PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY

 

Fall 2011                                                                                                                       C. Baumann

http://academic.scranton.edu/faculty/cab302                                                                     Loy 109

cab302@scranton.edu                                                                                                         941‑6389

 

Lab Text: "Experiments in Physical Chemistry", Garland, Nibler, and Shoemaker, Eighth Ed., McGraw-Hill, 2009.

 

     The experiments for a given period will be assigned. Before each experiment, a spreadsheet for the experiment must be submitted to the instructor before the experiment may be started. A carbon copy of all data must also be turned in at the end of the lab period.

 

     The course grade will be a composite of report grades (80%) and laboratory technique. Attendance at all sessions is required. Failure to participate in the experimental procedure (due to unexcused absence or lack of an acceptable spreadsheet) will result in a grade of ‘F’ for that experiment. Laboratory reports for each experiment will be turned in the week after the experiment is completed. A penalty of one letter grade per week (or part thereof) will be assessed on late reports.

 

Date

Experiment

 

Reference

September 1

Introduction and Dummy Experiment  

I-III

September 8

Digital Computer Fundamentals

XVI

September 15

Compressibility Factor

notes

September 22

Heat Capacity Ratio

3

September 29

Cryoscopic Determination of Molecular Weight

10

October 6

Heats of Ionic Reaction

8

October 13

Partial Molar Volume

9

October 20

Binary Liquid-Vapor Phase Diagram

14

October 27

Binary Solid-Liquid Phase Diagram

notes

November 3

Temperature Dependence of EMF

18

November 10

Activity Coefficients from Cell Measurements

19

November 17

Knudsen Effusion

V, notes

December 1

Computational Chemistry

III

December 8

Glass Blowing

XX

   

 Format for Laboratory Reports

 

     The laboratory report for an experiment in this course must minimally contain the following:

 

1. Introduction:

    

     A brief statement of the purpose of the experiment and the theory behind the experimental procedure.

 

2. Experimental:

 

     A description of the experimental procedure, referenced whenever possible to the textbook or accompanying materials. Deviations from the reference procedures should be noted in this section.

 

3. Results:

 

     Data should be presented in tabular and/or graphical form in this section. Explanations of calculations, including sample calculations, should be included, as should statistical computations and sample spectra.

 

 

4. Discussion:

 

     A brief analysis of the results of the experiment, sources of error (this is a numerical analysis, not an opportunity for a mea culpa) and suggestions for improvement of the procedure. Comparison of experimentally obtained quantities with literature values should be made whenever possible.

 

5. References:

 

     A list of all sources used in the laboratory report.

 

6. Appendix:

 

     Carbon copies of notebook pages, computer output, and spectra should be included in this section.

 

Academic honesty:

 

The first time that a student is caught plagiarizing or using fabricated data in a report, he or she will receive a grade of zero points for that assignment. For further consequences of violating academic ethics please refer to the University of Scranton Academic Code of Honesty: http://matrix.scranton.edu/student_handbook/policy_academic_code_honesty.html .