Chemistry 4392

Problem-Solving Techniques in Chemistry

Maymester 2008

Syllabus

 

Instructor:

Dr. Jimmy R. Rogers

104 Chemistry Research Building

817-272-5442

jimrogers@uta.edu

www.uta.edu/faculty/jimrogers                      

 

Course Description:  This course will focus on techniques useful in solving a wide range of chemistry problems, including stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, and electrochemistry.  Attention will also be given to organic reactions, mechanisms, and synthesis.  The goal of the course will be to provide students with good chemistry problem-solving skills.  This course will review many concepts learned in General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, and it will be especially appropriate for students preparing for advanced courses in chemistry and biochemistry, and for students preparing for chemistry-based exams such as the MCAT, DAT, OAT, and GRE.

 

Course Prerequisites:  Each student should have completed General Chemistry I, General Chemistry II, and Organic Chemistry I.  Students are not required to have finished Organic Chemistry II, but they should be aware that some review topics will be taken from that course.

 

Required Materials:           

                A General Chemistry textbook

                An Organic Chemistry textbook

                Notes and Problem Sets (to be made available)

                CPS Clicker by eInstruction

 

Class Schedule: 

 

Dates:     Monday, May 12 – Saturday, May 17, 2008

Monday, May 19 – Friday, May 23, 2008

Friday, May 30, 2008

 

Time:      8:00 AM – 11:50 AM

 

Topics to be covered:

 

General Chemistry

1.     Atomic Structure

2.     Nomenclature

3.     Stoichiometry

4.     Bonding

5.     Gases

6.     Liquids and Solids

7.     Solutions

8.     Kinetics

9.     Nuclear Chemistry

10.   Chemical Equilibrium

11.   Acid/Base Equilibria

12.   Oxidation and Reduction

13.   Electrochemistry

14.   Thermochemistry

15.   Chemical Thermodynamics

Organic Chemistry

1.     Stereochemistry

2.     Spectroscopy

3.     Properties and Reactions of Hydrocarbons

4.     Benzene and Aromatic Compounds

5.     SN1, SN2, E1, E2

6.     Aldehydes and Ketones

7.     Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives

8.     Amines

9.     Carbohydrates

10.   Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins

11.   Free-Radical Reactions

12.   Review of Reactions

13.   Review of Mechanisms

14.   Synthesis problems

 

Dropping the Course:  The last day to drop a Maymester class is May 21, 2008.  If you wish to drop or withdraw from any course at UT-Arlington, you must see your academic advisor in your major department.

Attendance:  The teaching methodology for this course will focus on solving chemistry problems in the classroom setting.  Attendance and classroom participation are therefore required in order for the student to receive the greatest benefit from the course.  If a student is absent or tardy more than once, his/her grade will drop one letter grade each time the student is absent or tardy.

 

Grading:  Because Chemistry 4392 emphasizes problem-solving skills, homework, tests, and quizzes will be used throughout the course.  Grading will be based upon the following scale:

 

                                                            Total Numerical Grade                  Letter Grade

                                                                    90 and above                                  A

                                                                           80-89                                          B

                                                                           70-79                                          C

                                                                           60-69                                          D

                                                                        Below 60                                       F

 

Course Goals:

Upon completing the course, the student should be able to solve problems over a wide variety of chemistry topics, including stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, and electrochemistry.  The student should also be familiar with important organic reactions and mechanisms, and should be able to provide a synthetic pathway for synthesizing various types of organic compounds.  The student should be able to use several techniques of molecular spectroscopy to identify unknown compounds.

 

Grade Replacement Policy and Taking the Course Pass/Fail

        Students enrolling in this course with the intention of replacing a previous grade earned in the same course must declare their intention to do so with the registrar no later than Census Date (May 13, 2008).  Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog (page 36 in the 2005-2007 edition) for the university policy regarding grade replacement.

 

If P or F is a grade option in this class and you intend to take this class for a pass/fail grade instead of a letter grade, you must inform the instructor, through the necessary paperwork, of your intentions before the census date (May 13, 2008).  Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog (page 36 in the 2005-2007 edition) for the university policy regarding taking a course pass/fail.

 

Academic Dishonesty:

        All students are expected to pursue their scholastic careers with honesty and integrity, and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will not tolerate academic dishonesty in any form.  “Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.”  (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22)

        Examples of academic dishonesty include:

                • exchanging answers or information during a test or quiz

                • looking at another student’s paper during a test or quiz

                • bringing notes in any form into the test or quiz, including written notes (crib sheets), digitally stored information (including formulas, constants, alpha-numeric material or text), or notes stored in any other medium

                • looking at a book or other source during the quiz or test

        During tests or quizzes, students are not allowed to use any hand-held calculators or computers which possess the capability of storing alpha-numeric or textual material.  If the instructor allows the use of calculators on a particular test, then students may only use scientific calculators which are non-programmable.  In addition, students are not allowed to have access to digital pagers during any test or quiz.  Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the University.  Since dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act

                The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides those with disabilities with the same opportunities as all citizens.

                If you require an accommodation based on disability, I would like to meet with you in the privacy of my office, during the first week of the semester, to make sure you are appropriately accommodated.

 

Bomb Threats: 

In the event of a bomb threat to a specific facility, University Police will evaluate the threat.  If required, exams may be moved to an alternate location, but exams will not be postponed.  UT-Arlington will prosecute those phoning in bomb threats to the fullest extent of the law.