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O
kv1c4fzp
3.
end-of-course grade (“practical course grade”) 1-5 grading system
(passing grade

2)
7 / 5
English Chemistry
BSc
Laboratory
Győző G. Láng, D.Sc., Institute of Chemistry (Department of Physical Chemistry)
Győző G. Láng, D.Sc.
full professor
Institute of Chemistry, Department of Physical Chemistry
Knowledge of undergraduate Mathematics, Physics and Physical chemistry.
6.1. Prerequisites kv1c1fz1, Physical chemistry(1): Thermodynamics and Statistics: (s) kv1c1bzt, Labour safety: (s)
6.2. Recommended kv1c1fzb, Physical chemistry(2) (attendance at the course). kv1c9fz5, Theoretical Basis of Physical Chemistry Laboratory Experiments.
The objective of the physical chemistry laboratory course is to illustrate some of the important principles and methods of physical chemistry, to use a variety of experimental techniques of physicochemical measurements, and to learn to write accurate and precise laboratory reports. Considerable effort has gone into linking the content of the labs with the topics of Physical Chemistry (1) and (2) lectures. Nonetheless, the educational philosophy of the labs is that experimental physical chemistry has a life of its own. The goal of the

labs, therefore, is to provide a modest introduction to this area of scientific activity including the use of the scientific literature to obtain information.
Topics Covered:
An introduction to modern measurement theory. Preparation for an experiment, setting up experiments. Calibration of devices and instruments. Data acquisition and processing. Digital electronics, computer-based data acquisition. Fundamental limitations on instrumental precision. Treatment of experimental data. Methods to verify and explore fundamental concepts in physical chemistry. Experiments in thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, electrochemistry. Calibration of thermometers, calorimetry, determination of molar mass by vapor density, temperature dependence of the vapor pressure, phase equilibria, measurement of surface tension, colligative properties, chemical equilibria, kinetics of homogeneous reactions, transport processes (viscosity, diffusion). Simple electrochemical measurements: measurement of the electromotive force, UV-VIS spectrophotometry.
8.1. Course Outline (Weekly)
List and schedule of experiments. (This schedule is subject to change as necessary throughout the semester. All changes will be announced to students with advance notice.)
Add/Drop courses (Week 1)
Laboratory Exercise #1 (Week 2)
Introduction to Laboratory Safety. General Safety Considerations. Fire protection rules & guidelines. General laboratory rules. (This training is mandatory for all students working in a teaching or research laboratory.) Principles of the laboratory working, general laboratory equipment.
Laboratory Exercise #2 (Week 3)
Calibration of thermometers, determination of melting point and boiling point.
Laboratory Exercise #3 (Week 4)
Construction of the Sn-Pb phase diagram from cooling curves.
Laboratory Exercise #4 (Week 5)
Determination of molar mass by vapor density.
Laboratory Exercise #5 (Week 6)
Measurement of vapor pressure of a liquid as a function of temperature by the static method. Determination of the vapor pressure-temperature relationship of liquids by isoteniscope. Determination of the vapor pressure-temperature relationship of liquids by using the
Ramsay-Young method. Determination of the heat of evaporation of liquids.
Laboratory Exercise #6 (Week 7)
Determination of the heat of solution and the heat of hydration by means of a calorimeter.
Laboratory Exercise #7 (Week 8)
Colligative Properties. (Determination of molar mass and activities from freezing point depression data.)
Laboratory Exercise #8 (Week 9)

Test #1. Make-up laboratory.
Laboratory Exercise #9 (Week 10)
Measurement of surface tension – the bubble pressure method. Determination of surface excess. Determination of surface tension and related thermodynamic parameters of solutions using the Traube stalagmometer. Measurement of the surface tension of a liquid as a function of temperature by the capillary rise method.
Laboratory Exercise #10 (Week 11)
Measurement of the viscosity of liquids with an Ostwald viscosimeter.
Laboratory Exercise #11 (Week 12)
The dependence of viscosity on temperature. Measuring the viscosity of liquids with a falling ball (Höppler) viscosimeter.
Laboratory Exercise #12 (Week 13)
Investigation of the reaction between KMnO
4
and oxalic acid by spectrophotometry. Spectrophotometry. The oxidation of alcohols using acidified sodium or potassium dichromate(VI) solution.
Laboratory Exercise #13 (Week 14)
Measurement of the terminal voltage and electromotive force of an electrochemical cell, determination of internal resistance, concentration dependence of EMF.
Laboratory Exercise #14 (Week 15)
Test #2. Make-up laboratory.
10.1. Course Work:
Only students registered in the NEPTUN system and enrolled in the laboratory can attend the course. Prerequisites for completion of laboratory (in addition to those listed in
“ELTE Organizational and Operational Regulations”) include:
- Students must read, sign and follow the Laboratory Rules and Safety Agreement provided by the instructor.
- Successful completion of the course requires to finish 80% of the labs, a written report for each lab (the final evaluation of any experimental work is based primarily on the examination of the written report). Lab reports will be graded on a scale from 0 to
5 as follows: 5 = Complete and excellent work, 4 = Satisfactory, but with some minor errors, 3 = Significant errors or omissions, 2 = Very little correct or useful work,
1 = Lab report handed in, but with minimal work, 0 = Missed lab.
- Successful completion of homework.
- There will be two written quizzes (tests) and at least one oral quiz during the semester to review understanding of the course material. Tests will be graded on a scale from 0 to 5 as follows: 5 = Excellent work, 0 = Missed test. (Average oral grade + grades for the tests)/3 must be

2.
Every lab report must include an abstract („measuring plan”). This is a brief summary of the experiment about to be performed. The students should explain what data they will

gather, the procedure for gathering the data, and the reason for gathering the data. They must write the abstract before coming to lab.
The student must complete all assignments to receive a passing grade. Students get a final grade based on the marks received for the written reports, tests and quizzes.
Academic dishonesty is an offense against the University. A student who has committed an act of dishonesty has failed to meet a basic requirement of satisfactory academic performance. This academic dishonesty is not only a basis for disciplinary action, but is also relevant to the evaluation of the student’s level of performance.
10.2. Exam Period
Irrelevant for this course.
Only University approved (see “ELTE Organizational and Operational Regulations”) absences are permitted, and appropriate documentation is required. Arrangements for making up the missed laboratory work must be made with the instructor within one week of the missed laboratory period.
It is possible to have consultative sessions both with the professor leading the lab and the persons responsible for the management of the individual experiments, if needed.
Background material (measurement descriptions, illustrations, articles and handouts) available on the website of the course.
Garland, C.W., Nibler, J.W., Shoemaker, D.P.,: Experiments in Physical Chemistry,
McGraw-Hill, New York, 2002.
Atkins, P.W.: Physical Chemistry, 7 th
edition, London, 1998
Students are expect to come prepared to conduct the experiments. Successful completion of the course requires the performance of the experiment in the laboratory, a written report for each lab, and to write the tests. The laboratory report is due at the beginning of the laboratory period one week after the experiment is scheduled to be completed.
Győző G. Láng, full professor, Institute of Chemistry, Department of Physical Chemistry,
Eötvös Loránd University.
September 01, 2014