Chemistry 581
Advanced Analytical Chemistry
Winter 2012
Dr. Ruth Ann Armitage
Office:
Science Addition 501J
Office hours: M 4-5 pm, Tues 2-4 pm, Wed 10 am-noon; other times by appointment
Phone:
487-0290
Email: rarmitage@emich.edu
th
Required textbooks: Skoog, Holler and Neiman’s “Principles of Instrumental Analysis” 5 ed.
(ISBN 0-03-002078-6)
nd
rd
ACS Style Guide, 2 ed. (ISBN 0-8412-3462-0) or 3 ed.
Third edition can be ordered here: http://pubs.acs.org/page/books/styleguide/index.html.
Class time:
5:30-6:45 pm TTh
Classroom: Strong 241
Prerequisites:
Instrumental Analysis (Chem 481) and 1 year of Physical Chemistry
Other required materials: access to the internet
Course reserve site: http://reserves.emich.edu, select Chem 581. Password is instrument.
Because this is a graduate level course, the format will be slightly different than Chem 481. While a
portion of the course will be lecture, there will also be reading assignments from journals that will be discussed in
class. This requires that you have read the journal article before coming to class and are prepared to participate
in the discussion. Emphasis will be on understanding the use, limitations, and applications of various
instrumental methods. The final goals of this course are for you to (1) understand chemical instrumentation and
analysis; (2) to be able to read a journal article critically and evaluate the quality of the information; and (3)
communicate about analytical chemistry effectively in writing and discussion. There is very little math in this
course, so the majority of your grade will come from your ability to clearly explain concepts in written form.
Grading:
There will be two exams, one at midterm and a final. The final will cover only the second half of the
material covered.
Exam 1
Exam 2
February 23
April 24
In addition to the exams, there will be several writing assignments. Over the course of the semester,
you will write five short reviews and one long review of journal articles that are either provided to you on the
course reserve site or that you are assigned to find on your own. Reviews are not summaries, but critically
evaluate the science – in this case the analytical chemistry – used in the experiments. More information on the
review papers will be provided separately. You will also be writing a review paper on a specific analytical
problem, for which more information will be provided as well. We will be discussing some of the assigned papers
in class; your participation is required and will be a part of your grade.
Two exams, 150 points each
SIX short review papers (20 pts each)
SIX presentations (15 pts each)
Group work
Participation (10 pts/discussion)
TOTAL
300 pts
120 pts
90 pts
20 pts
60 pts
590 points
The rules, etc:
What I hope to accomplish in the class will only happen if we all put in the required effort. This includes
attendance – on time – to all lectures. I will not take attendance, but I expect you to be in class because your
participation is required. Only those who have read the assigned materials before coming to class may
participate in discussions. YOU are responsible for everything that occurs during class time. You must have a
documented excuse for making up any in-class assignments (including exams). Excused absences include
illness (requires a doctor’s note), court appearance, religious holiday that EMU does not observe, death in your
family, etc. All excused absences require documentation and, where possible, prior approval (i.e. court
appearances and religious holidays).
While working in a group is a vital part of becoming a good scientist, take credit only for what you have done.
University and departmental policies on cheating, which includes plagiarism, will be enforced in all assignments.
Policies are attached to this syllabus.
Grade distribution is:
A
93-100%
A90-92%
B+
87-89%
C+
77-79%
D+
67-69%
B
83-86%
C
73-76%
D
63-66%
B80-82%
C70-72%
D60-62%
Note: These values will never be increased, though the minimum values may be lowered at my
discretion.
Tentative topics schedule (the column “Skoog” refers to chapters/sections of the text to read before each
class; “Style Guide” is required reading from that book. Additional reading will be posted on e-reserves.)
Topic
January
Feb
March
April
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
10
12
17
19
24
26
31
2
7
9
14
16
21
23
28
1
6
8
13
15
20
22
27
29
3
5
10
12
17
19
24
Intro and syllabus, Analytical chemistry literature
Figures of merit and experimental design
Literature discussion #1, short presentations
Atomic X-ray Spectroscopy
X-ray spec, cont’d
Applications of x-ray spectroscopies- discussion
Presentations on x-ray spectroscopy
Radiochemical methods (INAA)
Finish INAA, start radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating (figures of merit in action)
Radiocarbon, cont’d
Literature discussion- radiochemical methods
Presentations on radiochemical methods
Exam 1
No class: Winter Break
