Introduction to

306860 Chemistry 061

Semester 2, 2012

Lecturer

Khor Ee Huey
BSc in Chemistry and Biology (Campbell)
MSc in Analytical Chemistry (Warwick)
PhD in Chemical Engineering (Curtin)

Research Interest

Water and Wastewater Treatment

Analytical Sciences
Membrane Technology
CFD Simulation

Teaching Team
Jason Chia
Angnes Tiong
Evelyn Chiong
Wong Wei Ning

Apply
Discipline
Knowledge
Professional
Skills

Cultural
Understanding

Thinking
Skills

Curtins
Graduate
Attributes

International
Perspective

Information
Skills

Communication
Skills

Learning
How to
Learn

Technology
Skills

Unit Learning Outcomes:

1

Apply the concepts and principles of chemical foundations and

states of matter to basic problem solving.
Apply discipline knowledge, Learning how to learn

Evaluate chemistry related problems and phenomena creatively

and critically.
Thinking skills

Carry out laboratory practical using correct techniques with

accuracy, precision and safety.
Professional skills, Cultural understanding

Produce laboratory notebook on practical work using effective

communication skills and critical thinking skills at a level
appropriate for tertiary education.
Information skills, Communication skills

Unit Syllabus
Chemistry
Foundation

Understanding
on Matter

Basic concepts
Atoms, Molecules & Ions
Mole, Equation & Stoichiometry
Electronic configuration &
Periodic Table

Chemical bonding
Shape and Polarity of Molecules
Intermolecular forces and states
of matter.
Structure of solids

Learning activities(per week)

Face-to-face:
1 hours lecture
1 hours tutorial
2 hours laboratory (fortnightly)
Group/Self-study (suggestion):
2 hours on lab preparation and LecQuiz
1 hour reading text book
2 hours attempt on tutorial questions

Assessment Summary
Assessment item

Worth

Due

Laboratory Notebook

20%

Two weeks after

each lab session

Tutorials

10%

Each Week

Quizzes

30%

Refer to Unit
Outline

Final examination

40%

Week 16

Total

100%

Assessment item
Laboratory

Worth

Due

20%

Two weeks after

each lab session

Laboratory Notebook 15%

Marking scheme can be found from the Moodle

Laboratory Worksheet 5%
Preparation done before the every lab sessions
Submission system:
Laboratory notebook should be ring-bound and submit to
Administrative Assistant (Lydia) for endorsement before the
submission deadline.
Laboratory worksheet/ workplan should be submitted to
respective tutor during laboratory session before the
experiment starts.

Experiment Title:
Name of Instructor:

Students Name and ID:

Excellent
(6)
Presentation &
Appearance

Notebook is well organised or bound neatly with all

pages numbered and follows the format given.
Writing is neat and legible. Pen is used exclusively;
mistakes crossed out with single line; note is made
to explain mistake.

Proficient
(4)

6 points
Introduction

Methodology &
Safety

Results &
Calculation

Clear statements of objective and valid hypotheses

are provided based on literature review.
Introduction is well written with significant and
relevant information like definition of keywords,
reaction equations, physical data included.

Discussion &
Conclusion

Accurate and complete and measurement data are

recorded in appropriate table with correct significant
figures and units.
Observations are recorded correctly if there is any.
Calculation is correct with step-by-step working
shown clearly.

All inferences are supported by appropriate

experimental results.
Conclusion is clear and compared with hypothesis
being tested.
Possible source of errors identified.
Recommendation for improvement included are
relevant, logic and viable.

6 points

Beginning
(2)

Notebook is bound or fairly organised but

with some headings missing and most
pages numbered with minor mistakes in
formatting.
Most writing is neat and legible. Pen is
often used; no notes are made to explain
mistake.

Moderately appropriate objectives and

hypotheses are provided with little
evidence from literature research.
Some introductory and background
information provided is provided with
errors

Flow chart is provided but with minor

errors. Modification in procedure is not
included.
Safety precautions are given but too
generic. Information from MSDS data was
not used to suggest relevant safety
precautions

Notebook is unbound and messy. The

work is poorly organised with major
format error and no pages number is
included.
Writing is difficult to read. Pen is not
used consistently; excessive crossing out
of mistakes showing careless work.
Unclear objectives and off-the-mark or
irrelevant hypothesis.
Fail to include background information
from literature review.

4 points

Clear diagram and flow chart is included to describe

procedure. Equipment set up sketch on procedures
is properly labelled.
MSDS data was used to suggest relevant safety

precautions. Safety precautions are rational and well

thought.

