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Lectures:
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00 am - 12:20 am, in room 352 of the Chemistry building.
Recitations:
Thursdays at 3:30 pm - 4:20 pm in room 310 of the General Academic Building (not in Chemistry). This is when semester exams will be held.
My Office Hours:
Thursdays 1:30 - 2:30 pm in room 274 of the Chemistry Building. Zoom available at other times by appointment.
If your preferred name is not the same as the name that appears on the university provided roster for the course, please let me know so that I can use your preferred name.
I care about the success of each student. When you have questions about the course material, questions about the subject more broadly, concerns to discuss, accommodations you need, or thoughts you want to share, please come to office hours, or we can talk after class, or we can set up a meeting or a Zoom appointment.
My e-mail is marshall@unt.edu. This is the recommended way to reach me. Sometimes my inbox gets quite full, but I do want to hear from you. If you email me and don’t hear back from me within two business days, please send a follow-up email. I will appreciate the gentle reminder.
Additional Information:
The information on this page is available online via Canvas and my own web site, at http://www.chem.unt.edu/~marshall/c1422.htm. Any syllabus updates will appear on Canvas.
I will use Canvas to post downloadable copies of the lecture slides, some examples of homework problems worked out, and grade information.
Prerequisites:
"C" or better in CHEM 1412 or CHEM 1410 (or CHEM 1413 with grade B or better and permission of the department), MATH 1100 or equivalent, admission to Honors College.
Chapter 11 - Gases
Chapter 12 - Liquids and Solids
Chapter 13 - Physical Properties of Solutions
Chapter 14 - Chemical Kinetics
Chapter 15 - Entropy and Gibbs Energy
Chapter 16 - Chemical Equilibrium
Chapter 17 - Acids, Bases, and Salts
Chapter 18 - Acid-base Equilibria and Solubility Equilibria
Chapter 19 - Electrochemistry
Chapter 20 - Nuclear Chemistry
Chapter 21 - Environmental Chemistry
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of CHEM 1423,
(1) students should be able to write rate law expressions and propose reaction mechanisms based on experimental reaction data.
(2) students should understand chemical equilibria and be able to calculate the equilibrium concentrations given the initial reactant concentrations and the equilibrium constant.
(3) students should be able to discuss examples of the historical context and practical consequences of chemistry applications.
(4) students should be able to calculate the pH of solutions containing strong and weak acids/bases.
(5) students should be able to apply the laws of thermodynamics to determine whether or not a given reaction will be spontaneous under the given set of experimental conditions.
(6) students should be able to solve problems related to electrochemistry.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
Technology Requirements
McGraw-Hill’s “Connect” software for homework.
Basic scientific calculators for ~$12 that can handle scientific number notation like 106 and can evaluate functions like ln(x) and exp(x) are recommended. A cell-phone, computer or tablet app will not do because these items are not allowed in exams.
UNT intends lectures to be in-person in the traditional manner, where we all meet in the classroom. You turn in homework remotely, and will need a computer, smart phone or tablet for that. If the availability of equipment or the internet is a problem, take advantage of the many computer labs across campus.
Should changes in the general situation require it, or in case you or I need to quarantine, remote learning via Zoom may be used for lectures. In that situation, you will need to have a working computer with web camera, microphone and sound. A smart phone or tablet will be sufficient if it has those functions. If necessary, we would handle examinations remotely too, and applications for scanning your exam solutions into pdf format are freely available for phone and tablet.
Part of working in the online environment involves dealing with the inconveniences and frustration that can arise when technology breaks down or does not perform as expected. You can contact the Student Help Desk for help with Canvas or other technology issues.
UIT Help Desk: UIT Student Help Desk site (http://www.unt.edu/helpdesk/index.htm)
Email: helpdesk@unt.edu
Live Chat: https://it.unt.edu/helpdesk/chatsupport
Phone: 940-565-2324
In Person: Sage Hall, Room 130
Hours and Availability: Visit https://it.unt.edu/helpdesk for up-to-date hours and availability.
For additional support, visit Canvas Technical Help (https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10554-4212710328)
Students with disabilities
Many students have visible or invisible disabilities, and The University of North Texas offers accommodations that allow them to achieve their full potential. The University makes reasonable academic accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://disability.unt.edu/. You may also contact them by phone at (940) 565-4323.
I am committed to creating a learning environment where diverse perspectives are recognized and valued as a source of strength. I request that all students work with me to create a class culture based on open communication, mutual respect, and inclusion.
As members of the UNT community, we have all made a commitment to be part of an institution that respects and values the identities of the students and employees with whom we interact. UNT does not tolerate identity-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. UNT’s full Non-Discrimination Policy can be found in the UNT Policies section of the syllabus.
