Course Archive (selected archived announcements)
Final Exam for 1pm Class (49235)
Saturday, 12/12, 2pm
Room Assignment: Unlike all other exams, there are no pre-assigned version numbers for the exam.
A - Z (all students) will go to HMA
Make sure you bring a calculator, pencil(s), and a UT ID Card (or valid picture ID card).
NOTICE to 12pm Class: If you missed the exam on Wednesday for any reason and decided to just take the Saturday exam with the 1pm class, you WILL be docked 20 penalty points for missing your assigned exam time. That means you can't make over an 80 on the final - so you might just skip it and take method 3 for your grade.
Final Exam for 1pm Class (49235)
Saturday, 12/12, 2pm
Room Assignment: Unlike all other exams, there are no pre-assigned version numbers for the exam.
A - Z (all students) will go to HMA
Make sure you bring a calculator, pencil(s), and a UT ID Card (or valid picture ID card).
Will You Take the Final? Answer HERE
Here are the Finals Week Office Hours / Reviews
If the time is in a bigger classroom, then it will be more of a review. Offices and cubicles will be the standard Q & A type office hours.
Remember: all "regular" semester office hours are over and no longer valid. Only the final exam week schedule is valid.
Final Exam Info
Best to refer to the official Final Exam Preparation Page
How to Calculate your Overall Grade
Of course you can use your calculator and just manually grind out the grade. Or... you could use the handy dandy
Excel Spreadsheet to Calculate Your Overall Grade
Just open it up and replace the input numbers (the ones in the green table on the left). The 3 methods are each shown and the maximum score is then shown with a letter grade that matches. Play around with the exam4 and final exam values to see how to get the grade you want.
NOTE: Your REEF Average and Quiz Average are available on Canvas. All four exam scores are on Quest (and ultimately your final exam score).
Exam 4, Wed 12/2, 7-9 PM
Preparing for Exam 4
(The Laude/VDB Review and Notes links are in the Prep link above.)
Version Numbers are HERE --- deactivated ---
Your VERSION NUMBER determines the ROOM
You can also go to Canvas and check the points for the assignment "Exam 4 version" which matches your version number.
versions 001-150 in WCH 1.120
versions 151-300 in WEL 1.308
versions 301-520 in WEL 2.224
Early Takers: Those students with documented conflicts and filled out the proper documentation as per the syllabus, will take the exam from 4-6pm in WEL 3.502. SSD students will take the exam at the time and place that your were told via email from the undergraduate office. If you need more help with this please go to WEL 2.212 and ask.
I have condensed pretty much the entire unit of thermodynamics on this one page. Once you have gone over the details from the gchem site, then go here to have a quick single page resource of all the topics, definitions, and formulas. - Dr. McCord
Thermodynamics CondensedUnit 5 - Thermodynamics
Quizzes - Unit 5 - Thermodynamics
Q22 - First Law is due by 9am on Fri, 11/6
Q23 - Enthalpy is due by 9am on Fri, 11/13
Q24 - Calorimetry is due by 9am on Fri, 11/13
Q25 - Hess's Law is due by 9am on Fri, 11/13
Q26 - Second Law is due by 9am on Fri, 11/20
Q27 - Third Law is due by 9am on Fri, 11/20
Q28 - Free Energy is due by 9am on Tue, 12/1
click the images for full sized views
hmmmm - what to put here?
No Class on Wednesday
Also no office hours on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Take your break but then come back ready to make that final big push to finish the semester.
CLASS CANCELLED TODAY! (Fri, 10/30)
Way too much rain for the safe arrival of myself and many students. Stay safe, stay dry, and please start reading up on thermodynamics - the module and quiz are open now.
Guess you'll miss my awesome costume... (sad face). Enjoy your Halloween weekend.
Exam 3, Wed 10/28, 7-9 PM
Preparing for Exam 3
Version Numbers are HERE --- deactivated ---
Your VERSION NUMBER determines the ROOM
You can also go to Canvas and check the points for the assignment "Exam 3 version" which matches your version number.
versions 001-150 in WCH 1.120
versions 151-300 in WEL 1.308
versions 301-520 in WEL 2.224
Early Takers: Those students with documented conflicts and filled out the proper documentation as per the syllabus, will take the exam from 4-6pm in WEL 3.502. SSD students will take the exam at the time and place that your were told via email from the undergraduate office. If you need more help with this please go to WEL 2.212 and ask.
