GENERAL CHEMISTRY C1403x

Fall Term 2006

Chemistry C1403x Topics will include a brief review of the basic language and concepts of chemistry; atomic structure and chemical bonding; and a selection of topics on descriptive inorganic and organic chemistry, transition metal chemistry, organic chemistry and synthetic and biological chemistry.

ACADEMIC FACULTY AND STAFF

Instructor: Nicholas TURRO (njt3@@columbia.edu)

TAs: Jia GUO ([email protected]) and Chengjie SHEN ([email protected])

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF

UNDERGRADUATE OFFICE: Room 340 Havemeyer

Socky Lugo:Administrative Coordinator <[email protected]>

Daisy Melendez: Undergraduate Secretary <[email protected]>

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) Office: Room 211 Havemeyer

Michael Clayton: IT Associate <[email protected]>

I. REGISTRATION FOR LECTURE AND RECITATION

A. LECTURE: Register for one of the lecture sections and then regularly attend the one selected. They are not interchangeable!

B. RECITATION: YOU MUST BE REGISTERED for one of the six recitation sections specifically designated for the lecture section you selected. They are not interchangeable. NOTE: Failure to register for recitation sections is a presumption of withdrawal from the course.

II. DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATION: Administered during recitation the first full week of classes starting Monday, September 11, this standardized national examination is a requirement for completing your registration in the course. The Examination consists of 55 multiple choice general chemistry questions to be answered in 50 minutes and provides the Department with an important calibration point for evaluating our undergraduate program in chemistry. But we do need your cooperation: Failing to take this examination means you have failed to complete your registration and will not be given a term grade for the course.

III. REQUIRED TEXTS: Oxtoby, Gillis and Nachtrieb, Principles of Modern Chemistry, Fifth Edition, Brooks-Cole Publishers, Belmont, California (2002). The accompanying Student Solutions Manual contains detailed answers to odd-numbered problems assigned as homework. Answers to the even-numbered problems are unavailable. All lecture sections will review Chapters 1-3. Additional topics may be selected from the following, according to the instructor’s preference:

REVIEW TOPICS from the first three chapters of the text. (This material will be covered by all four sections):

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF MODERN CHEMISTRY

1. The Nature and Conceptual basis of Modern Chemistry

2. Chemical Formulas, Chemical Equations, and Reaction Yields

3. Chemical Bonding: The Classical Description

Special help sessions will be scheduled at a number of times during the early weeks of the course and before the first examination.

ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

15. Quantum Mechanics and Atomic Structure

16. Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Structure

17. Interaction of Molecules with Light

18. Bonding in Transition Metals and Coordination Complexes

CHEMICAL PROCESSES

20. Organic Chemical Processes

MATERIALS

24. Polymeric Materials

IV. COURSEWORKS is the standard for distribution of assignments, grades and general information. It is your responsibility to check the COURSEWORKS site for your section on a regular basis. If you have difficulty accessing COURSEWORKS, there is a HELP DESK in Room 102 Philosophy Hall: 212-854-1919. Hit on: http://courseworks.columbia.edu

E-mail is the standard of communication. It is your responsibility to check for course-related information regularly. Exam grades and the official answer key for all exams are only available on COURSEWORKS (generally) in about 4-7 days.

V. EXAMINATIONS AND QUIZZES: Three exams of equal value are given in class according to the schedule below; the FINAL EXAM is valued as two exams. Collectively, they constitute five exam equivalents. There are five graded quizzes the best four of which will count as an hour exam equivalent. There are also practice quizzes and discussions of homework assigned to prepare for exams. A composite quiz grade based on the four best results (of five) constitutes a sixth exam equivalent for the recitation section. The lowest of the six equivalents will be dropped in the computation of a final course grade based on five equivalents. Thus, the maximum point total for the course is 500 points.

There will be 5-6 additional bonus points that may be added for completion of special assignments during the term.

THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. None! No kidding.

