The laboratory manual is composed of 3 types of experiments. Guided inquiry experiments ask you to use your data to find generalizations; therefore, this type is designed to be an introduction to the topic before it is discussed in lecture. The emphasis is on using your data. Open inquiry experiments require you to design an experiment concerning a topic that you have studied. The open inquiry labs deal with applying the idea in a new setting. The skill building experiments are designed to develop techniques, not necessarily new content knowledge.

Policy on Safety and Breakage

Before working in this laboratory/recitation portion of the course, every student must read the "Laboratory Safety" rules in the laboratory manual plus any Departmental Rules and agree in writing to abide by these rules. It is imperative for your safety that you and everyone around you strictly adhere to the Safety Rules. Failure to comply with the safety regulations (e.g., by not wearing eye protection at all times; by wearing open-toed shoes, short skirts or shorts without also wearing a labcoat or apron; by running an unauthorized experiment; or by removing chemicals or equipment from the lab) may result in dismissal from this portion of the course or deduction of points on your reports. You will be utilizing equipment furnished by the Chemistry Department. It is your responsibility to properly maintain the equipment while it is in your care. If equipment that has been entrusted to you is not returned in satisfactory condition, you will be held responsible for it.

Absences

The following schedule gives the date that each experiment, quiz, recitation activity, etc. is to be completed. Excused absences must be reported to your lab teaching assistant (TA) in a timely manner with a written excuse. There are two ways to make up a lab. (1) You can often makeup a missed lab later in the same week with another lab section taught by your own lab TA or another Shatruk TA, if there is room in the section. (2) If you have an excused absence for a lab, obtaine a Make-up Laboratory Report Form from Held 412, your TA, or the stockroom, fill out the top half of the form, have your TA (or me) sign it, and turn it in to Held 412. You will then be able to attend the regularly scheduled Make-up Lab at 6:00 p.m. Thursday of the week following the missed lab. Those with approved absences and class conflicts on Thursday evening will see the instructor for other options. Makeup quizzes will be arranged with your TA.

Data Sheets

A data sheet must be submitted at the end of the lab period to receive a grade for that day's experiment. The data sheet may not be graded in some sections; however, the Report Form for the corresponding experiment will not be graded if the data sheet is not submitted the day the experiment is conducted.

PreLabs and Reports

For each experiment you will receive a total score between 13 and 0. Prelabs are worth 3 points, and the report form is worth 10 points. The Prelab Exercises associated with each experiment are due before you start the experiment. Report Forms are divided into Data, Analysis, and Postlab Questions. The Report Form must reflect information obtained by you while in the laboratory and recorded on your data sheets. The report form is due the week after the experiment was run. Neatness and completeness may be considered when points are assigned. Points will be deducted for materials not submitted on the date due. Materials more than one week late will not be graded unless you have a university approved excuse.

Lab/Recitation Quizzes and Written Final

Three lab quizzes (10 points each, usually 1 or 2 points per question) are scheduled at various times during the semester. The quizzes will reflect what you should have gained from previous weeks' experiments, what you should master before beginning the current week's experiment, your ability to utilize techniques and concepts, and your understanding of the recitation/lecture topics discussed in lab. The Written Final is 32 points and is comprehensive over all parts of the lab. The Practical Final is 8 points, covering safety and techniques.

Grades

At the end of the semester the scores on all quizzes (3@10 pts), prelabs/reports (10@13 pts), practical final (8 pts), and written final (32 pts) will be totaled for each student (200 points possible). To this number, lab equalization points MAY be also added. To calculate the number of lab equalization points, the average number of points for the section will first be calculated. If the average number of points for the class is below 160 pts (80% of the points possible), then the number of points needed to raise the average to 80% will also be added to each student's points as lab equalization points.

See the lecture syllabus for the sections on academic disnohesty and on students with disabilities.