Department of Chemistry

College of Sciences
University of Central Florida

CHM 2046L Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory (1

Credit)
Course Syllabus
Graduate Laboratory Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:

Instructor: Hugh Hayes

Office: PSB 334
Phone:
E-mail: hhayes@knights.ucf.edu

University Course Catalog Description

Illustration of chemical principles and introduction to the techniques of inorganic
and physical chemistry.
Course Overview
The Chemistry Fundamentals Laboratory course is designed to give students an
insight into the processes of experimental chemistry. The course provides a series
of authentic, challenging, and relevant questions which students seek to answer
through experimentation in a safe environment. Lab techniques like titration,
spectroscopy, dilution, and measurement will be incorporated with critical thinking
exercises to enhance the learning process and improve comprehension of
fundamental concepts. An introduction to writing within the science discipline will
be addressed each week.
Course Objectives
At the end of the semester, students will be able to:

Keep safety the first priority while working in the laboratory

Design a procedure to answer a key question
Model how writing is used in a variety of chemistry genres
Experiment with glassware & equipment in alignment with their
intended function
Develop stronger critical thinking skills
Use laboratory terminology/vocabulary in text and oral communication
Analyze data through algebraic calculations and graphical analysis
State a claim based on experimental evidence
Identify how the laboratory experiments relate to real life
Perform titrations, dilutions, and solution preparation

Course prerequisites and Instructor expectations of student abilities

Students must have completed or be presently enrolled in CHM2045 and CHM2046
Chemistry Fundamentals I & II (or equivalent). Although students are not expected
to have prior chemistry laboratory experience, it is expected that students have
mastered general chemistry topics discussed in prerequisite courses.
Additional Required Materials
Full length lab coat (to the knee or longer, with long sleeves)
Bound composition notebook (no spiral or loose-leaf)
Lab goggles (glasses are not an acceptable substitute)
Safety in the laboratory
Safety is of utmost concern in the laboratory. All rules set in place by the
department of chemistry and the university will be enforced at all times. Failure to
adhere to these rules, including wearing proper attire (for example: safety goggles
and laboratory coat), bringing food in the lab (regardless of whether it is being
consumed), and reckless behavior will result in immediate removal from the lab.
Leaving the lab in a safe and clean environment is also required. Waste
management instructions must be followed and balances, workspaces, and fume
hoods are required to be clean prior to departure from the lab.
Assignments
Pre-laboratory assignments: Pre-lab worksheets are important tools for success
during experimentation. They are strategically designed to help you recall the prior
knowledge you will need in the laboratory. As such, you will often need to review
concepts by rereading your general chemistry textbook. Start you pre-lab
assignments early so you can get help from your GTA during office hours if needed!
Post laboratory assignments: The post lab assignments consist of two sections:
Scientists Write! and Post lab questions. The section Scientists Write is
intended to focus on the various disciplinary conventions of the chemistry field.
Post-lab questions are intended to ensure comprehension of important concepts, to
expand on topics discussed in class, and to apply concepts to other settings.
Notebook: The laboratory notebook is an important learning tool as well as a
necessary scientific research tool. For your laboratory notebook, please adhere to
the following guidelines:
Include a table of contents at the beginning
Each experiment must start on a new page
All writing must be done in pen ink (not pencil)
Number and date all pages
Put one single line through any error
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given each week and will be based on the material covered
the previous week.

Evaluation and Grading

Attendance is mandatory for all classes. A zero will be assigned for post lab
assignments, quizzes, and notebook related to any missed lab class.
Total points possible: 525
Assignment
Number of
assignments
Pre-labs
10
Post labs & SW
11
Quizzes
11
Notebook
10
Final
1