Legal Notices
My lectures are protected by state common law and federal copyright law. They are my own original expression. Whereas you are authorized to take notes in class thereby creating a derivative work from my lecture, the authorization extends only to making one set of notes for your own personal use and no other use. You are not authorized to record my lectures, to provide your notes to anyone else or to make any commercial use of them without express prior permission from me in writing.
Tests (exams and quizzes)
There will be three 50-minute exams (100 points each), to be held in-person during scheduled recitation times, and a 2-hour comprehensive final exam (200 points). Homework for the semester conducted through Connect will be worth 100 points. There will be weekly quizzes at the start of the Tuesday classes (10 minutes long), which will be combined over the semester for a score out of 50.
When I calculate your overall grade at the end of semester I will drop your lowest 50-minute exam, so that your final score will be out of 550 points made up from: best two semester exams (100 points each) + final exam (200 points) + homework (100 points) + weekly quizzes (50 points).
The online homework is open book. The exams and quizzes are all closed book. For the exams you are allowed to refer to an Index Card 3" x 5" (no larger) on which you may handwrite anything useful you choose (equations, definitions, and so on. I will provide physical constants), on ONE side. For the final exam you may use both sides.
There will be no extra credit assignments, reports, papers, etc. THERE ARE NO MAKEUP EXAMINATIONS SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOW UP ON TIME FOR EVERY ONE OF THE REGULAR EXAMINATIONS. You will be allowed to drop the lowest of the three 100-point examinations. Examination scores of zero that result from cheating cannot be dropped. Should you miss one of the 100-point examinations, for whatever reason, you will receive a grade of zero for the missed examination unless we have discussed this ahead of time. Remember that you are allowed to drop the lowest examination score and the missed examination can then serve as your one dropped examination. The 200-point comprehensive final exam grade will not be dropped.
What happens if you miss a second examination due to illness and/or death of family member or close friend? You must provide documentation for the second absence. Then your score on the final examination (pro-rated to a 100 point scale) will then be used as the score for the second missed examination. There are no makeup examinations.
Likewise, for the weekly quizzes I will drop the lowest two scores when I calculate your semester average on a 50 point scale.
I have great respect for students who are balancing their pursuit of education with the responsibilities of employment or caring for children or other family members. If you run into challenges that require you to miss a class, or if your responsibilities are interfering with your ability to engage in remote learning, please contact me. Advanced notice where possible is always helpful. There may be some instances of flexibility available to support your learning.
Should you have a question concerning the way that your examination was graded, or if you think that there was an error in calculating the exam score, then it is your responsibility to bring the matter to the attention of the Instructor within one week. It is your responsibility to check your examination for grading errors, and to make sure that the score was correctly calculated.
Exams will be held as noted in the following table.
Assignment Maximum points
Weekly quizzes, averaged 50
Homework, through semester until Monday May 6 100
Exam, Thursday February 15 (3:30 pm GAB 310) 100
Exam, Thursday March 21 (3:30 pm GAB 310) 100
Exam, Thursday April 18 (3:30 pm GAB 310) 100
Final Exam, Tuesday May 7 (10:30 am to 12:30 pm in CHEM 352) 200
Test Policy
It is important to show up on time for the examinations and quizzes. The only time that one has to work a test is the allotted class time. Cell phones and cell phone calculators are not to be used during the examination. Academic dishonesty and cheating will not be tolerated. The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to,
(a) Use of any unauthorized assistance taking quizzes, tests or examinations.
(b) Acquisition, without permission, of tests, notes or other academic belonging to a faculty member or staff member of the University:
(c) Claiming someone else’s work as your own.
(d) Any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage.
Academic dishonesty and cheating is not appropriate is grounds for dismissal from the course with an “F” and will be referred to the appropriate University official. Cheating on a test will result in either: (a) a score of zero on the test (this test cannot be dropped); or (b) dismissal from the course with an “F”.
Attendance and Grading Policy
Class and recitation attendance is not formally required but highly recommended - if you miss many classes you may not do well in the exams. If you have to stay away from campus because of illness or a University-approved activity, especially if you may miss an exam, it is very important that you let me know with as much notice as possible, so we can arrange an accommodation. If you miss an exam you score zero for that exam, again unless we have arranged an official accommodation.
COVID is still with us, although it is no longer considered a public health emergency. If you test positive for COVID, refer to the current CDC Guidelines at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. For any illness, students will need to provide documentation of a positive test and/or medical treatment in order to meet UNT’s Student Attendance & Authorized Absence policy. Please talk with the Dean of Students if you need assistance documenting authorized absences due to COVID or any other allowed reason.
Note that the University’s Authorized Absence Policy requires that a student make a request in writing to the instructor and provides evidence to substantiate that it is an illness-related absence. See https://policy.unt.edu/sites/policy/06.039
Any queries about grading need to be made within a week of posting a quiz score or when exams are returned to the class.