6 points

Mark:

4 points

Diagrams and flow chart not included at

all. Experimental procedure is difficult to
follow. Modification in procedure is not
recorded.
Safety precautions are not always stated.
Lack of attention in providing critical
safety information from MSDS.

Data are mostly complete. Data tables

are presented with minor errors spotted

such as incorrect significant figures and
missing units.

Little attention is given to observation.

Calculation is mostly correct, but workings
steps are not clear and method used may
not be fully described.

Data recorded is incomplete. Data tables

are messy and spotted with major
mistakes (significant figures and units).
Observations are completely missing or
inaccurate.
Calculation and working are incomplete
and with major mistakes.

Findings are not summarised. Inferences

are not supported by experimental data.
There is no conclusion included.
Little or no attempt to identify sources of
errors. Recommendations and
suggestions are completely missing.

Inferences are documented but not all

supported by experimental data.
Conclusions is not clear and not
compared with hypothesis being tested
Sources of errors are identified but too
generic. Recommendation and
suggestions may not be viable.

26 points
Comments:
Points
Collected
30

Mark

Mark

20

Points
Collected
23-22

Mark

15

Points
Collected
15

Mark

10

Points
Collected
8-7

29-28

19

21

14

14-13

27

18

20-19

13

12

5-4

26-25

17

18

12

11-10

24

16

17-16

11

2-1

17 marks

Cooperative Team Learning

4-5 students in one team
5 team roles for laboratory work

Team manager
Researcher
Technician
Data analyst
Safety officer

If only 4 members in the team,

the team manager will also play
the role of the researcher

Review Quizzes (20%)

Date

Week 5, 7,9, and 11

Time

Tutorial sessions

Venue

Tutorial venues

Scope

TBA

Format

Description

Worth

MCQ +
Subjective

4-5 Questions

Lecture Quiz (10%)

Date
Dateline

Starting in Week 1 for 10 consecutive lectures

Before Friday of the following week

Venue

Moodle access

Scope

Lecture for that week

Criteria
Format

Have to attend lectures

Description

Part A

Short Answer Question

Part B

Self- reflection Questions

Total

Worth

Final Examination (40%)

Week

Duration
Scope
Format

16

2 hour 10 mins (10 mins reading time)

All topics
Description

Worth

Part A

15 Multiple Choices Questions

30

Part B

5 Short Answer Questions

35

Part C

3 Long Answer Question

35

Total Scoring Mark

100

Essential Texts

Zumdahl, S. S & Zumdahl, S.A

(2010) Chemistry, 8th Ed.
Thomson/Brooks Cole

Moore, Stanitski & Jurs. (2010)

Chemistry: The molecular science,
4th Ed. Thomson/Brooks Cole

http://moodle.curtin.edu.my/

Announcement
Lecturers timetable (consultation hours)
Lab schedule

Lecture slides
Tutorial
Lab Manual

Mark Sheet
Useful links

Important note:
Attendance & Punctuality
Switch off or silent mode mobile phone
Late submission of assignment (-10% per day)
Deferral
F-IN, F
Plagiarism
No Spoon Feeding
No free rider

What to Expect??
Independent

learning
Critical thinking
Analytical thinking
Problem solving skills
Team work
Communication

Ground Rules:
Laboratory Session:
Students must read and prepare before each experiment.
Students must follow the rules and regulation in the
laboratory strictly.
It is students own effort and responsibility to complete the
lab 10-min before time.
Tutorial:
Students must attempt all the tutorial questions before
class.
Be punctual for every class.
Do not wait for solutions from lecturers before even trying
the questions.

Ground Rules:
Lecture:
Respect other's cultural and religious traditions,
beliefs, values and languages.
Do not interrupt when someone is speaking.
Do not make noise during lecture except for
discussion.

Other:
Respect lecturers personal teaching timetable.
Make appointment before consultation via formal
written email (student account only!)
Students are responsible for their own behaviour.

Topic 1:
Chemistry Foundation
Semester 2, 2012

Learning Objectives:
Describe

common steps in scientific methods

Use

significant figures and rounding to reflect the

certainty of quantitative data

Use

percent of error and relative precision to

compare accuracy and precision of experimental
data

What is scientific method?

A systematic approach to research and
experiment

Scientific Method

SCIENTIFIC LAW
Summary of
accepted
relationship which
supported by many
experiments.

EXPERIMENT
Controlled
observations
that test
hypothesis
HYPOTHESIS
Tentative
explanation.

Prediction

THEORY/MODEL
Tested hypothesis/
explanation
supported by many
experiments.

Theory

an explanation of a set of related

observations or events based upon
proven hypotheses and verified
multiple times by detached groups of
researchers.

