CHEM 450, Physical Chemistry: Course Policies

Text

Exams, Quizzes

Homework

Absences

Grading

How to Pass Physical Chemistry

Text

• Laidler, Meiser, and Sancturary: Physical Chemistry, 4th Edition
• Additional References:
• 1) Physical Chemistry by Nogle;
• 2) Physical Chemistry by Barrow;
• 3) Physical Chemistry by Alberty

Exams and Quizzes

Quizzes are given weekly, as indicated on schedule. Exams are given on Thursdays, September 25, October 23, December 4. Each exam's coverage will be announced in class during the week preceding. The final examination will be comprehensive and will last 2 hours.

Material for quizzes and examinations:

• Exams and quizzes are closed book.
• Bring a calculator and straight edge to exams and quizzes.
• Programmable calculators are permitted, but, since you must show ALL WORK on the paper, they save little time. Answers without supporting work are worth nothing!

Homework

Homework must be turned in weekly or as scheduled. You are encouraged to work together, but the homework you turn in must be your own independent work.

Absences

Absences are excused only for illness or university-approved activities (sports for example). Exams, homework or quizzes missed because of an unexcused absence are given grades of zero. I do not ordinarily give make up exams or quizzes; if your absence is excused, the missed grade will count neither for nor against your final grade..

Grading

Grade Weights:

• Quiz Average = 30
• Problem Average = 10
• Hour Exam = 30 each (of three)
• Final = 60
• Total points for semester =190

Grade Cutoffs: (in percentages of total points at end of semester)

• A greater than 87%
• B greater than 70%
• C greater than 55%
• D greater than 45%
• F below 45%

Persons within 1 point of a borderline may, at the instructors' discretion, be given the next higher letter grade IF the final exam grade is well above the criterion for that grade range.

How to Pass Physical Chemistry

• This is probably the hardest course you have taken or will ever take, and hard work is required; expect to spend 10 hours per week outside of class studying.
• Read assignments before lecture; reread them afterwards.
• Attend class regularly; do not fall behind.
• Do the problems! Each assigned problem illustrates an important concept -- careful rereading and study of the text is usually required to work problems. You cannot learn by reading or copying problem solutions any more than you can learn to swim or play the piano by watching someone else. Do all the problems assigned, not just the ones you must turn in. Do the problems! Do the problems! Do the problems!
• Attempt problems immediately after covering the material; if you can't do them, reread the material. If you still can't do a problem, see me. This is a time-consuming process, but is important for the learning process.
• Study all text examples carefully, filling in the missing steps and checking units at all stages.
• Consider problems to be diagnostic: if you can't do them, you have missed something important; copying from someone or a book will not help.
• Students are reminded that the minimum penalty for cheating is an F for the entire course. Any incident of cheating or suspected cheating will be reported to university authorities for appropriate action.