Chemistry 161

Fall 2017
Lab Schedule
Section Day Time
21 Monday 1:00-3:20 pm
22 Monday 3:30-5:50 pm
23 Tuesday 1:00-3:20 pm
24 Tuesday 3:30-5:50 pm
25 Wednesday 1:00-3:20 pm
26 Wednesday 3:30-5:50 pm

Instructor
Prof. Stephanie Knezz
Lab Director and Assistant Professor of Instruction
Tech HG09
stephanie.knezz@northwestern.edu
Office Hours: Monday 9am-10am; Thursday 3pm-4pm in Tech HG09 and by appointment
Open door policy: If you wander by and my door is open, feel free to come in! I may not have time to
answer all your questions, but I am happy to touch base with you about whatever concern you have.

Our Team
Prof. Veronica Berns
Lab Director and Assistant Professor of Instruction
Tech B152
veronica.berns@northwestern.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 2-3 and Fridays 11-noon in Tech HG04 and by appointment

Sam Ritchey
Program Assistant
Tech BG53A (847-467-7359)
chemhelp@northwestern.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 8:45-11:15 a.m. or by appointment

Lab TAs
Casey Adams caseyadams2022@u.northwestern.edu
 Jeremy Amdur JeremyAmdur2022@u.northwestern.edu

Allison Arinaga allisonarinaga2022@u.northwestern.edu

David Burke davidburke2022@u.northwestern.edu

Ioannina Castano ioanninacastano2022@u.northwestern.edu

Ben Coleman benjamincoleman2021@u.northwestern.edu

Ryan Heck ryanheck@u.northwestern.edu

Megan Kaster megankaster2022@u.northwestern.edu

Dan Laorenza daniellaorenza2022@u.northwestern.edu

Yifei Liang YifeiLiang2022@u.northwestern.edu
Yange Lin yangelin2022@u.northwestern.edu
Yue Qi yueqi2017@u.northwestern.edu
Alex Sample alexandersample2023@u.northwestern.edu
Jon Schultz jonathanschultz2022@u.northwestern.edu
Nils Strand nilsstrand2022@u.northwestern.edu
Eugenia Vasileiadou eugeniavasileiadou2022@u.northwestern.edu
Jenny Wang jennywang2022@u.northwestern.edu
Meghan Ward meghanward2022@u.northwestern.edu.
Ying Yang yingyang2022@u.northwestern.edu
Xuhao Zhou xuhaozhou2022@u.northwestern.edu

Office Hours
Your TAs will have office hours in the Resource Room, and a schedule will be posted on Canvas.
You can go to any TA in the Resource Room.
You can also make an appointment with anyone on the teaching team, and they will meet with
you one-on-one.

What type of thing can a TA or Professor help you with at an office hour or individual meeting?
1. Clarify topics you read in the book or heard about in lecture
2. Help you get on the right track with homework problems or lab questions
3. Find resources for extra practice problems

Course Philosophy
Science courses often draw on the findings of scientists from the past by explaining phenomena in terms
of well-established laws, concepts, and models. Because science is presented in this way, it is easy to
believe that in every scientific context there is a right and a wrong answer.

In Chem151, you will encounter chemical concepts that have been tested over years of observation and
experiment. The reason there is a “right” and a “wrong” answer to your chemistry problems is that
those answers have stood the test of time and repeated testing. At one point, however, some scientist
made a prediction about something based on an observation. Over time, that scientist was proven
wrong sometimes and proven correct other times. This is the progression of science.

In Chem161, we will not only deal with the concepts of chemistry that you learn in Chem151, but also
about the process of scientific inquiry. In short, Chem161 is about making predictions and learning how
to test those predictions. One result of this is, you will have to learn how to be comfortable when your
predictions are incorrect. If you get a result in the lab that you don’t expect, you will learn how to
rationalize it without shame or fear.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
• Predict the outcomes of experiments related to Chem151.
• Make detailed, real-time observations on experimental work.
• Rationalize the discrepancies between observational outcomes and predictions.
• Communicate your findings appropriate to the audience and context.
• Use technology to analyze and present data appropriately.
• Apply the reasoning and analytical skills you have learned in this course to new
situations, including other courses.

Statement of Inclusivity
This course strives to be an inclusive learning community, respecting those of differing backgrounds and
beliefs. As a community, we aim to be respectful to all students in this class, regardless of race, ethnicity,
socio-economic status, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Preferred Gender Pronouns

This course affirms all gender expressions and gender identities. If you prefer to be called a
different name than what is on the class roster, please let Prof. Berns know. Prof. Berns and your
TA welcome you to correct us on your preferred name or gender pronoun. If you have concerns,
please contact Prof. Berns in person or by email, whatever is most comfortable for you.

