Welcome to CH131 Introductory Chemistry for Engineering Sciences.
The course is given by Professor Dan Dill (dan@bu.edu).
Discussions are led by graduate teaching fellow Matthew Rotondaro (mattroto@bu.edu).
Jose Luis Medrano Jr (medrano@bu.edu) is in charge of the lab portion of the course. Details about the lab experience are provided in the separate lab syllabus.
All course questions are answered on the Piazza online discussion forum. Sign up for Piazza at
http://piazza.com/bu/summer2021/ch131summer12021/
All of us teaching the course follow this forum and so this is the way to get your questions about the course answered and to help your classmates answer theirs. If you have questions of a personal or private nature, send them to dan@bu.edu
While CH131 Summer 1 2021 is being offered online, all parts of the course as still meeting synchronously at the schedule times in Boston (GMT-4). All students are required to participate in all course meetings and to have following.
The course consists of three required components:
If you have not yet registered for all of the three components of the course, please do so right away. All grade records are based on the registrar information, so we require that you be officially registered and that you attend the lecture, discussion and lab.
In addition to the scheduled meeting times, the following online office hours will be held.
The online office hour links are available at https://learn.bu.edu.
Weekly quizzes: Beginning June 1, a quiz will be given at the start of each week at 10 am (GMT-4) in place of lecture. Each quiz will cover (roughly) the material from the previous week (textbook, lecture, discussion, lab). The lowest quiz grade will be dropped automatically; this means that the only four best quizzes will count. Quizzes must be taken at the schedule time. There are no makeup quizzes. A missed quiz counts as 0.
The final exam will be given in place off the last lecture, on Thursday, July 1 beginning at 9 am GMT-4). It will cover all of the material in the course. There is no makeup final exam. A missed final exam counts as 0.
The course grade is based on your overall course score; we do not assign letter grades to quizzes, labs or the final exam. The components of the overall score are shown below.
| Component | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Quizzes (lowest score of the five quizzes dropped) | 50% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Lab | 15% |
| Lecture participation based on clicker responses | 10% |
| Discussion participation | 5% |
Lecture engagement will be measured using the TurningTechnologies mobile app; the lowest two lecture scores will be dropped.
Your scores for each part of the course will always be available to you on Blackboard, at https://learn.bu.edu.
Course grades are assigned based on the distribution overall scores at the end of the course. The following (tentative) grading scheme will be used to assign course grades based on your score in the course. Please note that we reserve the lower cutoff numbers (making achieving a grade easier) but we will not raise them. However, please do not count on them changing.
Starting with quiz 2, after each quiz we will provide the distribution of overall course scores so far, on a 1000-point scale, and your individual score so far. These overall scores so far will take into account the scores on the work completed so far (quizzes, labs, and participation). In this way, you will have a measure of how you are doing at that point in the course.
Your overall score so far will be available on Blackboard.
Please note that the overall score so far will not take in account dropping of the lowest quiz score and the lowest lab. This will be done only at the end of the semester.
No makeup quizzes will be given. A missed quiz counts as 0; the lowest quiz score will be dropped.
Regrades on quizzes: To ensure fairness, all quizzes are graded with same rubric, so requests for additional credit for incorrect answers cannot be entertained. If you believe that you’ve answered a question on a quiz correctly, but credit was not awarded, please email your TF saying describing the question and reason for its regrading. This must be done not later than the Wednesday following the quiz. All submitted regrade requests will be evaluated an the outcome communicated to you by email.
Regrades on labs: Any question concerning the lab grading must be brought to the attention of your laboratory teaching fellow as detailed in the separate lab syllabus.
We have designed the course as an introduction to general chemistry that integrates laboratory explorations with the development of the analytical tools necessary to understand and guide those explorations. Some particular aspects that we will emphasize are
Our goal is to help you share in our excitement for and the wonder of science, to challenge you to excel, to give you a sense of empowerment about science, and to encourage you to continue study in science—and hopefully chemistry. We intend to focus especially on what are the core ideas of chemistry.