Examples:
Atomic theory/model
Theory of evolution
Theory of relativity
The quantum theory

Law
A statement of fact to describe an
observation or relationship that is
always true when tested.

Example:
law of gravity
Newton's laws of motion
The laws of thermodynamics
Boyle's law of gases
the law of conservation of mass and
energy
Hooks law of elasticity

Quantitative Observation
Measurement: number

Unit

+ unit

of measurement: SI Unit

mass (kg), length (m), time (s), temperature (K), amount of

substance (mol)
volume (dm3), density (gcm-3)

Number: Scientific

notation

diameter of the Sun = 1.392 x 106 km

density of the Sun = 2.8 x 10-8 gcm-3

Reporting values from measurements

All measurements should be reported in correct

significant figures: all of the certain digits and one
estimated digits.

Estimated digit indicates the uncertainty of a

measurement which depends on tolerance of
measuring instruments

Compare measurements:
Balance A

gives reading 3.52 g

Three SF, last digit 2 is estimated digit.

The uncertainty of balance is 0.01 g
The actual value should be in the range of 3.51 to 3.53
Balance

B give reading 3.5245 g

Balance

B is more accurate than balance A.

Non-zero numbers are always significant.

72.3 g (three significant figures)

U
Significant
Figures

E
S

Zeros between non-zero numbers are always significant.

60.5 g (three significant figures)
All final zeros to the right of decimal place are significant.
6.20 g (three significant figures)

Zeros that act as placeholders are not significant.

0.0253 g (3 significant figures)

Counting numbers and defined constants have infinite number

of significant figures. (6 molecules, 60 s min-1)

Significant figures in arithmetic

Addition and
subtraction

Answer should have same number of digits to the

right of the decimal as the measurement with the
least number of decimal digits.

Example 1

2.475 m + 3.5 m + 4.65 m = 10.625 m

Answer should round up to 10.6 m

Example 2

5.36 x 10-4 g 6.381 x 10-5 g = 4.7219 x 10-4 g

Answer should round up to 4.72 x 10-4 g

Significant figures in arithmetic

Multiplication
and Division

Answer should contain same number of significant figures as the

measurement with the fewest number of significant figures in
the calculation

Example 1

(6.46 x 10-4 g) (3.0 x 1012 cm3) = 2.153333 x 10-16 g/cm3

Answer should round up to 2.2 x 10-16 g/cm3

Example 2

(4.765 x 1011)x(5.3 x 10-4) (7.0 x 10-5) = 3.607785714 x 1012

Answer should round up to 3.6 x 1012

Example 1: Digital Balance

Report Value: 100.4315 g

Uncertainty : 0.0001 g

Example 2: Bulb Pipette

Report Value: 25.00 mL

Uncertainty : 0.03 mL

Example 4: Graduated Cylinder

Report Value: 8.75 mL

Uncertainty : 0.05 mL

Example 5: Burette

Initial Reading: 21.30 mL

Uncertainty : 0.05 mL

Final Reading: 49.75 mL

Uncertainty : 0.05 mL

Value

Uncertainty

Final Burette Reading/ mL

49.75

0.05mL

Initial Burette Reading/ mL

21.30

0.05mL

Burette reading/ mL

28.45

0.10mL

Burette Reading:
49.75 mL 21.30 mL = 28.45 mL

Accuracy of Measurement

Accuracy: how close a measured value is to an

accepted value.

Percent of error
= experimental value- accepted valuex100
accepted value

Precision of Measurement
Precision

refers to how close a series of

measurements are to one another.

average deviation/ relative precision

standard deviation

Accuracy & Precision

Systematic vs Random error

Low accuracy : large systematic error

Low precision : large random error

Systematic error
happen

in one direction (always higher or lower

than actual value)
Procedural: do not follow procedure correctly, flaw in
procedure.
Parallax error.
Instrumental error: balance used is not calibrated
properly. (do not show zero) etc.

Example of Systematic Error:

Example of Systematic Error:

Parallax Error

Random error

Happen in all direction (first trial higher than actual value,

second trial lower)
Do not follow procedure consistently.
Different experimenter.
Record data wrongly.
Instrument: pipette has a random delivery error of 0.02 mL.
External conditions:
- temperature and
- humidity of environment

Summary:

Typical steps of scientific method include observation, hypothesis

and experiments.

A theory is a hypothesis that has been supported by many

experiments to explain an observation.

A law summarizes observations and describes relationships in

nature.

In quantitative measurement,
Report data in correct significant figures.
Percent of error to reflect accuracy.
Relative deviation to reflect precision.