Date |
Lecture/Discussion Topic |
Reading Assignment |
Weekly Laboratory |
| Week #1 Sept 11 |
The Air We Breath. Introduction to chemical understanding of matter: atoms, molecules, formulas, reactions |
No laboratory meeting this week! |
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Sept 13 |
The Air We Breath (cont). More on chemical reactions in air...hydrocarbon combustion, ozone, nitrogen oxides, photochemical smog |
Ch 1 |
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| Week #2 Sept 16 |
Water--A Vulnerable Natural Resource. Water sources and concerns; Introduction to a chemical understanding of water; how molecular structure and hydrogen bonding determine properties; Ionic compounds and their solutions |
Ch 5 |
Environmental Chemistry Aboard HWS Explorer I Handout & Working Safely with Chemicals |
Sept 18 |
Water (cont). Hard Water and Soft Soap. Water Purification methods--distillation, ion exchange, desalination |
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Sept 20 |
Water (cont). How does water help cool our bodies? Water and Energy: Specific Heat; Heat of vaporization; Heat of fusion |
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| Week #3 Sept 23 |
Acid Rain. Introduction to environmental impact of acidification of natural waters. Introduction to acidity, moles, molarity, and pH. |
Ch 6 |
Environmental Chemistry Aboard HWS Explorer II |
Sept 25 |
Sources of Acid precipitation. Reactions of oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. Chemical reactions in acidic aqueous solutions. Sources of geologic neutralization. |
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Sept 27 |
Acid Rain Conclusion: Consequences, costs, and politics |
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| Week #4 Sept 30 |
SPECIAL DISCUSSION WORKSHOP -- Pollution: Consequence of chemical ignorance I. Onondaga Lake Industrial Activities--Making soda, chlorine and sodium hydroxide. |
Ch 7 |
Acid/Base Lab Jolly Exp 13 + handout |
Oct 2 |
Pollution: Consequence of chemical ignorance II. Mining for Gold in California. |
Handout |
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Oct 4 |
In-Class Examination #1 |
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| Week #5 Oct 7 |
Back to Air: The Ozone Layer--What is it? Why do we Care? Interactions between Light and Matter. Introduction to the electronic structure of the atom |
Ch 2 |
The Electronic Structure of Hydrogen |
Oct 9 |
Electronic structure continued. Relationship to the periodic table |
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Oct 11 |
Stratospheric production and fates of ozone; Biological effects of UV radiation; chlorofluorocarbons. Consequences and projections for the future |
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| Week #6 Oct 14 |
Global Warming: The earth=s energy balance. Molecules and infrared radiation. |
Ch 3 |
Analysis of Cations in Finger Lakes natural waters by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) Molecular Modeling of Carbon Dioxide |
Oct 16 |
Carbon dioxide and The Carbon Cycle. Quantitative considerations and more on molecules and moles |
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Oct 18 |
Climatic modeling and projections for the future. |
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| Week #7 Oct 21 |
Energy from fossil fuels: coal and petroleum. Where from and how much? |
Ch 4 |
Field trip to power plant |
Oct 23 |
Chemical reactions and heat. How much fuel do we need? How much heat will we get? |
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Oct 25 |
Power Plant design, the case for conservation, environmental concerns. |
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| Week #8 Oct 28 |
Nuclear Energy. What is our ( and the world=s commitment) to this source of energy? Should we worry? What is nuclear energy? Fission. Nuclear decay and radioactivity. |
Ch 8 |
Ice Calorimeter--the measurement of heat of reaction of acid with magnesium Jolly Exp 27 |
Oct 30 |
More on nuclear decay and radioactivity. Nuclear plant design; the waste that is left over; environmental concerns. |
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Nov 1 |
In-Class Examination #2 |
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| Week #9 Nov 4 |
Solar Energy--A solution for the future. How can we efficiently transform the energy from the sun into a form we can use? Fuel from sunlight; splitting water. |
Ch 9 |
Determination of Vitamin C in foods Jolly Exp 21 |
Nov 6 |
Fuel cells, batteries, and a hydrogen economy |
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Nov 8 |
Where do our medicines come from? Molecular synthesis and designing drugs. Intro to Organic chemistry |
Ch 11 |
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| Week #10 Nov 11 |
The structure of organic molecules: Lewis Structures and VSEPR |
Synthesis of Aspirin Jolly Exp 7 +thin layer chromatography of analgesics |
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Nov 13 |
What are RU-486, Anabolic Steroids, Thalidomide? The drug approval process. |
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Nov 15 |
Nutrition and Fat. Must we have both? Selected topics on nutrition, Fat, cholesterol, and vitamins |
Ch 12 |
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| Week #11 Nov 18 |
Review |
No lab this week! |
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Nov 24 7:00-10:00pm |
Comprehensive Final Examination |