Exam 3 Video Review
Here is the link to the Laude / Vanden Bout Review Exam 3 on the Liberal Arts Echo platform. Recorded on 10/26/2015.
Dr. Laude and Dr. Vanden Bout take you through ALL 25 Question Types for the exam. Here are the Review Notes for Exam 3 which matches the notes they use in the video.
Unit 4 - States
Quizzes - Unit 4 - States
Q15 - RXN Stoichiometry (optional) is due by 9am on Fri, 10/16
Q16 - Gas Laws is due by 9am on Fri, 10/16
Q17 - Gas Stoichiometry is due by 9am on Fri, 10/16 Sat, 10/17
Q18 - KMT & Non-Ideal Behavior is due by 9am on Fri, 10/16 Sat, 10/17
Q19 - Intermolecular Forces is due by 9am on Fri, 10/23
Q20 - Liquid Properties is due by 9am on Fri, 10/23
Q21 - Solid Properties is due by 9am on Tue, 10/27
Correction on Practice Exam 3
Getting Lots of Email from REEF?
Well, everytime I sync the scores on REEF to Canvas, the Reef software will send you a reminder to do the assignment of logging in until you DO. So just do it and avoid the constant reminders. - Dr. McCord
ps - don't email me about these emails - I can't stop them.
pss - the 12pm is working well. the 1pm is very hit and miss.
Another REEF Thing to Do
Please find the right REEF "assignment" on Canvas (the 12n or the 1pm) and click it - I've put a link to the assignment on the home page of Canvas and just below here. Once there you'll be able to login with your REEF login/password. After you login there is nothing else to do. This will set up Canvas to automatically sync with REEF for your overall REEF scores. Here are quick links to those assignments:
Do This As Well, Please
About 10% of the class is destined for ZEROS on all in-class quizzes because they have not entered their UTEID into their REEF account.
DO THIS: Login to your REEF account. Click the Dropdown Menu. Now click on Profile. Now click the button Edit Account. Now enter your UTEID in the field called Student ID... for us, it is NOT (optional) like it says. Click SAVE. Done. Now your scores will sync with my gradebook.
Exam 2 Scores and Solutions are Available on Quest
Both scores and solutions are available now.
Want an Exam 2 REVIEW?
Check it OUT The Laude / VDB Stuff page
Good review - worth a look
Exam 2, Wed 10/7, 7-9 PM
Click It Preparing for Exam 2
Exam has 25 questions which match up with the "question types" which are listed in the "Preparing for Exam 2" link above.
Version Numbers are HERE --- deactivated ---
Your VERSION NUMBER determines the ROOM
You get your version number on Canvas as the points for the assignment "Exam 2 version". Your score is your version number for Exam 2. Now look below and find which one of our three rooms you'll need to go to.
versions 001-150 in WCH 1.120
versions 151-300 in WEL 1.308
versions 301-520 in WEL 2.224
Early Takers: Those students with documented conflicts and filled out the proper documentation as per the syllabus, will take the exam from 4-6pm in WEL 3.502. SSD students will take the exam at the time and place that your were told via email from the undergraduate office. If you need more help with this please go to WEL 2.212 and ask.
Practice Exam and Key (available now)
Quizzes - Unit 3 - Bonding
Q08 - Composition Stoichiometry (Optional) is due by 9am on Fri, 9/25
Q09 - Ionic Compounds is due by 9am on Fri, 9/25
Q10 - Covalent Compounds is due by 9am on Fri, 9/25
Q11 - Lewis Dot Structures is due by 9am on Fri, 9/25
Q12 - VSEPR and Molecular Shape is due by 9am on Fri, 10/2
Q13 - Valence Bond Theory is due by 9am on Fri, 10/2
Q14 - Molecular Orbital Theory is due by 9am on Tue, 10/6
ACL Festival Chemistry Fact
"... MO, MO, MO" - billy idol
Billy Idol kept singing "MO MO MO" over and over. Billy sang, "... in the midnight hour she cried MO MO MO". It was obvious to me that he was reminding CH301 students that there will be four questions on Exam 2 about MO (molecular orbitals).
Don't disappoint Billy, learn your MO theory and make him proud.
ps: his closer was a related, "MOny MOny".
