Fundamentals of Chemistry
Chemistry 111
Spring 2004


Homework | End-of-Chapter Problems
News Article Assignments | Chemistry in Your Life Assignments

Homework


Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day indicated on the calendar.  Some homework assignments will be taken from the end of the chapter problems in the World of Chemistry Essentials text.  In addition, you will also have assignments based on the role of chemistry in everyday life (Chemistry In Your Life assignments) and on current chemistry-related topics in the news (News Article assignments). 


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End-of-Chapter Problems

Problems from World of Chemistry Essentials will be graded by the student grader according the following criteria. Each set contains approximately 10 problems and each problem has one or more parts. Each of these sub-parts will be weighted equally (say one point), no matter what their relative complexity is, and broken down as per:

•    Complete and supported answer – 100%
•    Complete, but with multiple minor errors or very few major errors – 50%
•    Incomplete, with major errors, work not shown – 33%
•    Not attempted, unreadable or too messy to follow – 0%

Punctuality is highly valued.  Your homework grades will be assessed penalties as follows if they are not turned in at the start of class on the day due: 

•    Handed in by the start of class on the due date = 1.00
•    Handed in between zero and one class periods late = 0.5
•    Handed in more than one class period late = 0.25

The individual parts of each problem will be scored this way, and the individual scores added to get a total (say 14 for a set with 8 problems and 2 parts per problem). This final score will then be expressed in terms of 10 points (here, for example, 14/16 = 0.88 and 0.88 * 10 = 8.6 points).  In this way you will get the same amount of credit for working a simple problem as you do for working a hard one, making it a management decision on your part as to how much time to spend on any one problem, compared to another. 

Homework assignments must be turned in on loose leaf (not spiral bound) standard sized paper.  Multiple pages must be stapled (not paper clipped, not folded, not taped, etc.) together.  There will not be a stapler in the classroom. Assignments must be readable and organized.  Assignments will not be accepted if these rules are not followed.

 
HW #  
 World of Chemistry Essentials
End of Chapter Problems:
1 2.2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 15, 18, 19, 22, 26
2
 2.29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44
3
 3.4, 5, 8, 14, 15, 20, 29, 34, 42, 50
4
 4.2, 5, 9, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 28, 32
5
 5.6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24
6
 5. 25, 26, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 43, 45, 46
7
 6.1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 19, 24
8
 6.27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 38, 40, 42, 44
9
 7.2, 5, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 24, 25, 26
10
 7. 31, 34, 37, 39; 8.1a-d, 9, 19, 23, 27, 28
11
 9.7, 8, 17, 28, 36; 10.3, 11, 12, 16, 31, 33, 45
12
 11.2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15
13
 11.18, 20, 24, 26, 27, 31, 32, 37, 38, 46
14
 12.6, 8, 22, 24, 46; 13.10, 12, 22, 31, 40

 
As you can see from the grading scale described above, scoring “10” on your homework assignment does not necessarily mean you completely understand the material.  It is your responsibility to check your returned homework assignments against the solutions on closed reserve in the Science Library.  You may check these out at your convenience.  Be aware that there are heavy fines imposed for tardy return of closed reserve materials.

Your text book has example problems throughout the chapters.  I encourage you to work on these as you read through the material.  Doing so will help your understanding and retention of the topics.

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Homework | End-of-Chapter Problems | News Article Assignments | Chemistry in Your Life Assignments




News Article Assignments

Three News article assignments will require you to research, discuss and explain the scientific principles involved in a current issue in the news that relates to chemistry.  Details of these assignments will be forthcoming throughout the term.  These assignments will be graded by Professor Walczak and should be done on a computer using your favorite word processing program (e.g., Microsoft Word).  Printed work should be turned in at the beginning of class on the day the assignment is due.  Each assignment will be worth 75 points and will be graded using the following criteria:

News Article Grading Rubric
Information on Citing Sources in Chemistry

The rubric found at the link above will result in a maximum score of 25.  This value will be scaled to a maximum of 75 points by multiplying by three.


News Article Assignments

1.    Risk Assessment of the Flu Vaccine – Should You Be Immunized?

2.    Nuclear Energy Storage – Impact of Expansion at the Prairie Island Site

3.    The Low-Carbohydrate Diet Craze– A Sensible Diet?

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Homework | End-of-Chapter Problems | News Article Assignments | Chemistry in Your Life Assignments




Chemistry in Your Life Assignments

Seven assignments this semester will require you to look for aspects of chemistry in the world around you.  Additional details of these assignments will be forthcoming throughout the term.  These assignments will be graded by Professor Walczak and, for full credit, should be done on a computer using your favorite word processing program (e.g., Microsoft Word).  Printed work should be turned in at the beginning of class on the day the assignment is due.  Each assignment will be worth 30 points and will be graded using the following criteria:

CIYL Grading Rubric

The rubric above will result in a maximum score of 15.  This value will be scaled to a maximum of 30 points by multiplying by two.


Chemistry in your Life Assignments

1.    Chemistry in your Life.  Based on your reading of Chapter 1 and our first class session, write two paragraphs that describe ways in which chemistry affects your life.  One paragraph should describe a positive interaction and one should describe a negative interaction. 
 
2.    Elements and Compounds.  Identify a pure substance with which you have contact on a regular basis.  Determine whether this substance is an element or a compound.  Determine or estimate the mass of this material in the form that you use it on a regular basis.

3.    Atmospheric Gases.  Choose one of the following atmospheric gases:  nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, water, dihydrogen oxide, nitric oxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, CFC-12, or CFC-11.  For your chosen gas draw a Lewis Structure, find an approximate atmospheric concentration (percentage or parts per million (ppm), and classify it as a anthropogenic or natural component of the atmosphere.  If it is anthropogenic, comment on the primary sources of this gas and the consequences of having it present in our atmosphere.

4.    Household Cleaners.  Many household cleaners contain acids or bases.  Choose a category of cleaner not described in Chapter 7 of your text and identify the ingredients in this type of cleaner by comparing the ingredients in a number of products in this category.  You may bring samples to lab in order to measure the pH of the cleaners.

5.    Antioxidants in your diet.  Antioxidants are important components of the human diet.  Their role in the body is to scavenge unpaired electrons in “free radicals” which can cause cell damage.  Identify the food that you consume on a regular basis that are know to contain significant amounts of antioxidants.

6.    Personal Nutrition Analysis.  Keep a diet and exercise log.  Record what you eat and what kind of exercise you do.  More details on this CIYL assignment will be added later in the semester. 

7.    Prescription Drugs.  Pharmaceutical companies offer a wide variety of drugs.  Choose a drug that you have heard of or one from the following list and determine its:


Do not choose medications that have their molecular structures printed in our textbook.

Acular LS
 Elestat
 Namenda
 Somavert
Advate Emend Ovcon 35 Symbyax
Aloxi Emtriva Oxytrol Uroxatral
Bexxar Ertaczao
 Plenaxis
 Velcade
Boniva Estrasorb Radiogardase Vigamox
Cardizem LA Factive Raptiva Wellbutrin XL
Ciprodex Fuzeon Restylane Xolair
Clobex Gammunex Reyataz Zemaira
Crestor Iressa Riomet Zomiq
Cubicin Lexiva Risperdal Consta Zorbtive


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Homework | End-of-Chapter Problems | News Article Assignments | Chemistry in Your Life Assignments


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