| CHEM 1312 |
General Chemistry II
- State the characteristics of liquids and solids, including phase diagrams and spectrometry.
- Articulate the importance of intermolecular interactions and predict trends in physical properties.
- Identify the characteristics of acids, bases, and salts, and solve problems based on their quantitative relationships.
- Identify and balance oxidation-reduction equations, and solve redox titration problems.
- Determine the rate of a reaction and its dependence on concentration, time, and temperature.
- Apply the principles of equilibrium to aqueous systems using LeChatelier’s Principle to predict the effects of concentration, pressure, and temperature changes on equilibrium mixtures.
- Analyze and perform calculations with the thermodynamic functions, enthalpy, entropy, and free energy.
- Discuss the construction and operation of galvanic and electrolytic electrochemical cells, and determine standard and non-standard cell potentials.
- Define nuclear decay processes.
- Describe basic principles of organic chemistry and descriptive inorganic chemistry
Text: Chemistry: The Central Science 10th Edition, Brown, Lemay & Bursten, Prentice Hall (ISBN:0131096869) |
Fall of Odd Years
Sample Syllabus |
| CHEM 4380 |
Forensic Chemistry
- Forensic Foundations
- Quality Assurance Quality Control
- Reporting Defensible Uncertainties using Representative Samples
- Statistics in Excel and Minitab
- Chemical Partitioning and Equilibria
- Instrumentation Review
- Drug Evidence, Analysis, Pharmacology, and Toxicology
- Physical and Chemical Evidence of
- Combustion and Arson
- Explosives
- Colorants, Inks, Paints
- Materials, Polymers, Natural and Synthetic Fibers
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Spring Every Year
Sample Syllabus |
| CHEM 4448 |
Physical Chemistry I
- Quantum Mechanics
- Molecular Symmetry
- Computational Chemistry
- Rotational Spectroscopy
- Vibrational Spectroscopy
- Atomic Spectroscopy
- Electronic Structure
- Molecular Orbital Theory
- Electronic Spectroscopy
Text: Physical Chemistry, 2nd Ed. by Thomas Engel and Philip Reid, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, (ISBN: 0-321-61505-0) |
Fall Every Year
Sample Syllabus |
| CHEM 4449 |
Physical Chemistry II
- Probability & Boltzman Distribution
- Statistical Thermodynamics
- Thermodynamic Functions (USHAG)
- Single Component Phase Diagrams
- Ideal, Real, and Electrolyte Solutions
- Kinetic Theory of Gases
- Transport Phenomena
- Thermochemistry
- Electrochemistry
- Nuclear Chemistry
Text: Physical Chemistry, 2nd Ed. by Thomas Engel and Philip Reid, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, (ISBN: 0-321-61505-0) |
Spring Every Year
Sample Syllabus |
| CHEM 5385 |
Graduate Symmetry and Spectroscopy
Text: Symmetry and Spectroscopy - An Introduction to Vibrational and Electronic Spectroscopy, by Harris and Bertolucci, Dover, 1978. (ISBN: 3-486-66144-X)
I prefer this book to more modern books for the following reasons:
- It is very readable
- It does not distract the reader with all the fluffy pictures and application boxes
- It has a an excellent treatment of matrix operations, group elements, and vibrational modes.
- I am able to add my own content on symmetry adapted linear combinations of atomic orbitals.
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Fall Every 4th Year |
| CHEM 5381 |
Graduate Thermodynamics |
Fall Every 4th Year |
| CHEM / FS |
Graduate Forensic Science Survey of Explosive Engineering and Detection
Text: Aspects of Explosives Detection, by Maurice Marshall (Editor), Jimmie C. Oxley (Editor), Elsevier, 2008. (ISBN-13: 978-0123745330) |
In Development |
The #1 predictor of success for a student is how much time they WILL devote to their studies. Where do you fall in the following table?
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- You have the time to study.
- You have mastered the prerequisite material.
- And you WILL do what it takes to master the new material.
You have the best chance of success! |
- You have the time to study.
- You have mastered the prerequisite material.
- But for whatever reason WILL NOT do what it takes to master the new material.
Do your major, minor, and this course match your priorities?
Are you overextended in student activities, club sports, social activities?
These committments are OPTIONAL, and they may need to be adjusted for academic success. |
- You do NOT have the time to study because you have a family, a full-time job, or other committments that you CAN'T change.
- You have NOT mastered the prerequisite material.
- But, you WILL do your very best to master the new material.
You will struggle, but do not lose heart!
You will need a great deal of DISCIPLINE and excellent time management.
You must eliminate ALL of your optional committments. (This statement has been proven time and time again.) |
- You do NOT have the time to study because you have a family, a full-time job, or other committments that you CAN'T change.
- You have NOT mastered the prerequisite material.
- But for whatever reason WILL NOT do what it takes to master the new material.
You have decided to test yourself by holding on to optional committments.
You have not practiced time management and prefer to CRAM for EXAMS.
It is almost certain that you will FAIL. |
I use humor when I can.
I use PowerPoint presentations that are downloaded from Blackboard. I also do a lot of boardwork so that you mentally participate in the progression of thinking.
I base my homework grades (formative assessment) upon your interaction with the material as soon as possible, thus punishing procrastination. The answers for the multiple choice homework exercises are entered on Blackboard. See the blog post on this concept (http://pchem4u.wordpress.com/2013/01/14/the-war-on-cramming/ ).
The exams (summative assessment) are 80% to 90% mulitple choice with 10% to 20% hand-written. The multiple choice portion is very close to the formative assessment exercises. The hand-written portion is called "A-level" work. It is completely open-ended, requiring higher-level competencies such as Synthesis or Evaluation.
I check attendance every lecture and require active participation. Thus 5% of the weighted average in a course is given to lecture preparation and participation.
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