We will cover portions of the following chapters and related problems of Oxtoby et al. The detailed schedule is here and the calendar of lectures and disussions is here.
| Chapter and required problems | Lectures | Discussions |
|---|---|---|
|
Chapter 1. The atom and modern chemistry Chapter 1 problems: 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35 Appendix A problems: 1, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19 Appendix B.1 problems: 1, 7, 9 Appendix C.3 problems: 13, 17, 19 | May 24 | May 25 |
|
Chapter 2.1--2.6. Chemical formulas, equations, and reaction yields: Chapter 2 problems: 1, 5, 7, 11, 13, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 49 |
May 25–26 | May 26 |
|
Chapter 3.1--3.11. Chemical bonding: The classical description: Chapter 3 problems: 9, 15, 21, 23, 33, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 65, 69 |
May 26–27 | May 27 |
|
Chapter 9.1--9.6. The gaseous state: Chapter 9 problems: 5, 9, 11, 19, 21, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, 41, 43, 47, 49, 51 |
May 27–June 4 | June 1–3 |
|
Chapter 10.2--10.6. Solids, liquids, and phase transitions: Chapter 10 problems: 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 35, 37, 39, 43, 45, 47 |
June 4–9 | June 8–9 |
|
Chapter 11.1, 11.5--11.6. Solutions: Chapter 11 problems: 1, 3, 5, 11, 41, 43, 45, 47, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61 |
June 9 | June 10 |
|
Chapter 12.1--12.4, 12.6. Thermodynamic processes and thermochemistry: Chapter 12 problems: 1, 7, 9, 11, 17, 19, 21, 27, 31, 33, 35, 39, 43, 45, 47, 55, 57 |
June 10–15 | June 15–16 |
|
Chapter 13.1--13.7. Spontaneous processes and thermodynamic equilibrium: Chapter 13 problems: 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 25, 29, 31, 33, 35, 57 |
June 15–17 | June 17 |
|
Chapter 14.1-14.7. Chemical equilibrium: Chapter 14 problems: 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 31, 33, 39, 41, 45, 49, 51, 53, 61, 63, 65, 67 |
June 17–23 | June 22–23 |
|
Chapter 16.1--16.3. Solubility and precipitation equilibria: Chapter 16 problems: 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33 |
June 23 | June 24 |
|
Chapter 15.1--15.4, and 15.6. Acid-base equilibria: Chapter 15 problems: 1, 13, 15, 17, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 51, 53 |
June 24 | June 29 |
|
Chapter 17.1--17.3. Electrochemistry: Chapter 17 problems: 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 51, 53, 57 | June 29–30 | June 30 |
Details about the lab experience are provided in the separate lab syllabus. The lab schedule is here.
Learning chemistry requires persistence, diligence and hard work. We suggest that you plan to spend about 30 hours per week on this course over and above the scheduled contact hours. If you are willing to devote this time, and you spend it wisely and effectively, you will be able to perform your best in this course. Here are some specific suggestions that we have found helpful.
You will get the most out of lecture if you have studied the textbook readings, related web exercises and assigned problems beforehand.
A particularly effective way to do this is to first read through several pages of the material in the course texts. Next, when you think you have understood what you have read, set the texts aside and then make a written summary of what you have understood. It is important to carry out this step without looking at the texts. Finally, compare what you have written with the material in the texts, to identify those parts that are unclear or where your understanding is incomplete.
If you follow this procedure, you will have a quite detailed idea of what will be covered in each lecture, and, most important, you can be particularly alert to those parts that are unclear for you and, if the lecture still doesn't clarify things, you will be able to ask questions right in lecture. You may even want to collect your summaries in a journal that you can then update and refine throughout the semester. and so make an excellent set of notes for review prior to the final exam.
After each lecture, you should work through your lecture notes to be sure you understand everything that was covered. You may even want to rewrite your notes. That way, as you do so, you can test your understanding. If material is still unclear, then be sure to ask for specific help with it, in email, office hours or discussion.
Chemistry is a quantitative science and understanding of its concepts is obtained by solving problems. The text and supplementary materials offer many problems. For success you should do as many of these as you can and if you run into difficulties ask your teaching fellow or professor, in email, office hours or discussion. You will get the most out of lectures if you have worked through problems related to material to be covered before lecture.
Discussion is a particularly good time to bring up problems you haven't been able to solve. Chances are others are experiencing similar difficulties and you will be able to learn from their questions too. It is essential that you have worked on your own to solve your problems, because then you will be most able to understand their solution.
Quizzes will be returned and discussed during these discussions. Any questions about quizzes or problem sets should be addressed to your discussion TF during this time.
