• Instructor: Doug Chapman
• Office:Sc 269
• Office Hours: T 10:00; M,W 1:00 or whenever I'm available
• Reference Texts (not required - copies are available in the lab): "Experiments in Physical Chemistry, Seventh Edition" C. W. Garland, J.W. Nibler, D.P. Shoemaker, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996.
• Supplies: Class handouts and lecture notes; Three-ring binder for class handouts; bound laboratory notebook 3.5" (1.44 Mb) diskette; lab safety goggles.

Format:

• Use of the Agilent 34970A Data Acquisition Unit
• Overview of experimental procedures
• Theory and principles of laboratory sensing devices (thermocouples, pressure transducers)
• Laboratory safety
• Data handling and error analysis
• Computer interfacing of chemical instrumentation

Laboratory is scheduled for Tuesdays 2:00-4:50 p.m. Students may also work in the lab at any time between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. M/W and with permission of the instructor. You may not work in the lab alone. You are encouraged to work on experiments in groups of two, provided that all work is divided equitably. A sign-up sheet will be posted outside the lab for your use.

Experiments

Due Dates

All students must perform the first experiment by the date specified above. The other four experiments may be performed in any order. However, at least one assignment is due by each of the following dates: 2/1, 2/15, 2/29, 3/7. Students will be penalized 10 points per week for late assignments, with no exceptions.

Data Collection and Handling

We will utilize Hewlett-Packard 34970A data acquisition units to collect experimental data. Students will be responsible for setting up and troubleshooting all experiments this quarter. All curve-fitting and error analysis will be performed with Mathcad.

Lab safety

Students must wear approved safety glasses at all times in the laboratory. Students will be briefed on safety issues pertinent to each experiment during the weekly lab recitation. Students are expected to exhibit responsible behavior at all times while doing an experiment, since several experiments will involve hazards of various types (high/low pressures, toxic reagents, etc.) Carelessness, poor preparation, or inattention in the laboratory can, under these circumstances, result in injury and will not be tolerated. Students will receive one warning regarding safety issues. If a second safety incident occurs, that student (or students') grade will be lowered by one letter grade at the end of the course. If a third violation occurs, the student or students involved will be administratively dropped from the course.

Lab reports

Laboratory reports must be computer generated, and must conform to the format discussed in Chapter 1 of the text by Shoemaker, Garland and Nibler (i.e., papers will contain the following sections: Title page with absract; Introduction; Experimental Method; Results; Discussion; References; Appendices). In addition to these requirements, reports are to contain correct spelling, excellent composition, and complete sentences. Any graphics in a lab report (e.g., plots, equipment diagrams, etc.) must be computer generated.

The laboratory notebook

• Must be kept in ink
• Must be brought to lab each day and to be used as the first place where data and observations are recorded
• Not necessarily to be kept neat and clean but certainly to be legible
• Not to contain erasures of any sort
• All pages to be numbered and dated
• Must contain a table of contents
• Must contain a clear indication of where each experiment begins and ends

Grading