What YOU are doing this week, 9/28 - 10/2
Now that you fully appreciate and understand Lewis line/dot structures and how covalent bonding works, it is time to visualize the three dimensional shapes of the molecules. VSEPR theory is a model that lets us predict the shapes of molecules based on electron region repulsions. Once the basic shaped are learned, VB, and MO theory are layered on top and a rich understanding of bonding theory is realized. 3-D shapes of molecules are an important part of their overall physical and even chemical properties.
What YOU are doing this week, 9/21 - 9/25
You are learning about BONDING. First is ionic bonding. Make sure you understand the nomenclature and how to rank compounds by crystal lattice energies.
Covalent compounds... first learn to count valence electrons, it's the number of s and p electrons in the outermost shell of the atom. Lewis dot structures. Learn 'em, draw 'em, analyze 'em. Repeat. Repeat. Learn to recognize and draw organic line structures.
Surprise! Wednesday and Friday is guest lecture day... woo hoo! Dr. Biberdorf. She loves drawing Lewis structures and she'll show you the way.
What YOU are were doing this week, 9/14 - 9/18
Duh... getting ready for Exam 1. Use all the stuff we've provided. Remember to LEARN and not just memorize. APPY concepts to new situations. Sort of a review on Wednesday. We WILL meet on Friday and start thinking about the new unit (Bonding).
Quizzes 8 will not go live until Friday - so don't worry about it.
Exam 1 Scores are on Quest
Have a look. Your score is there and you can now click on the assignment and see the key to the exam and your tally of right and wrong questions.
Exam 1, Wed 9/16, 7-9 PM
Exam has 25 questions which match up with the "question types" on the "Preparing for Exam 1" link down below.
Version Numbers are HERE --- deactivated ---
Your VERSION NUMBER determines the ROOM
You can also check Quest for your "grade" on the assignment "exam1-version" or even on Canvas for "Exam 1 Version". Your grade or score is your version number for Exam 1. Now look below and find which of the 2 rooms you'll need to go to.
versions 001-150 in WCH 1.120
versions 151-300 in WEL 1.308
versions 301-520 in WEL 2.224
Early Takers: Those students with documented conflicts and filled out the proper documentation as per the syllabus, will take the exam from 4-6pm in WEL 3.502. SSD students will take the exam at the time and place that your were told via email from the undergraduate office. If you need more help with this please go to WEL 2.212 and ask.
Click to learn more about: Preparing for Exam 1
Here is what your cover page will actually look like: Johnny Student Exam 1 Cover Page
Practice Exam and Key
Video Review
Here is the link to the Laude / Vanden Bout Exam 1 Review video. It will open a new page and you will sign in with your uteid and password. Remember, there are certain topics they have on their "question types" that we removed from ours - other than those few (which are 1, 11, 12, and 25) the rest match up nicely. It is the video recorded at 8:30am on 9/14.
What YOU are doing this week, 9/8 - 9/11
You will learn all a tiny amount about quantum theory and the hydrogen atom. Wavefunctions are a really big thing here. Know how we got them, what they mean, and what each of them (they are actually infinite) mean. How do we "catalog" them? Answer: quantum numbers.
Quizzes 5 and 6 are due at the end of the week and 7 will be due next week two days before the exam. You need to really START preparing for the exam on 9/16. More on how to do that in class.
Course Packet is HERE
I told you I'd deliver on the course packet broken down into sections as pdf files. Well it is now all ready for you to peruse. Follow the link below.
Sign Up to Use REEF (instructions)
HEY! Please DOUBLE CHECK that you are in the section of class for which you are officially registered. I know for a fact that some of you are in the wrong class. You get zeros for all Reef quizzes when you do that. I renamed the classes in Reef to have the time as part of the name (12-noon or 1pm). Make sure you're in the right section: 49230 = 12-noon, and 49235 = 1pm.
Quizzes - Unit 1 and 2
Q01 - About this Course is due by 9:00am on Wed, 9/2
Q02 - Overview of Chemistry is due by 9:00am on Wed, 9/2 (optional)
Q03 - Early Experiments is due by 9:00am on Wed, 9/2
Q04 - Electromagnetic Radiation is due by 9:00am on Fri, 9/4
Q05 - The Hydrogen Atom is due by 9:00am on Fri, 9/11
Q06 - Electron Configurations is due by 9:00am on Fri, 9/11
Q07 - Periodic Properties and Trends is due by 9:00am on Tues, 9/15
Quit Fretting over the Rydberg Equation
It really does not matter the order of the \({1\over n^2}\) terms in the Rydberg equation. You just need the magnitude of the difference. If it makes you happier, try this version:
\[\Delta E = {\cal R}\left|{1\over n_f^2} - {1\over n_i^2}\right|\]
which will, in fact, give you the same result as
\[\Delta E = {\cal R}\left|{1\over n_i^2} - {1\over n_f^2}\right|\]
There are no negatives here. The difference term will be a positive quantity. \({\cal R}\) is a positive quantity of energy. That means that \(\Delta E\) will also be positive and you can convert that energy (joules) into frequency (\(\nu\)) or wavelength (\(\lambda\)).
