CHE 118 General Chemistry II Laboratory Syllabus – Key Topics and Study Guide

CHE 118 General Chemistry II Laboratory – Syllabus Study Guide

Course Overview

This course provides laboratory experiences that apply to the concepts covered in General Chemistry II (CHE117). Students will develop laboratory skills, apply chemical concepts, and analyze experimental data. The course emphasizes hands-on experiments, scientific communication, and critical thinking.

Required Materials

• Composition Notebooks: Two required for lab records (supplied by student).

• Calculator: Scientific calculator capable of scientific notation and exponential notation (no cell phones allowed).

• Lab Manual: Provided in the Learning Management System (LMS).

Course Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate safe and effective work habits in the laboratory.

• Write, organize, and analyze results from scientific experiments.

• Connect laboratory reports with their experiments.

General Educational Outcomes

• Written and Oral Communication: Communicate scientific information clearly and effectively.

• Scientific Knowledge and Reasoning: Understand and employ scientific methods and laboratory techniques.

• Technological Competency: Use technology to gather and analyze scientific data.

Core Course Content

• Stoichiometry and Calibration Curve

• Chemical Kinetics

• Chemical Equilibrium

• Thermochemistry and Chemical Thermodynamics

• Titration (Acid-Base and Redox)

• Qualitative Analysis of Cations

• Electrochemistry

• Coordination Compounds

Example Experiment Topics

• Calibration Curve (Beer-Lambert Law)

• Spectrophotometric Determination of Iron in a Vitamin

• Kinetics of the Crystal Violet and Sodium Hydroxide Reaction

• Determination of Equilibrium Constant ($K_c$) for a Chemical System

• Titration of a Commercial Antacid

• Qualitative Analysis of Cations

• Electrochemistry: Galvanic Cells and Applications

• Coordination Chemistry: Synthesis and Analysis of a Complex

Key Laboratory Concepts and Techniques

Stoichiometry and Calibration Curves

Stoichiometry involves the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions. Calibration curves are used to determine the concentration of an unknown sample by comparing its response to a series of standards.

• Stoichiometry: Based on the law of conservation of mass and mole relationships.

• Calibration Curve: A plot of absorbance (or another measurable property) versus concentration.

• Beer-Lambert Law:

$A = ext{elc}$ Where $A$ = absorbance, $e$ = molar absorptivity, $l$ = path length, $c$ = concentration.

Chemical Kinetics

Chemical kinetics studies the rates of chemical reactions and the factors affecting them.

• Rate Law: Expresses the relationship between the rate of a reaction and the concentration of reactants.

• Example: For a reaction $aA + bB \rightarrow cC$, the rate law may be $\text{Rate} = k[A]^m[B]^n$.

• Determination of Rate Constant ($k$): Experimentally determined from concentration vs. time data.

Chemical Equilibrium

Chemical equilibrium occurs when the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, resulting in constant concentrations of reactants and products.

• Equilibrium Constant ($K_c$):

$K_c = \frac{[C]^c[D]^d}{[A]^a[B]^b}$ Where the brackets denote concentrations at equilibrium.

Thermochemistry and Thermodynamics

Thermochemistry focuses on the heat changes in chemical reactions, while thermodynamics studies the energy and spontaneity of reactions.

• First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created or destroyed.

• Enthalpy Change ($\Delta H$): Heat absorbed or released at constant pressure.

• Gibbs Free Energy ($\Delta G$): Determines spontaneity of a reaction.

$\Delta G = \Delta H - T\Delta S$

Titration Techniques

Titration is a quantitative analytical technique used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution by reacting it with a standard solution.

• Acid-Base Titration: Involves the reaction of an acid with a base.

• Redox Titration: Involves oxidation-reduction reactions.

• Indicator: A substance that changes color at (or near) the equivalence point.

Qualitative Analysis of Cations

Qualitative analysis involves identifying the ions present in a sample through selective precipitation, color changes, or other chemical reactions.

• Group Separation: Cations are separated into groups based on their chemical properties.

• Confirmatory Tests: Specific reactions that confirm the presence of a particular ion.

Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry studies the relationship between electricity and chemical reactions, including galvanic cells and redox reactions.

• Galvanic Cell: Converts chemical energy into electrical energy.

• Cell Potential ($E_{cell}$): The voltage produced by a galvanic cell.

$E_{cell} = E_{cathode} - E_{anode}$

Coordination Compounds

Coordination compounds consist of a central metal atom or ion bonded to surrounding ligands. They are important in biological and industrial chemistry.

• Ligand: An ion or molecule that binds to a central metal atom.

• Coordination Number: The number of ligand atoms attached to the central metal.

Sample Grading Table

Grading Category	Maximum Points for Each Category
Prelab / In-lab / Postlab assignments	702 points
Lab Practical	100 points
Notebook (composition)	100 points
Total maximum points	902 points

Course Letter Grade Scale

Total Points Earned	Course Letter Grade
821 - 902	A
793 - 820	B+
747 - 792	B
720 - 746	C+
674 - 719	C
647 - 673	D
0 - 646	F

Lab Schedule – Sample Experiments

Week Number	Date	Experiment
1	Aug 29	Calibration Curve Review
2	Sep 5	Spectrophotometric Determination of Iron in a Vitamin
3	Sep 12	The Kinetics of the Crystal Violet and Sodium Hydroxide Reaction
4	Sep 19	Determination of $K_c$ for a Chemical System in Equilibrium
5	Sep 26	Titration of a Commercial Antacid
6	Oct 3	Qualitative Analysis of Cations
7	Oct 10	Qualitative Analysis of Cations (continued)
8	Oct 17	Redox Reactions and Applications
9	Oct 24	Electrochemistry: Galvanic Cells and Applications
10	Oct 31	Coordination Chemistry: Synthesis and Analysis of a Complex
11	Nov 7	Analysis of Vitamin C
12	Nov 14	Biochemistry: Enzymes & Synthetic Antioxidants
13	Nov 21	Lab Review
14	Dec 5	Lab Practical

Important Policies and Tips

• Attendance: Required for all labs; missed experiments cannot be made up except for documented emergencies.

• Notebook Submission: Notebooks must be submitted after each experiment; late or emailed submissions may receive a grade penalty.

• Academic Integrity: Copying lab work or notebooks will result in a grade of zero for the assignment.

• Assessment: Based on prelab, in-lab, postlab assignments, notebook, and lab practical.

Additional info:

• This syllabus covers laboratory topics that directly support General Chemistry II lecture content, including stoichiometry, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, titration, qualitative analysis, electrochemistry, and coordination chemistry.

• Students are expected to connect laboratory results with theoretical concepts from CHE117 (General Chemistry II lecture).