Chemistry 313 - Quantitative Analysis

 

 


Chemical analysis involves methods for determining the chemical, structural, and/or physical properties of a substance. These methods fall into one of two categories.  Methods used to provide the identity of constituents in a material or the structure of a purified substance is called qualitative analysis.  Determining the amount of a chemical constituent present is quantitative analysis.  In this course, we will be primarily concerned with methods and techniques that allow you to determine the amount of a substance present and the underlying chemical principles and phenomena upon which these methods are based.  Quantitative analysis is generally the first course students see in the field of analytical chemistry. 

 

Course Objectives:  By the end of this course, you should be able to:

·        distinguish between the goals of quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis

·        understand various expressions of concentration and effective concentration

·        understand how chemical reactions are used in quantitative measurements

·        understand how equilibrium and kinetic concepts relate to quantitative measurements

·        apply rigorous problem-solving skills to complex problems involving stoichiometry, equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, complex formation, electrochemical measurements, spectrophotometry, and chromatography

·        compare and distinguish experimental methods to answer questions of elemental or molecular chemical analysis, including the use of analytical standards and calibration, experimental sources of error and interference

·        apply computer spreadsheet programs to data analysis and problem-solving

 

 


Course Prerequisite(s):  A grade of C or better in Chemistry 106 & 108 (General Chemistry II and Lab) is required before attempting this course.  You are expected to have a firm grip on the principles introduced in that course.  We move at a brisk pace in this course and will not have the time to review basic concepts.

 

Course Co-requisite(s):  You should also be registered for CHEM 312 (Introductory Chemometrics) and CHEM 314(Quantitative Analysis Lab).

 

Meeting Time/Location: 12:30 - 1:45 TR Sims 301-B

 

Official Textbook: Harris, D.C., Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 6th edition, 2002.  You may find the textbook’s website, www.whfreeman.com/qca, or other analytical chemistry textbooks available in the library helpful for a different point of view. 

 

Professor:       Dr. Cliff Calloway        (callowayc@winthrop.edu)

                        Office:                        312-B Sims Hall          

                        Hours:                         TRF     8:00-10:00 am and by appointment

                        Phone:                          4945 (off campus: 323-4945)

 

Attendance:  You are expected to attend each class meeting for the scheduled time.  This will insure that you are concentrating on the appropriate material and reinforce the assigned readings and problems.  Be sure to bring pencil, paper, textbook, and calculator to each class.

 

Grading:  Letter grades will be determined from: 1) three 1-hour exams, 2) chapter quizzes, and 3) a standardized, cumulative final exam.  The dates for the hour exams and final exam are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, October 7 

                        Thursday, November 13

                        Thursday, December 4

                                    Final Exam: - Thursday, December 13, 8:00 am

 

The average of your three exam scores will contribute 50% to your course grade.  The average of your chapter quizzes will contribute 20% to your course grade, and the final exam will contribute 30% to your course grade.  Letter grades will then be assigned from the sum as follows: 90-100%: A; 80-89%: B; 70-79%: C; 60-69%: D

 

Special notes:

·        The lowest quiz grade will be dropped before determining your quiz average.

·        If your final exam score is higher than your lowest regular exam score, I will replace the lowest score with the final exam score before averaging your hour exams. 

·        We have limited time in this course.  As such, there will be no make-up exams or quizzes.  If you miss an exam or quiz with a validated excuse, your remaining scores will be averaged.  

 

 


Homework and Chapter Quizzes:  Problems have been assigned for each chapter.  These problems will not be collected or graded.   However, you should successfully work each of the assigned problems prior to the chapter quiz.  I will pull 3 questions directly from this pool of questions to make up a chapter quiz.  Please do not neglect them. 

 


Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-2233, as soon as possible.  Once you have your “professor notification letter”, please notify me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first test or quiz.

 


*Dropping the Course: I follow the University policy and dates as specified in the Undergraduate Catalog.