Points per
assignment
5
25
10
5
40

Total points
possible
50
275
110
50
40

Final grades will be determined by the % of points earned out of total possible
points:
90-100 A
80-89
B
70-79
C
60-69
D
0-59
F
Policy about due dates
Quizzes are given the first 10 minutes of class. Make-up quizzes will not be
provided for absent or late students. Assignments are due upon arrival to the
class. Late assignments will acquire a 20% penalty for each day they are
late. Attendance is mandatory for all classes. A zero will be assigned for post lab
assignments, quizzes, and notebook related to any unexcused absences. Excused
absences, including official university business and medical emergencies, will be
addressed on a case by case basis. If possible, please contact your lab instructor
before an absence (regardless if it is excused).
UCF Creed
Integrity
I will practice and defend academic and personal honesty.
Scholarship
I will cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purpose of my membership in the
UCF community.
Community
I will promote an open and supportive campus environment by respecting the rights
and contributions of every individual.

Creativity
I will use my talents to enrich the human experience.
Excellence
I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I
undertake.

Calendar
Date

Writing

Lab Topic

May 18-22

Overview

Week 1
**May 2529
Week 2
June 1-5
Week 3

Components of
the journal
article
Verb tense SWH

June 8-12
Week 4

Writing an
introduction

Gas Laws Airbags

Verb tense SWH

June 15-19
Week 5

Writing a
discussion

Introduction (see
grading rubric)

June 22-26
Week 6

Formal Report
#1

Precipitation
reactions (barium
sulfate)
Antacid Analysis

** June 29Jul 3
Week 7
Jul 6-10
Week 8

Peer Review

Peer review day &

Kinetics (1)
introduction
Chemical Kinetics
(II)

Formal Laboratory
Report #1

Jul 13-17
Week 9

Formal Report
#2

Environmental
solutions (I)

Jul 20-24
Week 10

Formal Report
#2

Environmental
solutions (II)

None

Jul 27-31
Week 11

None

Thermochemistry
(Hesss Law)

Formal Report #2

Aug 3-7
Week 12

Abstract & Title

Lab syllabus,
safety, additive
measurements
Electric solutions
(or elec solutions
take-home lab)
Working with
glassware

Writing Assignment
Due
None
Overview
Journal article
worksheet

Discussion (see grading

rubric)

Formal laboratory report

#1 (revised) + peer
review sheets
Abstract & title

Final Exam

**No lab for Monday sections on May 25th and Friday July 3rd. Students will complete
a take-home lab to submit the following week.
2014 Important dates for when lab is not in session:

Memorial Day

Monday, May 25th

Independence Day
Weekend

Friday, July 3rd

Guided Inquiry and Science Writing Heuristic Methodology

The 2046 lab will be taught in a guided inquiry format. This method is designed to
improve critical thinking skills and understanding in chemistry content. You will be
expected to think through each experiment and develop experimental procedures to
answer a question. You will be expected to have a whole-class discussion at the end
of each experiment to discuss the outcome of the lab. Whether your initial answer
is right or wrong will not impact your grade. What is important is that your claim is
supported by your evidence and that you compare that claim to what other
scientists have found.

To complement the guided inquiry nature of the experiments, the laboratory

notebooks will be kept in the science writing heuristic SWH format. This format, as
seen in the template below, will guide the students through their thought
development in the form of writing. This is an important part of the learning
process since writing can be viewed as knowledge- telling or knowledgetransforming (Bereiter, Scardamalia, 1987). Knowledge telling is
recalling/regurgitating information while transformation of knowledge requires a
degree of cognitive demand (Greenbowe, Hand, 2005). The laboratory notebook
will therefore aid in the cognitive understanding of chemistry. Numerous research
studies have shown that high implementation of the SWH results in significantly
higher test scores. The benefits of this implementation have been documented to
last all year with the greatest student gain occurring within the first semester
(Poock, Burke, Greenbowe, and Hand, 2003; Burke, Poock, Greenbowe and Hand,
2004).

The Science Writing Heuristic: Template for students

Laboratory Notebook:

1. Key Question - What is the question being investigated?

2.
3.
4.
5.

Beginning ideas - What were the beginning ideas?

Tests - What procedure was performed?
Observations & Data - What happened?
Evidence - What is the evidence that leads to the claim? (data summary &
calculations)
6. Claim - What claim can be made to answer the key question?