Physical Chemistry Laboratory
(Chem 336-337)
Text Book:
"Experiments in Physical Chemistry", Shoemaker, Garland and Nibler, 6th Edition.Supplement I and II:
Copy Shop, Johnson Center, George Mason University.Physical Chemistry Laboratory is a two semester course, Chem 336-337. Physical Chemistry Lecture, Chem 331-332 are prerequisite or corequisite for this course. This course has one hour recitation and 3 hour laboratory work. Experiment write-ups are due at the beginning of the lab period following the completion of the experimental work. Copies of data are due as soon as the experiments are finished. Lab reports up to one week late will be penalized one grade level. Lab reports will not be accepted more than one week late. Although many experiments are performed in groups, the write-ups and calculations are to be done individually, without the aid of other classmates. The course grade will be based on the lab performance, lab reports, the quality of the lab notebook (a prepaged, bound notebook in which the prelab lecture, experimental observations, and all data are to be recorded in ink), and exams. Report should include a cover page with the title and your name, and the subtitles that will be described in more detail later, and it should roughly follow the format shown in the text, pages 11-24.
This course includes wide range of topics. For Chem 336, the first three weeks are devoted in computer skills that are required for analyzing data and writing reports, such as Spreadsheet Exercises and Graphics. After that, the topics include Partial Molar Volumes, Surface Tension, Heat Capacity and Heat of Mixing, and Binary L-V Phase Diagram. In addition, a mid-term and a final exam are given. For Chem 337, the topics include Adsorption from Solution, Determination of Binding Energy of Molecules by Viscosity Measurement, Molecular Weight Determination by Intrinsic Viscosity Measurements, Absorption Spectrum of a Conjugated Dye (Particle in a Box), Chemical Kinetics and Mechanisms, NMR Spectroscopy, Dipole Moment of Polar Molecule in solution, and IR Spectroscopy: Rotation-Vibration Spectrum of HCl. In addition, a final exam is given.
SUBTITLES FOR LAB REPORTS
I. INTRODUCTION
- Describe the purpose of the work.
- Briefly state the general method used.
II. THEORY
- Relate the quantity of interest to direct measurements made, using the
relevant equations.
- Call attention to any assumptions or approximations involved.
III. METHOD
- Outline the procedure and refer to the textbook or other sources.
- Describe any modifications.
IV. DATA
- Use spreadsheet tables whenever possible, referenced in the text.
- Include any relevant observations.
V. RESULTS and DISCUSSION
- Include tables and graphs if appropriate. Reference sample calculations as Appendix 1.
- Show a comparison with literature values, if possible.
VI. CONCLUSION
- Summarize what you have found.
- Briefly describe whether you have achieved your goal.