Random Musings February 3, 2011 1. The results from the first quiz are in and the average was a 75 which is okay, but you can do better than that. No questions are being killed since all of them were answered at >50% correct. I am disappointed in the two colligative property questions which were answered correctly by only about half of you. In thinking about preparing for the next quiz, and for the first exam, be aware that we will be learning knew material right up until you are tested, and the newest material will require the greatest attention since it is the least familiar. I am especially concerned that about 70 of you who got half the questions or less correct. This should send a big wake up call that you are either not studying the right way or don’t know how to study for my quizzes and exams. I urge all of you to redouble your efforts and get started on learning the material in a systematic way. 2. “How to get an A in Dr. Laude’s Class” presentation by Dr. Laude on Sunday evening, February 13th, at 8 pm. As I mentioned the first day of class, I do not believe in curves and in fact believe instead that my job is to make it possible for you to learn what is expected for this course, and if I do so, I will give you an A, just like I gave 220 out of 502 students As in the fall. Well there are 110 new students this semester, many of whom are wondering what the heck is going on—“doesn’t Dr. Laude actually teach anything?” many of you might be saying as I explode balloons and play hip hop music. No wonder I receive numerous e-mails from new students who are not used to how my course works and would like advice on how best to study. In response, I will host a “How to get an A in Dr. Laude’s Class” presentation February 13 evening at 8 pm in this room. During that time I will offer the study strategies that I have seen work both in terms of week to week learning of the material and specifically, what you should do to prepare for my quizzes and exams. All are invited—most folks who had me for CH301 will have heard what I have to say before. It is my strong hope thatyou will start doing what I recommend early so you aren’t in my office after spring break, on the other side of two failed exams, having to hear me repeat what I will tell you on Sunday. 3. No time like the present to learn what it is you need to learn--there is a quiz on the 15th and an exam on the 24th. I will have plenty of details about the exam in the next musings but for now be aware that it will be from 7:30 till 9 in rooms to be determined and if you have to take the make-up it will be the following Sunday night, at 6 pm, no exceptions. Also, I will have an exam review on Monday night, the 21st, at 9 pm and Travis has a review on the 22nd at 9 pm. 3. Question types for quiz 2 follow: • Setting up an equilibrium expression • Using LeChatlier’s Principle to determine reaction direction • Comparing Q to K to determine reaction direction • Using the RICE set-up to find equilibrium values • Understanding the relationship between free energy and equilibria: ΔG = -RTlnK • Understanding the relationship between temperature and equilibria (Van’t Hoff equation) • Understanding the autoprotolysis of water and its temperature dependence • Calculating molar solubility from Ksp 3. While there may be a few minor changes, these are effectively the 30 question types for exam 1, three weeks ahead of time. Physical Equilibria 1 temperature dependence of phase changes 2 vapor pressure theory 3 salt dissociation in water 4 phase diagram interpretation 5 phase diagram navigation 6 calculating ΔH from heating across phases transitions 7 gas solubility in liquids 8 ranking miscibility of liquids 8 calculating vapor pressure in binary system 10 Clausius Clapeyron equation theory 11 colligative property application 12 colligative property calculation 13 colligative property theory Chemical Equilibria 14 setting up K from equilibrium expression 15 calculating equilibrium concentrations from K 16 calculating equilibrium concentrations from K 17 determining reaction direction from Q and K 18 LeChatelier and reaction direction 19 van’t Hoff equation calculation (NOT the van’t Hoff factor) 20 relationship of ΔG to K Introduction to Water Equilbria 21 theory of auto-protolysis of water 22. temperature dependence of Kw 23. converting between pH, pOH, [H+]+ and [OH-] 24. simple solubility calculation 25. ranking salt solubility using Ksp estimations 26. ranking acid base strength based on K values 27. strong acid or base calculation 28. weak acid or base calculation 29 weak acid or base calculation 30. simple buffer calculation 4. There is no quiz next week but I got so excited about the worksheets that I have posted all of them pretty much through the first exam. By this weekend, you should be able to do Worksheet 3 and starting next week you really need to be working on worksheets 4, 5 and 6 in earnest. 5. The TAs are working their behinds off to get a lot of electronic material posted. By this weekend we should have all of the video clips through lecture 10 posted (which takes you up to the first exam.) In addition, Miranda is beginning to use her magic hand to create video clips of how she would answer worksheet and practice quiz questions. I will have more on how these materials are to be inserted into the portal coming soon.6. Poetry Corner. For poetry corner today I offer up a pretty funny story told by another professor who teaches freshman chemistry—it is the challenge that every parent, who knows more than is good for them, faces. It also includes a bunch of the stuff I am teaching you right now. DIALOGUE WITH SARAH, AGED 3: IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN THAT IF YOUR DAD IS A CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR, ASKING "WHY" CAN BE DANGEROUS By Stephen McNeil - FROM THE ARCHIVES - SARAH: Daddy, were you in the shower? DAD: Yes, I was in the shower. SARAH: Why? DAD: I was dirty. The shower gets me clean. SARAH: Why? DAD: Why does the shower get me clean? SARAH: Yes. DAD: Because the water washes the dirt away when I use soap. SARAH: Why? DAD: Why do I use soap? SARAH: Yes. DAD: Because the soap grabs the dirt and lets the water wash it off. SARAH: Why? DAD: Why does the soap grab the dirt? SARAH: Yes. DAD: Because soap is a surfactant. SARAH: Why? DAD: Why is soap
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