Home Page- CH 390 OSU

Environmental Chemistry

A course intended to teach the fundamental chemical principles involved in environmental phenomena

This is the home page for the course Chemistry 390- Environmental Chemistry. This course is being taught over the Internet during the WINTER term of 2010 and originates from the Chemistry Department of Oregon State University.

Information on the course

General Information

Overview of the Course

This lession is a Powerpoint slide show. Just click on each slide and listen to the narrative. Be sure to wait until the audio narrative downloads which may take some time. You should use Internet Explorer to view this lesson.

This lession is a Powerpoint slide show. Just click on each slide and listen to the narrative. Be sure to wait until the audio narrative downloads which may take some time. You should use Internet Explorer to view this lesson.

This lession is a Powerpoint slide show. Just click on each slide and listen to the narrative. Be sure to wait until the audio narrative downloads which may take some time. You should use Internet Explorer to view this lesson.

This lession is a Powerpoint slide show. Just click on each slide and listen to the narrative. Be sure to wait until the audio narrative downloads which may take some time. You should use Internet Explorer to view this lesson.

This lession is a Powerpoint slide show. Just click on each slide and listen to the narrative. Be sure to wait until the audio narrative downloads which may take some time. You should use Internet Explorer to view this lesson.

Welcome to Environmental Chemistry

Welcome to the home page of the course Environmental Chemistry. This page contains information about this web course, as well as links to the course itself.

What is this course?

This course is a supplemental guide to the Baird and Cann textbook which is very good. The textbook covers the basic chemistry behind environmental problems dealing with air, energy, toxic organic chemicals, water, and other issues.

What are the prerequisites?

One year of college chemistry is required. It would be desirable to have some exposure to organic chemistry also, although it is not mandatory. Students who have not had prior work in organic chemistry should carefully review the appendix of the text dealing with organic chemistry.

Who may participate, and how much does it cost?

Anybody in the world who is able to participate is welcome to do so. Also, to properly participate, you should have access to the various required materials listed in the next section.

What materials do I need?

The textbook used in this course is:

 

Homework Assignments

The Baird and Conn textbook comes with a number of homework problems.

The following problems should be attempted BEFORE beginning any of the CAPA tests.

(All problems referred to are from the Additional Problems at the end of each chapter)

Chapter 1--5,6,7,8

Chapter 2--1,2,8

Chapter 3--1,2,3,7

Chapter 4 --3,5,7

Chapter 5--1,2,4

Chapter 6 --3,6,8,9

Chapter 7--5,6,7

Chapter 8--1,3,5

Chapter 9--2

Chapter 10--2,4,5

Chapter 11--1,2,5

Chapter 12-1,2

Chapter 13--3,4,5,6

Chapter 14--2,3,11

Chapter 15--1,2,3,4

Chapter 16--1,3,6

To see if your solutions are correct refer to the Solutiuons Manual.

 

 

What are the class requirements, and how is this course graded?

You will be given 50 problems to solve during the course, that are approximately linked to the 16 chapters of the textbook. These fifty problems are distributed into three "take-home" tests to be completed for this course. The problems are random in order and do not follow the chapter ordering of the book. These tests are to be done using CAPA. CAPA is a system of computer generated tests where each student has his or her own test that is unique. These CAPA problems take the place of the usual tests, etc to evaluate comprehension. They should be treated as tests, i.e., no collaboration is allowed. The work you submit should be your own work and not that of anyone else. Just as you would not collaborate on an in-class test, you should not seek the help of others on these tests. CAPA allows you multiple tries (6) to get each problem correct. CAPA gives you instant feedback as to whether your answer is correct or not and will offer hints as needed. CAPA is currently housed on a very slow old server making procrastination fatal. If you wait until the last week to do all your work, you will be screwed. You will not get access to the server; the response times will be awful, etc. How do you use CAPA? Point your browser to: http://loveland.science.oregonstate.edu Select ch390 from the Class pop-up menu. Enter your CAPA Student Number and the CAPA PASSWORD for each test you wish to attempt. (tests 1,2,3). Click on the appropriate button to try your test. How do you get a CAPA Student Number and a CAPA PASSWORDfor each test? You email to capa@science.oregonstate.edu requesting the information and in due course, you will receive the information. This request must come from a valid onid email address. We cannot honor requests for CAPA numbers, etc from non-onid addresses. (CAPA numbers will be distributed after the beginning of the term).You may repeat any problems you missed and get full credit. You may login/logout many times. Once a problem is correct, credit cannot be lost. Do not open multiple sessions or browsers. The content of each test may change with time during the term. Do not use Netscape as it is frequently incompatible with the type of "forms" we use. Be sure to exit properly each time to terminate a session. If needed, you can use the reload button at the top of your assignment. Clicking the reload/refresh button right after submitting an incorrect answer re-submits the incorrect answer and uses up a Try. All constants, equilibrium and otherwise, are taken from the values given in the Baird and Cann textbook.

Grading criteria: 45 correct questions =A, 40=B, 35=C, 30=D, < 30=F. We don't give + or - grades or I grades

 

 

Warning: Because of the large number of students enrolled in the Chemistry web courses, it is very difficult to answer student inquiries concerning content, etc during the last two-three weeks of the term. We will try our best to answer all content inquiries within 7 business days, but it may not be possible during the last two-three weeks of the term. We CANNOT answer inquiries during the last week of classes. Please plan on doing your work as soon as possible.

 

From time to time we receive email that the CAPA answer to a given question is not correct. The answers in CAPA have been thoroughly checked and they are correct. If CAPA says you are wrong, you are wrong.

 

 

What topics will be discussed?

Here is the tentative list of topics to be discussed, in approximate order of introduction:

Topic:

How do I get help?

Currently the primary way with which you will be given assignments and material will be having it posted on this webpage. The current way for you to communicate with your instructor is by email. Remember the tests are just that, tests. We are happy to answer general questions about the subject material, or the kind of clarification questions that you would ask a proctor during an exam. We will not answer questions on how to work a specific exam problem. Please be sure that all course inquiries come from valid onid email addresses. We cannot answer questions from non-onid addresses.

External Links

Links:

Course deadlines

 

By 1700 4 MARCH, 2010, you must complete Test 1.

By 1700 4 MARCH, 2010, you must complete Test 2.

By 1700 4 MARCH,2010, you must complete Test 3.

 

 

Warning: Because of the large number of students enrolled in the Chemistry web courses, it is very difficult to answer student inquiries concerning content,, etc during the last two-three weeks of the term. We will try our best to answer all content inquiries within 7 business days, but it may not be possible during the last two-three weeks of the term. We CANNOT answer inquiries during the last week of classes. Please plan on doing your work as soon as possible.

THE INSTRUCTOR'S FURLOUGH DAYS ARE 15 JANUARY, 15 FEBRUARY AND 5 MARCH. NO SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THESE DAYS