Working the homework problems is how you will gain skill at quantitative problems and check your understanding. It is important that you keep up with the homework. Leaving it until the day or two before an exam is not a strategy for success. Expect to spend at least 3-4 hours on homework each week, which counts for 18% of your total grade.
Also spend 1-2 hours each week reviewing your notes, and perhaps rewriting them in a different format.
Letter grades at the end of the semester will be based upon the following grading scale:
If your semester score is at least 495 out of 550 your final grade will be A.
If your semester average is 440-494 your final grade will be B.
If your semester average is 385-439 your final grade will be C.
If your semester average is 330-384 your final grade will be D.
If your semester average is below 329 your final grade will be F.
I reserve the right to give a higher grade than allowed by the above scheme.
The University has strict rules concerning the “Incomplete” grade. The incomplete grade is given only during the last one-fourth of a term/semester, and only if a student: (1) gives notice to the instructor of being required to participate in active military service: or (2) is passing the course and has justifiable reason why the work cannot be completed on schedule. Grades of incomplete are not to be used as a substitute for “F”. The rules governing “Incomplete” are explained in greater detail in the UNT Undergraduate Catalog.
Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Dean of Students to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The University's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including University and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct is at deanofstudents.unt.edu/conduct.
Students are responsible for the material that is covered in the class lecture and during the recitation. Should a student miss a lecture or recitation class, it is the student’s responsibility to get the lecture notes from other students. See above about missing quizzes and exams.
During the Spring semester the University is sometimes closed due to bad weather. Should the University be closed during an examination day, then the examination will likely be given on either the first or second class day that we are back after the University was closed.
Working the homework is really crucial. It is how you put into practice the principles from the classes, plus it is training for the exams. If after you work at it there is something that doesn't make sense, please raise it with me. The recitation is a great time.
The classes more or less track along with the arrangement in the textbook. However, please note that in some chapters I have reordered the material into what I think is a clearer way, and often I have skipped some of the less critical discussion. I promise the semester exams will not include anything you do not see in the classroom; anything we do cover in class I consider to be fair game!
I welcome questions during class. If one student has a question about course materials or assignment, that question is usually shared by their peers. Because everyone in the course can benefit from each other's questions, don't be shy about questions, especially at recitations.
You may have taken classes in the past which were mostly about rote memorization. This isn't that kind of class! Yes, you have to retain some information, but my main emphasis is on understanding the material, so that afterwards you can tackle new situations which you may not have seen before.
No-one is born with the knowledge and ideas we will gain, nor the skills to use them to solve problems and figure out new connections and conclusions. Anyone, provided they work at it, can learn and grow their skills and that is what I look forward to facilitating. You do not do this alone. It is normal to encounter challenges, and normal and indeed desirable to take advantage of the help we offer, including the university resources listed at the end of this syllabus and as noted here. There are many resources available to help you, including: your classmates and study groups you set up, the recitations, the Chemistry Resource Center (see https://chemistry.unt.edu/undergraduate-program/instructional-resources), me, other books and the internet. If the lectures and/or homework do not make sense after due consideration, then do reach out for help from these resources. Don't wait until the last minute!
Succeed at UNT
The University endeavors to offer you a high-quality education and to provide a supportive environment to help you learn and grow. And, as a faculty member, I am committed to helping you be successful as a student. Here's how to succeed at UNT: Show up. Find Support. Get advised. Be prepared. Get involved. Stay focused. To learn more about campus resources and information on how you can achieve success, go to success.unt.edu
If you do all of your homework and understand the material, there is no reason for you not to do well on the tests. I assign these tests for two reasons. One reason is to show me how well students are understanding the material, whether there are some students who are not there yet, and whether I need to review certain concepts with the class. The other reason is to let you assess how well you are understanding the concepts and where you need to focus more of your efforts to learn the course material. If you are struggling on the tests, it means that you need to seek help from me, the Department resources listed below, or your peers, so that we can help you learn the material.
I provide opportunities for students to receive feedback on their performance throughout the course to give students ways to see how they are doing and so that they can identify places they need to apply more effort or new strategies along the way, to seek help if they are struggling, and to improve throughout the semester. My hope is that all students will develop the knowledge they need to do well in this course and that all students — even those who perform well early in the semester — will improve and develop greater knowledge and skills through practice on the homework and exams.
You can learn a little more about me and my research at my website www.chem.unt.edu/~marshall, and we can arrange lab tours as well.
Dates
The first class will be on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 and the last formal class will be on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. There will be a recitation on Thursday morning, May 2, at 11 am, and no meeting that afternoon.