As described below, we require that you abide by not using electronic communication during lectures, discussion, lab lectures, lab session, quizzes, and the final exam; that you adhere to the Academic Conduct Code; that you utilize the online Piazza discussion forum for your questions (and to help answers you classmates questions). Also described are our absence policy, the University policy on religious observances, the role of the Office of Disability and Access Services, and the policy on copyright.
Recent studies have shown that taking notes with laptops or having your cellphone out in class leads to lower performance by students in classes and on quizzes and exams. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you take notes using the traditional pen and paper mode.
Learning remotely on Zoom makes this more complicated. We highly recommend closing all applications on your computer, except for Zoom, and taking notes in a notebook. This is the best way to make sure that you don't get distracted during class and are able to get the most out of your time.
All of the lectures, though live, will be recorded and posted after the lecture. This means that you can take the lecture time to take notes, solve problems, answer questions, and ask questions. If you miss something, you will always be able to go back and re-watch that part of lecture.
Each week, all students will participate in their scheduled discussion section. Each discussion will have two main parts: (1) a large group discussion for 15-20 minutes and (2) small group problem solving (30-35 minutes). During the small group work, students will work in groups in breakout rooms (4-5 students per breakout room) on problem solving (selected book problems and other problems), interactive exercises, and class-wide discussions. The discussion leader (TF) and undergraduate learning assistant (LA) will be facilitators and mentors in discussion, working with groups to help them on their work.
Students are expected to arrive on time and to actively participate in all of the lecture and discussion sections. A portion of your course grade (5%) will be awarded based on your discussion work, including (on-time) attendance and engagement (in group work and class-wide exercises) in discussion. The minimum assigned problems are posted here.
In addition to traditional lecture presentations, lecture time will also be comprised of interactive individual and group-based problem solving. Students will use Turning Technologies Mobile Responses to answer questions in class (you do not need to purchase a physical clicker for CH131 in Summer 1 2021). A portion of your course grade (10%) will be awarded based on your participation in lecture through TurningPoint.
All students at Boston University are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity. The Chemistry Department treats cheating with zero tolerance. Here, cheating refers to any violation of the student academic conduct code. There are no small infractions. All instances of misconduct will be reported to the Dean's office. It is the responsibility of every student to be aware of the Academic Conduct Code’s contents and to abide by its provisions, as detailed at:
http://www.bu.edu/academics/resources/academic-conduct-code/
Students at Boston University are required to abide by all of regulations regarding academic integrity and conduct, including the proper use of technology and digital resources. Course materials are provided by faculty for your personal use in the course only. Any other use of these materials including, but not limited to, posting of materials online in forums or websites, is a copyright violation and a violation of the academic conduct code. Additionally, materials submitted for course credit (papers, exams, etc.) are similarly not permitted to be used or posted.
Attendance at all lectures, discussions, and labs is mandatory. Students must attend their assigned lecture, discussion, and lab, and are expected to arrive on-time. Lecture and discussion participation and engagement will count for 15% of your course grade.
Your participation grade will be based on your engagement, prompt attendance, and contributions in lecture and discussion. It is completely understandable that some students may miss a lecture, lab lecture, or discussion due to unforeseen circumstances. Moreover, given the circumstances in Summer 1 2021 (and the potential for illnesses or internet connectivity issues), we will make the following adjustments for all students.:
In this way, all students will be able to succeed in the course. Missed classes due to religious observances will never affect your score adversely.
If you become ill, we require that you follow the protocols mandated by the University under those circumstances. The course attendance and engagement policies already reflect substantial flexibility to allow for absences of short to moderate length due to illness. Please make sure to contact your instructor immediately (dan@bu.edu) about any prolonged absences that are not already covered by the course absence policy (above). In such cases, we will work with the CAS Dean's office to determine the best course of action for any given student.
Absences for documented religious observances will be excused according to the specifications of the University Policy on Religious Observance. Please make sure to communicate about religious observances as far in advance as possible (and no later than one week before the observance, per university policy) so that accommodations can be made.
The Office of Disability and Access Services (25 Buick street, Suite 300) is responsible for assisting students with disabilities. If you have a disability, you are strongly encouraged to register with this office. Lecture hall and discussion rooms are accessible and ADA compliant.
Learning and testing accommodation: Boston University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you are a student who needs academic accommodations because of a documented disability, you must present your letter of accommodation from the Office of Disability and Access Services directly to Professor Golger as soon as possible. If you have questions about documenting a disability or requesting academic accommodations, contact the Office of Disability and Access Services. Letters of accommodations should be presented as soon as possible to ensure that student needs are addressed from the start of the course. Instructors are not able to provide accommodations without documentation from Boston University's Office of Disability and Access Services.
