CHEM 2310

Introductory Analytical Chemistry

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course is designed provide an introduction to analytical chemistry primarily for those who intend to pursue a career in teaching high school science, or who need to establish certification for teaching chemistry in high school. Laboratory procedures, sample calculations, statistical analysis of experimental data obtained using virtual laboratory exercises will be included.

Course Objectives:

Our goals are primarily twofold: 
  1. To gain a strong background in the chemical principles important in analytical chemistry and acquire factual knowledge about current techniques used in chemical analysis.
  2. To learn to solve analytical problems in a quantitative manner and evaluate the accuracy and precision of experimental data thus giving yielding a greater understanding of the different types of the chemical analysis used in the chemical industry and environmental studies.
By the end of the semester the student should be able to:
  • Describe the analytical process
  • Solve chemical equilibrium problems
  • Evaluate the uncertainty of experimental data using statistics
  • Apply the systematic treatment of equilibrium to a variety of chemical reactions such as acid-base, redox, and metal complexation
  • Define the responsibilities and roles of analytical chemists in society
  • Disseminate what they have learned to students and the general public enhancing their position as a member of society
Prerequisites and Co requisites:
Chemistry 1110 and 1120 required as prerequisites.
Course Topics:
Students will be introduced to a broad range of topics in modern chemical analysis with emphasis on interesting or timely examples. Such topics might include applications of analytical chemistry in archaeology, nanotechnology, and forensic science.
The course is divided into ten (10) basic sequential units. Each subsequent unit is dependent on the previous units. These are:

1. Analytical Processes and Measurements

2. Statistical Treatment of Experimental Data

3. Systematic Treatment of Chemical Equilibrium

4. Gravimetric Methods of Analysis

5. Monoprotic and Polyprotic Acid/Base Equilibrium

6. Principles of Titrations

7. Metal Complexation Titrations

8. Electrochemistry and Redox Reactions

9. Fundamentals of Spectrochemical Analysis

10. Introduction to Analytical Separations

Specific Course Requirements:
To succeed in this course the student must be curious, self-motivated, and well organized. The student must be computer-literate having the abilities to access and browse the web, to use word processing software, use a spreadsheet for graphing and data analysis, and to send and receive attachments via email.
Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements
Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook:
http://rodp.bkstr.com

Supplementary Materials:
None.
Hardware Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. There are no additional hardware requirements for this course.
Software Requirements:
The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. There are no additional software requirements for this course.
Instructor Information
Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.
Assessment and Grading
Testing Procedures
Tests are required for each two units (modules) for a total of five (5) tests. They may be taken only during a specified time period. Results, with feedback, will be available immediately to both student and instructor.

One (1) proctored final exam completes the testing process. The student is responsible for selecting and obtaining an acceptable proctor. Instructions for this procedure are found at http://www.rodp.org/proctorstudentform.htm
Grading Procedure:
A student's grade is determined based on his/her numerical average achieved through completion of seven items: homework, class participation (discussion forum usage), unit tests, internet research project, mid-term examination and final examination.  Levels of achievement and weighting for each of these elements is outlined below. 
Grading Scale:
 
Numerical Range Letter Grade
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
Below 60 F

Grades are assigned in conformity with a standard college grading scale listed above.  The numerical grade is computed from a weighted average of the following items with the indicted weights.  In cases where a student has demonstrated a significant level of improvement, the weight of the final exam may be increased to reflect the then-present level of mastery.

 

Item

Weight (%)

Homework and Class Participation

25

Research Project

15

Unit Tests (5)

35

Final Exam

25

Total

100

 
Assignments and Participation
Assignments and Projects:
The student should plan on completing one module each week in the order shown on the Module link in D2L. Assignments for this course will consist of a homework set for each module, five on-line tests and one final exam. The times at which the homework assignments and module tests can be taken is shown in the course calendar on D2L. Time windows of availability will be found by referring to the homework instrument or to the D2L. Tests and Quizzes" link.
Class Participation:
Each student is expected to participate fully in the class discussion bulletin board. This participation is of two kinds: sending and responding to pleas for help from fellow students and responding to the instructor-posted Discussion Questions. The instructor will post discussion questions unannounced. It is the student's responsibility to check the bulletin board daily for open threads and announcements. Each student is required to respond, in a thoughtful manner, to each discussion question as well as to respond to the comment of at least one fellow student on that same question. After a suitable time the discussion will be ended by the instructor and student responses noted and graded. Every comment must observe proper netiquette. Every comment must be labeled with the students name to permit proper evaluation.

Last but not least, learn to email the instructor regularly with questions. He or she thrives on them.
Punctuality:
Planning your week is of vital importance. To keep yourself on track plan to do the following each week: 1) work through a module with its assigned lecture notes, textbook reading, and homework submission and 2) Participate in any posted discussions and/or the chat room. They will be of great help in understanding the material. End each week by taking the module test. You can't do it all in one afternoon.
Course Ground Rules

All work you submit must be your own. However, you are encouraged to seek help from the instructor and from each other via email using the internal WebCT email tool and the class discussion forum. Your instructor expects questions concerning course material, and the answering of conceptual questions. Use proper netiquette in your communications. Remember, there is a record of every word you put in an email. Introduce yourself to other students as early as practical. Get started, right away. Set regular times for your home "class" and guard this time zealously.

If technical problems arise seek help from WebCT immediately. You have a course calendar that includes due dates and times for all assignments. You know when things are due. Plan ahead and do not expect extensions except under extreme circumstances. To help with circumstances that may be beyond your control we drop one homework grade, and two unit test grades.

Guidelines for Communications
Email:
  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members
Discussion Groups:
  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Chat:
  • Introduce yourself to the other learners in the chat session.
  • Be polite. Choose your words carefully. Do not use derogatory statements.
  • Be concise in responding to others in the chat session.
  • Be prepared to open the chat session at the scheduled time.
  • Be constructive in your comments and suggestion
Web Resources:

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses. 

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the left to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

Telephone Support:
  • TECHNICAL PROBLEMS please visit the AskRODP Customer Support web page at http://help.rodp.org or call the AskRODP Help Desk at 1-866-550-RODP (1-866-550-7637)

  • REGISTRATION PROBLEMS contact your home school RODP Campus Contact