There are no classes over Spring Break, March 11-15. The final exam is at 10:30 am on Tuesday May 7, 2024, in our regular classroom in the Chemistry Building.
Students are expected to attend class meetings regularly and to abide by the attendance policy established for the course. It is important that you communicate with the professor and the instructional team prior to being absent, so you, the professor, and the instructional team can discuss and mitigate the impact of the absence on your attainment of course learning goals. Please inform the professor and instructional team if you are unable to attend class meetings because you are ill, in mindfulness of the health and safety of everyone in our community.
Remote instruction may be necessary if community health conditions change or you need to self-isolate or quarantine. Students will need access to the equipment listed under Technology Requirements above to participate in any fully remote portions of the class. Information on how to be successful in a remote learning environment can be found at https://online.unt.edu/learn
Academic Integrity Standards and Consequences. According to UNT Policy 06.003, Student Academic Integrity, academic dishonesty occurs when students engage in behaviors including, but not limited to cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, forgery, plagiarism, and sabotage. A finding of academic dishonesty may result in a range of academic penalties or sanctions ranging from admonition to expulsion from the University. Dishonesty on an assignment may lead to a score of zero for that assignment.
The University of North Texas (UNT) prohibits discrimination and harassment because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law in its application and admission processes; educational programs and activities; employment policies, procedures, and processes; and university facilities. The University takes active measures to prevent such conduct and investigates and takes remedial action when appropriate.
Students' access point for business and academic services at UNT is located at: my.unt.edu. All official communication from the University will be delivered to a student's Eagle Connect account. For more information, please visit the website that explains Eagle Connect and how to forward e-mail Eagle Connect (https://it.unt.edu/eagleconnect).
UNT uses a system called Eagle Alert to quickly notify students with critical information in the event of an emergency (i.e., severe weather, campus closing, and health and public safety emergencies like chemical spills, fires, or violence). In the event of a university closure, please refer to Canvas for contingency plans for covering course materials. Some helpful emergency preparedness actions include: 1) know the evacuation routes and severe weather shelter areas in the buildings where your classes are held, 2) determine how you will contact family and friends if phones are temporarily unavailable, and 3) identify where you will go if you need to evacuate the Denton area suddenly.
Student records pertaining to this course are maintained in a secure location by the instructor of record. All records such as exams, answer sheets (with keys), and written papers submitted during the duration of the course are kept for at least one calendar year after course completion. Course work completed via the Canvas online system, including grading information and comments, is also stored in a safe electronic environment for one year. Students have the right to view their individual record; however, information about student's records will not be divulged to other individuals without proper written consent. Students are encouraged to review the Public Information Policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws and the University's policy. See UNT Policy 10.10, Records Management and Retention for additional information.
Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) is the student evaluation system for UNT and allows students the ability to confidentially provide constructive feedback to their instructor and department to improve the quality of student experiences in the course.
UNT is committed to providing a safe learning environment free of all forms of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Federal laws (Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act) and UNT policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, and therefore prohibit sexual misconduct. If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual harassment, relationship violence, stalking, and/or sexual assault, there are campus resources available to provide support and assistance. UNT's Survivor Advocates can assist a student who has been impacted by violence by filing protective orders, completing crime victim's compensation applications, contacting professors for absences related to an assault, working with housing to facilitate a room change where appropriate, and connecting students to other resources available both on and off campus. The Survivor Advocates can be reached at SurvivorAdvocate@unt.edu or by calling the Dean of Students Office at 940-565- 2648. Additionally, alleged sexual misconduct can be non-confidentially reported to the Title IX Coordinator at oeo@unt.edu or at (940) 565 2759.
UNT provides mental health resources to students to help ensure there are numerous outlets to turn to that wholeheartedly care for and are there for students in need, regardless of the nature of an issue or its severity. Listed below are several resources on campus that can support your academic success and mental well-being:
Individual Counseling (https://studentaffairs.unt.edu/counseling-and-testing-services/services/individual-counseling)
Registrar (https://registrar.unt.edu/registration)
Financial Aid (https://financialaid.unt.edu/)
Student Legal Services (https://studentaffairs.unt.edu/student-legal-services)
Career Center (https://studentaffairs.unt.edu/career-center)
Multicultural Center (https://edo.unt.edu/multicultural-center)
Counseling and Testing Services (https://studentaffairs.unt.edu/counseling-and-testing-services)
Pride Alliance (https://edo.unt.edu/pridealliance)
UNT Food Pantry (https://deanofstudents.unt.edu/resources/food-pantry)
Academic Resource Center (https://clear.unt.edu/canvas/student-resources)
Academic Success Center (https://success.unt.edu/asc)
UNT Libraries (https://library.unt.edu/)
Writing Lab (http://writingcenter.unt.edu/)