So does the electron GAIN energy or LOSS energy in the transition. You just made everything show positive with your absolute values. This is where you use your BRAIN. Level n=1 is the lowest energy level and they go up from there. Level 2 is higher in energy than 1, 3 is higher than 2, etc... it is grade school type of stuff here. The higher the number the higher the energy.
The Downside to all this... The downside is that the very highest energy level you can have (\(n = \infty\)) has an energy value of ZERO. This means that the lowest energy (\(n=1\)) is the biggest negative number. Whoa... mind blown. (mike drops)
Raising the Bar
student: I've seen this weird version of \(h\) on the internet with a little cross on it like this, \(\hbar\). What is that?
dr. mccord Well, it is formally known as the reduced Planck constant. We call it "h-bar" and is an abbreviation of \(h/2\pi\). Often in quantum mechanics, the value of \(h\) is divided by \(2\pi\) because frequency is often depicted as angular frequency and that is where the factor of 2pi is introduced. Anyway, \(\hbar\) is a nice short cut for \(h/2\pi\). We, here in gchem, generally will avoid \(\hbar\). It's nice to know what it is though.
While I'm at it, \(2\pi\) is "all the way around" meaning 360°. This is important when you are integrating an equation in spherical coordinates and what to cover all the angles. Angles in quantum theory are best measured and used in radians, so \(\pi\) and \(2\pi\) comes up a lot. Angular frequency is how many radians per second so it is generally the electromagnetic frequency, \(\nu\), multiplied by one full rotation of \(2\pi\). Angular frequency is omega, \(\omega\), so the equation is \(\omega = 2\pi\nu\).
Robin knows you want it
I have created a CH301 McCord Fall 2015 Facebook group in which you can all folic. It's an open group for UT Austin, join the group to post. Please keep the chatter on topic if possible.
- Dr. McCord
iClicker REEF woes...
If you KNOW you got the answer in class right, but REEF is telling you that you missed it, then you are not alone. I'm asking iClicker about it now. Do KNOW that on my teacher side of things, the correct answers are getting treated as "correct". I just don't know why some students keep seeing "incorrect" in their REEF app. I see it too in my reef app - so I SEE the issue. Just keep answering for now and don't worry about the correctness for now. Hopefully it will be resolved soon. - Dr. McCord
What YOU are doing this week, 8/31 - 9/4
Your goal this week is to get through the first two sections of Unit 2, Atomic Theory. Those two sections (drop drop accordion menu items) are Electromagnetic Radiation and Matter and "The Hydrogen Atom". Quiz 1-3 are due by 9am Wednesday. Quiz 4 is due by 9am on Friday. So yes, "The Hydrogen Atom" starts this week and then carries over the Labor Day weekend wherein we Longhorns will crush Notre Dame in football.
The Guided Practices on Canvas will guide your through those sections and even ask relevant questions about the content. Make SURE you know the concepts and methods (calculations) that the guided practices illuminate.
Welcome to McCord's CH301!
More fun facts about the class on Friday. Plus some CHEMISTRY! Woo hoo.
Sign Up to Use REEF (instructions)
No Office Hours until Monday, 8/31
Now "old" news but still true...
Dr. McCord has moved to different sections of CH301
Dr. McCord will now be teaching the 12pm and 1pm MWF CH301 courses for the Fall 2015 semester. If you want to take Dr. McCord for chemistry CH301, you will need to add/drop and most likely get on the waitlist for one of the two courses given below.
For McCord: unique numbers are now 49230 at 12 noon, and 49235 at 1pm.
Note: Those were originally Dr. Spark's classes and Dr. McCord had the 10am and 11am classes. A teaching conflict with instructors came up and now Dr. McCord will have the 12pm and the 1pm classes. A new instructor (Elisa Cooper) will be taking over the 10am and 11am classes. Please know that ALL the classes are still there, you can still stay in the class you registered for - only the instructors have changed.