experiment is due (for all laboratory sections) by
4:00 pm on the indicated day. Please turn in your ASA to the appropriate mailbox slot outside of OR 310.