Your Responsibilities
Required Texts and Supplies
1. LabArchives Electronic Notebook/Chemistry 161 Laboratory Manual
You will receive a link prior to the first day of class giving you access to the
combined electronic notebook and laboratory manual for this course. The cost
will be $30; payment will be due within 14 days of when you first access the site
2. Laboratory Eyewear
3. Lab Coat (100% cotton and/or flame resistant)
NU pre-approved safety glasses ($5) and 100% Cotton Lab Coats ($35) will be
available for purchase in the Chemistry Tutor Room in Tech HG10 at times to be
announced. Stay tuned to Canvas. Cash, credit, and check will all be accepted.
4. Microsoft Excel or other similar graphing software
You should have a copy of Microsoft Excel on your computer (available for free
through NUIT). Please do not use Google Sheets as a substitute; it has some bugs.
All active NU students have the ability to download Microsoft Office for Students,
also known as Office 365 ProPlus, on up to five computers using their NetID and
password. The suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It can be
downloaded at https://msoffice.northwestern.edu.
You can also use another graphing program, but we can’t guarantee that we can
help you navigate problems with it.
5. Turning Technologies Model QT2, QT, or NXT “Clicker” and association subscription. No action
is necessary in September. We expect students to have clickers by Monday, October 23.
Depending upon your method of purchase, you may need to purchase a subscription separately.
Registration information will be provided on Canvas in mid-October. You will also need this
device for Chem151.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL COURSE MATERIALS BEFORE THEY ARE NEEDED
FOR THE FIRST LABORATORY SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 21 or 22. NO ACCOMODATIONS CAN BE
MADE FOR LATE ARRIVALS OF MATERIALS.

Expectations
All work in this course must be recorded in your electronic laboratory notebook. The majority of
course grade is determined by laboratory notebook entries, and the conclusions you draw from
data recorded in your notebook. The post-lab assignments will be submitted through Canvas.
While each experiment is equally weighted, some experiments emphasize the in-lab work or the
post-lab work. Detailed point breakdowns are available before each week’s experiment.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the experiment prior to the laboratory period.
Please note that you will only be allowed to begin the experiment AFTER all pre-lab work
has been completed. If you do not complete the pre-lab, you may be asked to leave lab
for safety reasons, resulting in a grade of 0 for that experiment.

In this course, you are encouraged to interact with other students, but you must submit our own
work. It is important that all students acquire key laboratory, analytical, and writing skills for
themselves. Your laboratory grade is based upon your performance in the laboratory and the
quality of your written work.

Hamilton Impact
Class of 2021 students will be attending Hamilton in Chicago on the afternoon of either Wednesday,
October 4, or on Wednesday, October 11. Students will travel to the theater by bus (bus locations TBA).
Busses begin loading at approximately 11:30am and will depart shortly after noon.

In light of this conflict, the Wednesday lab students will attend an evening lab session the week that
they miss lab. See outlined makeup schedule below. Please let me know if you have any conflicts!

Lab Missed Lab Makeup

Wednesday, October 4th Tuesday, October 3rd (6 pm to 8:20 pm)
Wednesday, October 11th Tuesday, October 10th (6 pm to 8:20 pm)

Absences
Make-up experiments are granted sparingly and require advance notification. There are two
cases for when you might need to make up a lab experiment.
1. An event planned in advance
If you must miss your regularly scheduled lab session due to a university function or
religious event please notify me in writing by Monday, September 25, 2017.
2. A sudden illness
If you are ill, please take care of yourself. Email Prof. Knezz and your TA as soon as possible
to make appropriate arrangements. A verified note confirming the excused absence is
required. In cases of illness, you will need to sign a waiver when you visit University
Health Services to verify your absence.

Once you contact Prof. Knezz, we will arrange an alternate time that works for everyone for you
to complete the experiment.
Depending on the circumstances in either case, we may not be able to schedule a make-up
experiment. In this case, your grade in the course will be prorated to include only the work that
you were able to complete.
An absence that is unexcused or unverified is considered unacceptable. Unexcused
absences cannot be made up, and will result in missing the experiment that week, and
failing the course.
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
While collaboration is encouraged in the laboratory and I love to hear that you are discussing chemistry
concepts with your peers and learning communities, you should not discuss answers to specific
questions with your fellow students.

All submitted work should reflect ONLY your own work and analysis!

