Aims and Goals

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This unit of study will provide students with the background necessary to understand the molecular basis of materials and transformations. It will enable students to understand the chemical interactions that underlie the properties of materials and provide a solid grounding in Physical and General Chemistry.

Syllabus

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A summary of the syllabus is available. Note the order in which the topics are presented may be varied by the lecturer.

Learner Preparation

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Students enrolling in this course should have a UAI of 98.7 and a HSC chemistry result in band 6.

Learning Situations

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The learning situations of CHEM1903 are:

• Lectures that cover the core material of the unit.
• Background reading from the recommended text books to support the lecture material.
• Use of on-line resources including computer aided learning modules (ChemCAL), self-help problems and past exam papers.
• Completion of a weekly assignment prior to the tutorial.
• Tutorials which provide an opportunity to discuss any aspects of the preceding week's work and assignment. These will encourage group work and problem solving.
• On-line laboratory pre-work. This includes information on the theory of the experiment, the important experimental details, and an on-line quiz. The on-line quiz consists of 3 - 7 questions and tests your understanding of the theory of the experiment.
• Laboratory work, which consists of a series of experiments, is designed to teach you advanced experimental techniques.

Additional help may be sought in the Learning Centre, located at the back of Lab D in the First Year Area in Chemistry. At lunch times (1-2pm) throughout the semester and for extended times in the study vacation, tutors are available in the Learning Centre for free consultations.. Out of these hours, you can submit questions to the Discussion Board on WebCT which is manned by tutors.

All Chemistry School lecturers are available for consultation by appointment.

Learning Commitments and Contact

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CHEM1903 is comprised of three 1 hour lectures each week, one 1 hour tutorial each week and ten 3 hour laboratory sessions over the course of the semester. There are assignments based on problem solving and exercises relating to the practical component of the course to be completed weekly in your own time. Students are required to attend all classes. Timetable information may be found here.

A Study Program incorporating adequate time for the following tasks is strongly advised. This should allow time for:

• Completion of the laboratory pre-work. This is conducted on-line, is compulsory, and forms part of your final assessment.
• Completion of weekly assignments.
• Progressive coverage of the syllabus in step with the lecture series. It is expected that the time spent on private study should roughly match that spent in lectures/tutorials/laboratory classes.
  

Student Learning Outcomes

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By the end of this unit of study, students will:

• Possess a general knowledge of atomic theory, structure and bonding, chemical energetics, equilibrium and the processes occurring in solution.
• Be able to demonstrate an understanding of fundamental processes occurring in General and Physical Chemistry.
• Have developed laboratory manipulative and glassware handling skills.
• Have been introduced to the techniques used in research laboratories.
• Be able to apply chemical principles to problem solving situations.
• Be able to progress to Chemistry 1B (Advanced), CHEM1902 or Chemistry 1B (Special Studies Program), CHEM1904

Students will be able to demonstrate these outcomes in the following assessment items.

Assessment

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The program of assessment is as follows (with percentage of the overall total mark in brackets):

• Laboratory work (15%).
• Three multiple-choice test papers, given during the semester and based on the material covered during the preceding lectures, tutorials and lab classes. Each contributes equally (15%).
• A short-answer written paper (3 hours, 70%).

You must pass the laboratory course (50% or greater) in order to pass the unit.
The date for this examination is:

• Monday, 15 June 2009 at 9.20am (Possible Date)

Special Consideration: You may apply for Special Consideration (which is not granted routinely) if you miss a laboratory session, tutorial quiz or examination, or if your performance in an exam is adversely affected by illness or special circumstances. Regardless of what faculty you are enrolled in, go to the Faculty of Science website, click on the link to "Special Consideration", and follow the procedures outlined. Application for special consideration must be submitted within seven (7) days of the assessment affected. If you are prevented from doing this by, for example, hospitalisation, you should contact the Faculty office immediately upon your return to University. Your preferred option should be to catch up on missed assessable work as the School of Chemistry offers many opportunities to do this - see Sophie at the Enquiry Office.

Supplementary examinations: Students who miss the end of semester examination because of illness or misadventure or whose performance in the exam has been severely affected by illness or personal circumstances may be granted a supplementary examination. These examinations will be held in Laboratory A at 10.00 a.m. on:

Semester 1: Monday 3rd July and Semester 2: Monday 20th November

NOTE: If you apply for Special Consideration for an examination, you are applying to resit the examination. We will NOT "just give you a couple of extra marks". If Special Consideration is granted, you will be obliged to attend the supplementary examination - your original paper will be considered null and void.

All grades (High Distinction 85% and above, Distinction 75-84%, Credit 65-74%, Pass 50-64% and Fail <50%) are available in this unit of study.

Director of First Year Studies

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A/Prof Adam Bridgeman is the Director of First Year Studies in Chemistry and is the Unit of Study Coordinator for all CHEM1 units. He can advise you about Chemistry course options, methods of study, how to access chemistry resources, the exams and questions you have about the teaching. Adam is located in room 222, close to Lab C in the First Year area and may also be contacted by email (a.bridgeman@chem.usyd.edu.au).

Deputy Director of First Year Studies

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Dr Siggi Schmid is the Laboratory Director and has overall responsibility for the First Year Chemistry labs. If you seek advice on any aspect of the laboratory work or on-line pre-laboratory work, see Siggi in room 223, close to Lab B in the First Year area and may also be contacted by email (s.schmid@chem.usyd.edu.au).

Textbook The following is a highly recommended, but not compulsory, purchase: Blackman, Bottle, Schmid, Mocerino and Wille,      Chemistry and SI Chemical Data (package), 2007 (John Wiley) ISBN: 9 78047081 8541 Textbook resources, including the answers to the odd-numbered problems and the web address for the publisher's site, are available via "Textbook Resources" on USYD eLearning. This textbook covers the full range of first year Chemistry and will also be extremely useful in second year units. In previous years, we have recommended purchase of both a general and an organic textbook. If you already possess these textbooks because you are repeating a unit, you probably will not need to purchase this new book. If you are a new student, however, we strongly recommended purchasing this new book rather than secondhand editions of the old books. During the year, recommendations may be made concerning reference books. In the main, copies of these books will be available from the Fisher Library - purchase is neither recommended nor required.