INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB

The experiments are sorted by topic, with their point value listed on the right. Click on [worksheet] to open individual worksheet files for printing. These files require a PDF reader for viewing. Click on the Adobe link at the left if you do not have a PDF reader.

SI UNITS, SIGNIFICANT FIGURES, AND GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CBL_v3 PROGRAM
#1: Lab group formation and safety discussion. Density of Solids.
#2: Graphing techniques. Use of Graphical Analysis Software.
#3: Lecture Problem Set. 		worksheet(s)

[15]
GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
#4: Formula of an unknown salt. Practice using the equipment.
#5: Determination of the formula of an unknown salt. 		worksheet(s)
sample quiz #1
[15]
VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS
#6: Standardization of a NaOH solution.
#7: Standardization second trial. [quiz #1]
#8: Acid-Base titration of a KHP solution. 		worksheet(s)
sample quiz #2
[25]
THERMOCHEMISTRY
#9: Specific heat of a coffee cup calorimeter. [quiz #2]
#10: Molarity of unknown NaOH. Enthalpy of formation of MgO. 		worksheet(s)
sample quiz #3
[15]
UV-VIS SPECTROMETRY
#11: Introduction to Spectroscopy. Problem set.
#12: Standard curve for Fe3+. [quiz #3]
#13: Determination of iron in vitamin tablets. [quiz #4] 		worksheet(s)
Problem set
sample quiz #4
[20]
PC MODELING
#14: Force fields and molecular modeling. 		worksheet(s)

[10]

MISSING A LAB?


It is best not to miss any labs because a worksheet must be submitted and graded each day.

If you do miss a lab, you have the option to attend another section where the lab that you missed (or will miss) is being carried out. For a list of these sections, check the course listing in the college homepage.

For the Spring 2009 semester, this are the labs that were listed [as of Jan.30.2009] 

Tuesday:
10:00-11:50AM
02:00-03:50PM
08:00-09:50PM
Wednesday:
12:30-02:20PM
03:30-05:20PM
Thursday:
02:00-03:50PM
04:30-06:20PM
08:00-09:50PM
Friday:
12:30-02:20PM
03:30-05:20PM

Once you find a lab section, you can ask the instructor if it is OK to stay in the room and do the experiment. Or you can ask our lab technician, Vladimir Atanassov at J1017, to place you in a lab section.

The instructor reserves the right to deny your request. This will likely happen if the room is full.

If the experiment you need to do was done in a previous week, then all of the above mentioned procedure is useless and you will not be able to recover the points for the lab you missed.

UPDATES

[May 18 2009] Check your grade for the lab here

[March 30 2009] THERMOCHEMISTRY (2 weeks) does not require worksheets because all graphs will be done in the computer program CBL_v3. If you cannot find the link to the program instructions, follow this link:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CBL_v3 PROGRAM

[March 12 2009] Some students asked me where in their textbook they can find the topics for each quiz. This year the lectures are using GENERAL CHEMISTRY Volume 1 by Hill, Petrucci, McCreary and Perry (CUSTOM EDITION FOR CITY COLLEGE). The topics are at the following locations:

  • Quiz #1 Gravimetric Analysis: CHAPTER 3
  • Quiz #2 Volumetric Analysis: CHAPTER 4 (Section 4.6)
  • Quiz #3 Thermochemistry: CHAPTER 6 (Section 6.4 - 6.8)
  • Quiz #4 Spectrometry: NOT IN THE TEXTBOOK but we have some notes in UV-VIS SPECTROMETRY

    [March 06 2009] The volumetric analysis experiment has started. Remember to bring the worksheet(s). There are three of them: one for each week.

    Quiz #1 is scheduled for the week of March 09-13. Includes up to the gravimetric analysis lab (empirical formula).

    [February 05 2009]
    Remember that Tuesday February 10 follows a Thursday schedule.
    This means:

  • the Thursday class meets on Tuesday.
  • the Tuesday class has the night off.

    [January 27 2009] Things to know:

  • Our lab technician is Vladimir Atanassov at J1017. If you already got credit for the Lab 103, you can ask him whether you are exempt from taking the Lab again.
  • The lab manual is not sold by the bookstore. You can get it from a Lab technician on J1017 or J1014.

    [January 26 2009] Welcome to the Spring 2009 semester.
    Check this space before going to class just in case the class gets canceled. The sample problem sets and answers will also be posted here to save paper