Welcome to the 'General Chemistry Laboratory Program'.  Please detach these pages from Experiment One and keep them in a safe place.  They contain information that you may need to refer to during the semester.

Resources on the Web.

    All  laboratory materials are on the web and you are expected to print your own copy.  When printing your experiments please use the 'Printer Friendly Version' tab located on the top right corner of the each page.

    You will also find a vast amount of course and laboratory related material on the web.  These include, sample prelab quizzes, past exam questions sorted by subject, prior final exams given by various instructors, etc.  The address, http://www.chem.umass.edu/genchem , follow the course links from there.  While it is convenient to bookmark your actual course page and instructor page, this page should be consulted weekly as it contains a scrolling message board that updates important laboratory deadlines.  In the case of inclement weather it will also keep you informed of any changes pertinent to the laboratory and your lecture section.

What Equipment/Supplies Do I Need?

Students in any General Chemistry laboratory must wear safety glasses at all times. These may be purchased in the Campus Center Store. Students who wear prescription lenses must wear the safety glasses over their regular glasses. No substitution will be permitted except by written permission of Dr.T.Whelan on the basis of equivalent protection.   Calculator, electronic, scientific  (must do logs, roots, etc.)   'Student Laboratory Notebook', this can be purchased at the 'Textbook Annex'

The laboratory Notebook:

    This notebook is never to leave the laboratory all work must be completed in the laboratory. Your TA will indicate what we are paying particular attention to, in each experiment. However in each experiment, recording data showing the accuracy of the instrument used, units, significant figures, and your method of calculational are all important areas. Deductions in these areas get harsher as you proceed though the experiments.  See Experiment 0 for a general overview on a laboratory notebook with a sample write up.

    Each experiment follows a similar pattern.  At the start of each laboratory your TA will administer a prelab quiz.  The object of this quiz is to test your preparedness for the experiment.  Have you read the lab and do you have some feel for what you are about to do.  With regards to the experiment itself, your TA will give you all the help required to do the calculations surrounding the lab.  Do not mistake help for 'giving you the answer', they will not do the latter but rather, guide you through the underling principals, so that you can come up with the answer yourself. 

First Lab Period - What to Expect!

    The general chemistry laboratories are located on the first floor of the Integrated Sciences Building.  There are two main laboratories each containing 5 modules.  As you enter the vestibule, to your left is Room 160 which has five 16 student laboratories, numbered 160A through 160E.  To your right is Room 155 which also has five 16 student laboratories, numbered 155A through 155E.  Room assignments will be posted in the vestibule the day of your first lab and thereafter can be viewed on the General Chemistry Web Site.

    Apart from doing the first experiment there is one important task that must be accomplished before you begin --
 

Safety: Each laboratory has a number of safety features that you need to be aware of.  On the back of your 'Locker Check In' sheet you will find a list of items that you need to locate.  Locate these items and note their location on the card.  Once you have located these items sign the card and return it to your TA.

Important Summary: 

1. In order to receive a grade in the course you must receive a laboratory grade. Fail the laboratory portion and you fail the entire course, regardless of how you do in lecture. In order to obtain a laboratory grade you must complete ALL the laboratories (see frequently asked question).
    
2. The laboratory grade constitutes 20% of the overall course grade. 

Grading within the Laboratory Program: 

A final laboratory grade will be posted at the end of the semester before your final exam. This grade is based on the following 

Prelab Quiz          25%
Laboratory Notebook  70%
TA Assessment         5%

1. Discuss them with your TA. Very often the TA is not immediately aware that their actions are causing you concern and they are more than willing to listen and accommodate your concerns. If you wish to have a mediator present, your supervisor will act as one. The role of the mediator is not to take sides but to make sure that both sides get the opportunity to express their point of view. 

 
2. Still not resolved or the above is not a viable option. Then please see me, Dr. Tom Whelan, director of the laboratory program. I will in strict confidence look into your complaint and resolve it. 

 
3. Not happy with my resolution. Then you may see Prof. Beatrice Botch, Director General Chemistry.

I missed a lab, how do I go about making it up?

    For a documented legitimate excuse you have up to two weeks from the time you missed the scheduled lab to make up that lab with your assigned TA.  Once this time period has elapsed a grade of 0 will be recorded for that laboratory.  In the case of a prolonged illness you may appeal to Dr. Tom Whelan for an excused absence, documentation must be provided to support your request.  An excused absence will mean that your final laboratory grade will be determined based on the labs you have completed.

If I do not arrive on time for lab I will not be able to take the pre-lab quiz?.

    This is true.  With the exception of the first laboratory, the prelab quiz is given at the start of the lab.  If you arrive late you will receive a 0 for that pre-lab quiz.  Of course if the reason for you being late was beyond your control you will be allowed to take it. 

    Bottom line, be on time.

If I do not complete all the labs then I fail the course, is this true?.

    This is almost true!  Missing two labs is an automatic 'F' for the course, missing one laboratory and depending on how well you did in the other five labs may not result in an automatic 'F'. 

    A general comment here.  Laboratory scores are high if you put in an honest effort.  Thus the laboratory grade enhances your overall course grade.  Missing a lab or not completing laboratory owls will reduce your laboratory grade significantly and thus your course grade as well.