Administrative Issues

Make sure that you arrive on time to your first in-lab meeting because if you are more than 15 minutes late, you will lose your chance to get enrolled in the course. Lame excuses do not count later on i.e., “I did not think that the lab meets during week 1” or “I did not find the lab”! (Hint: Only the elevator on the east wing goes up to the 6 th floor!) Wait-listed students will be accommodated if spaces become available during the first meeting of the section: chemistry> biochemistry>other majors>>extension students, priority in within a group will be given to seniority If the student is added to the roster, the instructor will report the student to the department to been enrolled (usually at the end of the first week and not on the same day!)

The course reader (red) is available from Course Reader Materials (1081 Westwood Blvd) for about $25 starting December 20, It is highly advisable to have the latest version (Winter 2013) because this is the reference for the experiments and the final exam. Note that there are many changes compared to last year’s edition i.e., one new project, additional lecture material, updated exam collection, etc.

Pre-lab: title, purpose, introduction, balanced chemical equations, detailed procedure, safety information of all chemicals used (review the MSDS for each compound used in the experiment), spectroscopic information (Xerox copy if available, if not the numbers will do fine as well), answers to pre-lab questions, etc. Mandatory oral exam with the instructor prior the start of a new project (starting with project 2). Make sure that you schedule this exam early enough (has to be done at least 24 hours prior to the start of the project!) Consult the appropriate original papers to get a better in-depth understanding of the experiment and the material. It could not hurt to review the techniques used in the project as well before entering the lab Bottom line: The better you understand what you are about to do, the easier it will be in the lab. If you put in the time beforehand, you will be less stressed in the lab. Copying reports from friends/room mates, etc. might safe time, but it will show in the end (=final exam), where many of these students have experienced a Waterloo.

Laboratory techniques (~30%) Based in the in-lab observation of the teaching assistants and the instructor Average student receives a score of % in this part Experiment Reports, pre-lab, oral exams, etc. (~40 %) All reports have to be submitted to turnitin.com (course number: , password: Chem174) Lab notebook (20 points max, due immediately after final exam) Final exam (~30%) The final exam is 200 points and scheduled for March 20, 2012, 8:00-11:00 am, there will be no make-up exam Bottom line: Both the in-lab portion and the final exam have to be passed to pass the course. In order to get a high grade in the course, the student has to perform very well in both portions, not just in one portion.

Office: Young Hall 3077E Office hours: M 8-9 am, M 3-4 pm, W 9-10 am, T am and F pm or by appointment Course website: Course discussion board: The course discussion board has to be used for general questions only. This means that you cannot post homework or quiz questions! Students that participate in a meaningful way can receive extra credit in the end of the course