If you miss one exam, choose not to take one exam, or for personal or health reasons cannot take one exam, you have only missed the opportunity to have your lowest grade dropped and no excuse is needed.

If you miss more than one exam, you have a serious problem and may not receive a grade for the course. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.

GRADE SUMMARY (1 exam equivalent = 100 points)

Hour exams = 3 equivalents

Quiz/homework composite = 1 equivalent

Final exam = 2 equivalents

DROP LOWEST equivalent

Five total equivalents = 500 points

Discretionary Bonus – up to 10 points can be added to the 500 points

A. EXAM SCHEDULE

Exam 1: Wednesday 27

Exam 2: Monday October 30

Exam 3: Wednesday November 29

Final Exam: TBA

B. RECITATION SECTIONS AND QUIZZES: You must register for one of the weekly recitation sections coupled to your lecture section.

C. FINAL EXAMINATION: Will be given during finals week according to the university calendar, and covering the entire term’s work. Plan accordingly. No exceptions.

VI. IMPORTANT DATES

Tuesday, 9/5 Classes begin

Friday, 9/15 Last day to add/change courses

Tuesday, 10/10 Last day to add/change classes

Wednesday, 10/18 Last day to drop courses

Monday-Tuesday 11/6-7 Academic – Election Day holiday

Thursday, 11/16 Last day to change to Pass/Fail

Thursday, 11/23 University holiday (Thanksgiving)

Friday, 11/24 University holiday

Monday, 12/11 Last day of classes

Tuesday-Thursday, 12/12-14 Study days

Friday-Friday, 12/15-22 Final exam week

VII. OPEN/OFFICE HOURS

Professor Turro will have office hours on most Mondays and Wednesdays at noon-1:30 PM in 768 Chandler, and at other hours as announced or by arrangement.

IX. OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

A. General Chemistry Laboratory: C1500 is a separate course and can be taken in conjunction with the first term of lecture (C1403), or with the second term of lecture (C1404), or in A second year after completing the two-term lecture sequence.

B. For administrative problems, contact the Undergraduate Office: Room 340 Havemeyer: (212-854-2163); <[email protected]>

C. For questions concerning course web pages and courseworks, contact the IT ASSOCIATE: Room 211 Havemeyer: (212-854-8575); <[email protected]>

D. DIAGNOSTIC EXAM: The outcome is used solely for calibration purposes, not for computing course grades. Results will be individually posted via Courseworks. For comparison, a matching exam will be given at the end of the academic year (late April).

E. HOMEWORK PROBLEMS are generally taken from among the odd-numbered problems that appear at the end of assigned chapters. Homework problems are not graded. Their purpose is to provide preparatory work on content for a given exam. Keep in mind the first exam is early, coming up in the fourth week of the term and will be largely based on the Review Materials covered in Chapters 1-3. These chapters are also the essential materials for the first weeks of your C1405 recitation section.

F. Assigned Homework problems:

Chapter 1: 7, 9, 11, 13, 17, 23, 25, 29, 33

Chapter 2: 3,5,7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 29, 31, 35, 37, 43, 49

Chapter 3: 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 19, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65

X. COVERAGE, CONTENT, AND ASSIGNMENTS

The class lecture, recitation sections and assigned homework define the emphasis on any assigned chapter in the textbook. Unless noted to the contrary, it is your responsibility to cover the content of the chapter in its entirety. Obviously, some topics will be covered and emphasized in lecture and recitation to a greater extent than others, and some topics discussed in lecture and recitation will not be found anywhere else. You are responsible for the details of all of the lecture demonstrations and their underlying principles. Assigned homework problems are in no way limiting. Do all of them and as many others as you choose (or feel you need) to do. Keep in mind that TRAINING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF EDUCATION. To check your work, the detailed answers can be found in the Student Solutions Manual accompanying the textbook. The Preceptor in the course will give review lectures on some of the materials covered in the early chapters.

RECITATION SECTIONS

Teaching assistants, Jia Guo and Chengjie Shen