If we find the work you submitted is the result of someone else’s analysis (or a combined
effort of analysis), it will be considered an academic integrity violation.

Plagiarism, the unacknowledged appropriation of another person’s words or ideas, is a serious academic
offense. It is imperative that you hand in work that is your own, and that cites or gives credit to others
whenever you draw from their work. Please see refer to Northwestern University’s Office of the
Provost’s Policy on Academic Integrity and the WCAS Student Handbook for more information.

AccessibleNU: Students with Disabilities

In compliance with Northwestern University policy and equal access laws, Prof. Knezz and the TAs are
committed to supporting the learning of all students. If you have already registered with the AccessibleNU
Office and have your letter of accommodations, please meet with Prof. Knezz as soon as possible to
discuss, plan, and implement your accommodations in the course.

If you have or think you have a disability (learning, sensory, physical, chronic health, mental health or
attentional) that isn’t recorded by AccessibleNU yet, please contact the AccessibleNU Office
(accessiblenu@northwestern.edu; 847-467-5530) for disability verification and for determination of
reasonable academic accommodations. All information will remain confidential.

Except for unusual circumstances, requests for academic accommodations need to be made during the
first week of the quarter so arrangements can be made.

For more information, please visit: http://www.northwestern.edu/accessiblenu/

Logistics: How does this class work?
The course has two major components: a weekly 50-minute lecture/discussion and a 140-minute lab
period. During the 50-minute sessions, we will focus on the upcoming experiment and its context: How
the concepts in the experiment connect to the Chemistry 151 course material, the other experiments in
the course, and “big, messy, real-world unsolved problems”. The structure of this session will be an
interactive lecture and discussion.

During the 140-minute sessions, you will perform an experiment! Some of these experiments will
require you to make up the steps, others are more guided. You will always have a TA nearby to help you
through.

Laboratory Safety
Safety is our first priority in this class.

You must be familiar with, and adhere to, all safety procedures. You must complete the online safety
quiz with a perfect score by midnight, Sunday September 24, 2017. Although we have done our best to
minimize potential dangers in the laboratory, anything can become dangerous when used improperly. A
safety violation can result in dismissal from the lab and a grade of zero for the experiment.

If you are unsure about any aspect of an experiment, discuss it with your TA first.

Laboratory Section Assignments

Success in this class relies heavily on collaboration and teamwork. After signing up for a lab section
through CAESAR, you have been assigned to a laboratory section time. Each laboratory section time is
further divided into smaller groups—each with their own TA—of no more than twenty students.

Within this section, you will be performing experiments with a lab partner and will have another set of
partners that will form a small group intended for discussion and support. These students (with a few
small exceptions) will also be in your recitation section for Chem151. If there are any problems with the
groups formed, please let your TA and/or Dr. Knezz know, and we will make sure you are in a
comfortable and productive group environment.

Communicating with the Instructors

We are all happy to meet with you and discuss questions about the experiments or other aspects of the
course.

Please be considerate of everyone’s time and consult the syllabus, lab manual, Canvas postings, and any
other communication from your teaching assistant (TA), the program assistant (Sam Ritchey) or Prof.
Knezz before asking a question via email.

Prof. Knezz will communicate with you primarily through Canvas, but she promises not to spam you with
a million Canvas notifications. In Canvas, go to Settings > Notification Preferences and set all to ASAP so
that you do not miss any time-sensitive information about the course.
Technology in the Classroom
Some research suggests that writing notes on paper helps you learn and study better. If you have a need
or just a preference to use a laptop to take notes, and that’s totally fine.

Prof. Knezz may ask you to take a poll on a phone or laptop to give feedback during the lecture.

In both cases, please be considerate of Prof. Knezz and other students around you:

Avoid using your device to do stuff that isn’t related to the class.

Grading
This is a 0.34 credit course. The course grade is determined by in-lab work and associated written
assignments (see tentative laboratory schedule, below).

Attendance at all laboratory sessions, completion of all laboratory experiments, and

submission of all laboratory write-ups is required in order to receive a passing grade in
the course.

The points in this class are distributed evenly across all of the experiments. Each experiment is worth 50
points total. There will be one formal capstone writing assignment, also worth 50 points. There will be
20 points associated with your clicker, starting in October, and the safety quiz from the first week. That
means there is a total of 475 points at stake in the class.

