Welcome to the Home Page of Chem 107: General Chemistry Lab I
Lab Manual: Cooper, M., Cooperative Chemistry Laboratory Manual; 4th edition
Corequisite: CHEM 105, General Chemistry I
Welcome to Chemistry 107, General Chemistry Lab I. Chemistry is an important science involved in many areas, as chemists seek means to improve the quality of life. From the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to energy, our health and the environment, chemistry plays a central role. Scientists studying the mysteries of the human body, the future health of our planet, and the farthest reaches of the universe need an understanding of basic chemical principles. It is important to note that our understanding of chemistry has largely been developed through centuries of rigorous laboratory experimentation.
The format of this course is different from other courses you may have encountered. Instead of performing one lab exercise each week, you will become members of a group working on assigned, open-ended projects. As such, the goals of this first course in laboratory chemistry are to:
Your group will complete 4 projects this semester. You will work in groups to design and carry out your own experiments to meet the goals of a multi-week project, as if you were part of a research group in a professional lab. Your project will culminate in a brief written lab report and one project will include an oral report. You will not be graded on how close you come to an answer, but how you plan, execute, evaluate, and present experiments designed by your group.
In addition, there will be one computer-based molecular modeling experiment which will introduce you to how scientists use computer-based molecular modeling in their research. With the increased presence and power of computers and sophisticated software, many properties of new substances, such as geometry or energy, may be successfully calculated. Indeed, some properties that can be calculated cannot be directly measured. In this modeling lab experiment, you will use a Silicon Graphics UNIX workstation and become familiar with Spartan modeling software to calculate the physical properties of simple molecules under conditions difficult to achieve in the lab in order to arrive at other physical properties, including bond dissociation energy and equilibrium bond length. The information gained through the process of molecular modeling often serves professional chemists as a guide to further experimental work in the design and synthesis of new materials.
This website provides valuable information for the course. Be sure to review
all the information in the links below. Your success in this lab will depend on
your preparation. For example, be sure to read the background material for each
cooperative lab project and the molecular modeling lab before coming to lab. If
you have specific questions, be sure to see your lab instructor before coming to
lab.
· Grading