No class: Winter Break
Surface analysis
Surface analysis cont’d
Group work on surface analysis, short presentations
Applications of surface analysis discussion
Surface analysis presentations
Raman spectroscopy
Raman cont’d
Applications of Raman spectroscopy- discussion
Raman spectroscopy presentations
Mass spectrometry
Cont’d
Cont’d
Applications of mass spectrometry- discussion
Mass spec presentations
Exam 2
Skoog
Style
Guide
App III&IV
1D-E, 5
Ch. 10
12
Ch. 12
32
Ch 1
Ch. 3
21
Ch. 4
20
Ch. 6
More information on grading
Rubrics will be provided for all writing assignments. These provide guidelines for how I will assign points for all
assignments. No late papers will be accepted. All writing assignments are due at the beginning of class, unless
otherwise stated.
Exams
There are two exams at midterm and a final. The final is not comprehensive, but covers only the second
half of the material. Exams are open-note; thus, the emphasis of the exams will not be simple recall of facts.
Your understanding of the concepts presented in lecture and discussion will be tested instead. For example,
instead of asking you to list the capabilities and limitations of radiocarbon dating (which are clearly given in the
notes), I might give you an excerpt from a paper that used radiocarbon dating and ask you to point out what is
wrong. Questions can be answered in point form rather than in complete paragraphs to save time. The exams
will start at 5:30 pm, regular class starting time, and all exams will be collected by 7:15 pm (an extra 30 minutes).
Short review papers
You will write a total of SIX short review papers on individual research papers from the literature. These
papers should be 2-3 pages long and will consist of a critical review of the analytical chemistry in the paper.
Critical review requires you to think about the appropriateness of the technique used, the limitations and
capabilities of the technique, figures of merit, etc. The ACS Style Guide contains instructions for citing journals,
general English usage help, and numerous chemistry-specific writing tips. Specific guidelines for each paper will
be provided. Each short review paper is worth 20 points. These papers are closely linked to your presentations.
Presentations
Each topic will be followed by discussion of applications of the technique. Typically two students will
present a paper on an application. Presentations will last 6-10 minutes depending on the number of people in the
class. The time should be equally divided between group members. One person should address why the
method in the paper was chosen for the specific application and how it was (or was not) the appropriate method.
The other should describe the results. You may each prepare no more than three overheads to aid in your
presentation (graphs from the papers, etc.). Each presentation is worth 15 points.
Participation
Discussions require participation. There will be a maximum of 10 points available during each
discussion session; attendance at the discussions earns three base points. An additional 7 points will be
available for asking pertinent questions, either orally (preferred) or on the review sheets.
General Guidelines for Writing
Use the ACS Style Guide for all formatting, grammar, and usage questions. Spelling and formatting are
important, if often overlooked, parts of communication. Formal writing is different from every-day spoken
English. All scientific writing should be formal, without contractions and colloquialisms. It should also be
concise; resist the temptation to use more words than are necessary. Perfect English grammar and usage are
not expected from the start. However, you are expected to continuously improve over the course of the
semester. Proofreading your work before you submit it will help significantly; it is even better to have someone
else read over your papers. Appropriate citations are absolutely vital in written communication. Use your own
words to summarize the work of others. Quotations are used sparingly, if ever, in scientific writing.
Academic Projects Center
The Academic Projects Center (116 Halle Library, 11 am-5 pm M-Th) is a resource for helping you to
develop ideas, focus your writing, etc. No appointments are needed, just drop in. Take a draft of what you're
working on and your assignment with you. The APC can also provide help in writing for students who have
difficulties writing in English as a second language.
Students with Disabilities
If you have a documented disability (physical or learning) that affects your work in this or any other class,
Access Services can provide support for you. Call them at 487-2470 to make necessary arrangements.
IMPORTANT NOTICE to all foreign students (F and J visa)
Recent changes in immigration regulations require strict reporting compliance of any changes in your student
status. In order to maintain your status in the United States you have 10 days to report:



Changes in your name, residential address, academic status (full or part time enrollment), program of
study or completion date, student level (undergraduate to graduate), or finding source (employment or
graduate assistant position)
Intent to transfer to another university (you can not longer transfer without prior authorization)
Probation or disciplinary action due to a criminal conviction
As a result of these new regulations you should not drop or withdraw from a course without OIS approval.
In accordance with these new federal regulations, changes such as these must be reported to the EMU Office of
International Students (OIS), 229 King Hall within 10 days of occurrence. Please note: failure to do so could
result in arrest and deportation. If you have questions or concerns, contact the OIS at 487-3116.
Academic Honesty
Texas A&M University students adhere to an Honor Code: “Aggies do not lie, cheat, or steal, nor do they tolerate
those who do.” Use this as a guiding principle for academic honesty. Required readings on the nature of
plagiarism and how to avoid it are provided on e-reserves.

Communicating with others during exams constitutes cheating in Chem 581 and will not be tolerated. A zero
grade for that exam will be recorded for all those who collaborate on exams.

The official style guide in all Chemistry Department writing is the ACS Style Guide. This is also the style
guide for theses in Chemistry.

All work turned in for grades in Chem 581 must be new; old Chem 481, 591, or 641 papers are NOT
acceptable. When in doubt, discuss it with Dr. Armitage.

The penalties for plagiarism (cut and paste, word for word copying) in Chem 581 are:
o First offense: an explanation of the nature of plagiarism and how to avoid it in the future.
o Second offense: zero grade for the assignment. A report will be filed with the Department Head
and an informal complaint filed with Student Judicial Services.
o Third offense: E grade for the course. A report will be filed with the Department Head and a
formal complaint filed with Student Judicial Services for possible further disciplinary action. This
may include suspension or dismissal from the University.
The complete EMU Academic Honesty Policy is attached to this syllabus.
Eastern Michigan University
College of Arts and Sciences
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Education involves the search for truth. Therefore, honesty and personal integrity are values highly esteemed by
the academic community. They are ingredients essential to the cooperation and communication among students
and faculty needed for progress. The following honesty policy is intended to clarify the College’s expectations for
its students and to provide guidance in specific situations.
A.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Definitions of Cheating
Cheating includes but is not limited to the following:
Unless specifically told otherwise by the instructor, examinations, tests, papers, laboratory reports, computer
programs, and graded homework assignments are to be completed independently by each student. Looking at
another person’s paper or communicating with another person while working on an examination, test, paper,
laboratory report, computer program, or graded homework assignment is cheating.
Unless specifically told otherwise by the instructor, having books, notes, written material, or any means of
accessing anything other than what is specified by the instructor readily available during an examination is
considered cheating.
Obtaining or distributing exams in advance of their use is considered cheating.
It is cheating to represent as your own anything obtained from published materials or from another person.
All source material must be appropriately acknowledged. Directions for proper acknowledgement of sources can
be acquired in ENG 121 or found in the MLA Style Sheet, the Chicago Manual of Style Book and other style
guides for specific disciplines.
To allow another to represent your words or ideas as his/her own is cheating.
To use work from one class for another without prior approval of your instructor is cheating.
B.
Penalties for Cheating
The cheating penalties will range form a minimum of receiving a zero grade on the experiment, computer
program, or test involved to a maximum of both receiving an E grade for the course in which cheating occurred
and reporting of the incident to the Department Head and Dean of Students for possible further disciplinary
action including suspension or dismissal from the University.
C.
Appeals
A student who has been found by his/her instructor to have engaged in cheating in a course may appeal the final
grade received in the course. The appeal shall be made in accordance with Eastern Michigan University’s
“Grade Grievance Procedure” which appears in the Undergraduate Catalog and the Graduate School Catalog.
In situations where cheating incidents are also referred to the Department and Dean of Students for possible
disciplinary action, all proceedings and appeals shall be conducted in accordance with Eastern Michigan
University’s “Conduct Code and Judicial Structure for Students and Student Organizations” which appears in the
Undergraduate Catalog and the Graduate School Catalog.