The 50 points for any given experiment will be distributed differently among the following categories:

Section How to earn full points

Pre-Lab Work Complete work on time. Select questions will be graded for correctness, but
most questions will be graded for honest effort.
In-Lab Work Observations and organization of data during lab.
This grade is based on thoroughness of observations.
Lab Technique Follow all techniques and procedures to the best of your ability according to lab
manual and TA instructions.
Consistently wear all required safety equipment at all times in lab.
Effort and Attitude A few points for cooperating with your lab partner and classmates, working
efficiently, and arriving in lab ready to go.
Post-Lab Questions Write answers to all questions thoughtfully, concisely, correctly, and in your
own words. Your data analysis is presented with calculations shown clearly, and
all conclusions show a clear and logical progression from your data.

The Post-Lab Questions are almost always worth the most points, followed by Pre-Lab, and then
everything else.
The final grades in this course will be determined by your overall percentage (your points / 455 total
points) in the course. Historically, a curve has been applied that takes into account normalization of TA
section averages as well as the overall distribution of students. We will make determinations about
letter grade breakdowns based on overall student performance, starting with a standard letter
grade/percentage scale and modifying from there.

If you have questions about your performance in the course at any time, please feel free to contact your
TA or Prof. Knezz, and we would be happy to discuss it with you.

Deadlines
Assignment Deadlines
All Pre-Lab work must be completed an hour before your lab session.

All In-Lab work (such as notes in your lab notebook) must be completed before you leave the lab.

All Post-Lab work must be submitted on Canvas by 10 AM Friday the week of the experiment, unless
otherwise noted.

Course Deadlines
The Fall 2017 final day to drop a course is October 27th. Information about the processes for dropping,
adding, and withdrawing courses (and what the heck all of that means) can be found at the link below.

http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/courses-registration-grades/adding-
dropping.html

Moving to Chem110: What does this mean for the lab?

If you elect to switch enrollment from Chem151/161 to Chem110 (with no lab component), this means
that you must drop Chem161 and re-take the course in the 131/141 sequence. You will not be allowed
to resubmit old work from Chem161, as this is self-plagiarism and will be treated as an academic
integrity violation.

Formal Written Assignment

There will be a final formal written assignment at the end of the quarter. This assignment will ask you to
reflect on the process of making predictions and having experiences that contradict your predictions.
You will use predictions made in each experiment based on your chemical intuition, experimental results
that confirmed predictions, contradicted predictions, and computational results that may have turned
out differently than expected to discuss the process of making predictions and how it is fundamental to
scientific inquiry. This assignment will be the same number of points as a lab report and will be due at
the end of the quarter.
 Course Calendar
Week Experiment/Focus 151 Topics

Week 1: 9/19-9/22 NO LAB Chapter 6: Gases

Gas Laws Chapter 8 & 9: Quantum and the

Week 2: 9/25 – 9/29 Lab orientation & safety Periodic Table
Ideal gas law and stoichiometry

Soil ICP: Trace Metal Analysis Chapter 8 & 9: Quantum and the
Week 3: 10/2 – 10/6 Citizen Science and using Periodic Table
chemistry to solve problems

Flame Tests Chapter 11 & 12: Bonding

Week 4: 10/9 – 10/13 Making solutions and observing
emission spectra

Iron Fish Investigation Chapter 11 & 12: Bonding

Week 5: 10/16 – 10/20
Designing an experiment

Week 6: 10/23 – 10/27 Discovering Molecular Structure Chapter 11 & 12: Bonding
Modeling lab – molecular shapes
F: Halloween Show and orbitals

Heat Pack Calorimetry Chapters 7 & 13: Thermodynamics

Week 7: 10/30– 11/3 Using thermochemistry to solve and Thermochemistry
a practical problem

Hess’s Law Chapters 7 & 13: Thermodynamics

Measuring specific heat of a and Thermochemistry
Week 8: 11/6 – 11/10
metal; using Hess’s Law to do
calculations

Solid State Structures Chapters 12 & 14: IM Forces, Solids

Modeling lab – making unit cells Liquids, Solutions
Week 9: 11/13 – 11/17
and seeing patterns in extended
solids

Week 10: 11/20 – 11/24 No Lab Chapters 12 & 14: IM Forces, Solids
Th 11/23 and F 11/24 – NO CLASS Liquids, Solutions

Week 11: 11/27 – 12/1 No Lab READING WEEK- NO CLASS

Week 12: 12/4 – 12/8 No Lab (Final 151 Exam this week)

Arrows have been added to the schedule to highlight which concepts also introduced in Chemistry 151 are the most
significant for each experiment (though these are not necessarily the only significant concepts). While all of the
Chemistry 161 experiments connect to the topics discussed in Chemistry 151, one might be introduced before the
other. The concepts build on each other in the lecture and in the lab. Often the labs will explore multiple concepts.