The syllabus, course descriptions, lab manual, and all handouts created for this course, and all class lectures, are copyrighted by the course instructors. The materials and lectures may not be reproduced in any form or otherwise copied, displayed or distributed, nor should works derived from them be reproduced, copied, displayed or distributed without the written permission of the instructors. Infringement of the copyright in these materials, including any sale or commercial use of notes, summaries, outlines or other reproductions of lectures, constitutes a violation of the copyright laws and is prohibited. Please note in particular that distributing, receiving, selling, or buying class notes, lecture notes or summaries, lab reports or related materials, or similar materials both violates copyright and interferes with the academic mission of the College, and is therefore prohibited in this class and will be considered a violation of the student code of responsibility that is subject to academic sanctions.
We are all in this together, and we are committed to offering the best learning experience possible given the need for safety. To do this, we need your help. We must all be responsible and respectful. Faculty, staff, and teaching fellows will wear masks during class and other meetings to protect you and themselves; and we expect you to do the same. If you show up without a mask, you will be asked to leave. If you refuse, the class or meeting will be dismissed in order to protect everyone. We also require that you follow the safety practices recommended by the CDC outside the classroom, including all state and university guidelines regarding sheltering in place while feeling ill, testing, quarantining, social contacts, and gatherings. If you cannot follow these guidelines, be responsible and respectful: do not show up for in-person learning. Do not put your classmates, staff, and instructors in danger. Do your learning remotely to make it possible for us to safely offer in-person learning to others.
If you are experiencing difficulty, please come to see your lecture professor without delay. Often, students in this course perceive that they are doing poorer work than they actually are. Particularly for first-year students, we recognize that it may be difficult for you to judge your academic standing in the course, since we do not use the same type of grading scheme with which you may be familiar from high school. That is why it is important for you to speak to us before making any major decision, such as dropping the course.
If dropping the course appears to be in your best interest, we still would like to work through the decision with you. We are also happy to advise you on appropriate choices for your academic program. If you drop the course by Friday, May 28, no record of it will appear on your transcript. After that date, until the end of the day Wednesday, June 16, you may drop the course but with a W grade (withdrawn). If you must drop the course, note that CH131 will be given Fall 2021 and Summer 2022.
The Chemistry department has a Digital Suggestions Box. If you have suggestions, feedback, or concerns that are best addressed directly to the department, please go online and leave your anonymous feedback here.
Students will identify and apply major concepts used in the natural sciences to explain and quantify the workings of the physical world. These concepts include the following: matter is composed of atoms; elements form \families"; bonds form between atoms by sharing electron pairs; shape is of the utmost importance; molecules interact with one another; energy is conserved; energy and matter tend to disperse; there are barriers to reaction; and light and matter can exchange energy. Students will learn about the process by which scientific theories are developed, refined, refuted, and confirmed.
Students will demonstrate their understanding of core conceptual and theoretical tools used in quantitative reasoning, particularly mathematics, as a tool for the exposition and manipulation of chemical concepts and for formulating a connection between microscopic models of matter and its macroscopic properties.
Students will interpret quantitative models of how energy and light interact with atoms or molecules and understand a variety of methods of communicating these, such as graphs, including spectra, tables, formulae, and chemical symbols.
Students will communicate quantitative information about chemical and physical objects and their properties us- ing chemical symbols, visually with sketches, numerically with estimated or computed values, and verbally using appropriate chemical nomenclature.
Students will recognize and articulate the capacity and limitations of quantitative methods such as dimensional analysis and the risks of using it improperly.
The syllabus, course descriptions, lab manual, and all handouts created for this course, and all class lectures, are copyrighted by the course instructors.
The materials and lectures may not be reproduced in any form or otherwise copied, displayed or distributed, nor should works derived from them be reproduced, copied, displayed or distributed without the written permission of the instructors.
Infringement of the copyright in these materials, including any sale or commercial use of notes, summaries, outlines or other reproductions of lectures, constitutes a violation of the copyright laws and is prohibited.
Please note in particular that distributing, receiving, selling, or buying class notes, lecture notes or summaries, lab reports or related materials, or similar materials both violates copyright and interferes with the academic mission of the College, and is therefore prohibited in this class and will be considered a violation of the student code of responsibility that is subject to academic sanctions.
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