CHEM 330 Lab: Aquatic Chemistry Lab - Syllabus

Instructor: Al Fischer, PhD

Office Hours: By appointment; see my availability and schedule an appointment on Calendly. You will be able to choose to meet on Zoom or at my office during scheduling. (No need to email or ask - just schedule!)

Email: dfischer@wcu.edu

Availability: Email and office hours (see above) are the best ways to find me; I check emails several times per day through the evening M-F. I also leave my office door open when I am available for drop-in questions, as time allows; if my door is open, you are welcome to stop in for help. Typically this should be for quick questions that take no more than 5-10 minutes to answer. I have also created a Discord server for the course – this is a space for you to quickly ask me questions and connect with your classmates (it may be especially good for data-processing questions).

Overview

This course in an introduction to the chemical analysis of water samples. Throughout the semester, students will work to develop both qualitative and quantitative analytical skills related to chemical analysis (both wet chemical and instrumental analysis methods), reproducible data analysis, scientific communication, and collaboration in the laboratory and/or field. Some prerequisite chemical knowledge will be expected (CHEM 140), but no advanced chemistry knowledge is necessary. Simultaneous enrollment in CHEM 330 lecture is expected.

Student Learning Outcomes

To achieve a satisfactory grade, students will:

1. Demonstrate proficiency in common analytical methods applied to aquatic samples.

2. Demonstrate rigorous, reproducible laboratory practice.

3. Apply common analytical methods and concepts from general chemistry to fully, accurately, and precisely characterize real-world samples.

4. Communicate analysis questions, methods, results, and conclusions using written word, pictorial figures, and data tables.

5. Demonstrate safe laboratory practices.

6. Participate effectively in group projects and demonstrate professionalism in the laboratory.

Required Course Materials

Supplemental Book: Harvey, D. Analytical Chemistry 2.1 Chem Libre Texts (Free online!)

Lab Manual: All lab activities are posted online

Lab Notebook: Students should keep notes in a hardbound laboratory notebook. Carbonless copy notebooks (like those used in CHEM 140) are suitable, but hardbound (not spiral) are preferred. A simple composition notebook is sufficient for this purpose.

Technology: Students will need a laptop computer meeting Chemistry and Physics' minimum computer requirements and should plan to bring this computer with them to lab every week.

Students will need the following software:

• Vernier Logger Lite

• Spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel (available to students through WCU's site license)

• Word processing program such as Microsoft Word (available to students through WCU's site license)

• Grammarly or similar software is highly recommended for checking lab reports

Additional Required Course Materials:

• Goggles or safety glasses with splash guards rated for chemical protection

• Nitrile gloves

• Appropriate clothing: closed-toed shoes, long pants, hair tie for long hair

• Permanent, felt-tipped marker (e.g. a Sharpie®)

• A blue or black pen (not pencil!) for writing in your lab notebook.

Most materials are available from the WCU bookstore; goggles are also available from the WCU Chemistry Club (these goggles are recommended over cheaper ones). A lab coat is optional.

Students not wearing appropriate PPE will be asked to leave lab.

See "Field Work", below, for addition recommended materials.

Lab Notebooks and Data Analysis

Lab notebooks will be collected weekly for review. You should follow proper laboratory notebook protocol when filling out your notebook. Lab notebooks should be filled out during lab, not after! Students will be required to scan their lab notebook pages and turn them in on Canvas each day when leaving lab.

Students will be provided with Excel templates for data analysis, and must turn in their templates and data files for each lab. The Excel sheets will be checked for accuracy against calculations completed by the instructor, and students will be awarded full credit for getting the exact right answer, to the correct number of significant digits. Partial credit may be awarded for close answers.

Field Work

Portions of this course will be conducted outdoors in the field while collecting water samples for analysis. This work may occur both on and off campus. Students should make every effort to attend field trips, and will receive a grade for participation trips. Any students not attending will be required to complete a makeup assignment with equal time and effort commitments as the field trip. Field work will occur rain or shine.

The following materials are recommended during sampling days. Keep in mind that all these materials may get dirty / rained on / fall in the river, etc., during field work, so don't bring your most favorite items unless you are prepared for them to get damaged.

• Waterproof shoes (preferably knee-high boots or waders)

• Rain jacket

• Waterproof backpack

• Waterproof notebook (e.g. Rite in the Rain) and Sharpie or pencil

• Water bottle, snacks, and a picnic lunch

Use of Chemical Instrumentation

This course will require the use of equipment in Chemistry's shared instrumentation facility. Students will be required to coordinate with Chemistry's Instrumentation Specialist to get trained on these instruments outside of normal class time.

Grading

In general, each correct answer on an exam or quiz is worth 1 point. Most other assignments/questions will be graded on a 0-4 scale:

A score of 2 represents work that meets expectations and shows clear understanding of the material while 3 and 4 represent work that goes above and beyond the minimum guidelines given. Exam scores may be normalized to a 0-4 scale prior to calculation of final grades to avoid overweighting exams.

Your final letter grade reported to WCU will be determined from the following scale:

These grades indicate levels in quality from excellent to unsatisfactory. Students are responsible for knowing class attendance, withdrawal, and drop-add policies and procedures.

Grading Technology

Some items, including exams and quizzes, may be graded by computer software. Any answers not in the specified format will not be graded and will receive a score of 0. This will mean you will not get feedback on this work. Written work may be checked for plagiarism using computer software. Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated (see Academic Integrity section, below). Due dates/times are automatically enforced by Canvas.

Turning Things In

Most assignments will be submitted electronically. Unless otherwise specified, assignments are due at 23:59:59 on the due date. Assignments may sometimes remain open until I have finished grading that assignment, but you are not guaranteed feedback if you turn in an assignment late. A list of anticipated assignments is available in the Canvas site for the course, but is subject to change as needed.

Submissions that do not follow these guidelines may incur point deductions or may not be graded.

Late Work

Late work is not accepted in this course. Due dates are automatically enforced by Canvas. However, I will leave assignments open until I grade them and you can turn them in until then (this may be the day they are due or it may be a week later). No extensions will be granted after the assignment has been graded.

If you experience extenuating circumstances (e.g. a medical emergency, professionally diagnosed illness, or death in the family) or a university-sponsored absence you may ask to be considered for an extension on a case-by-base basis. Communication of the issue to your instructor and identification of when you plan to turn in the assignment are important in such circumstances. For university-sponsored absences, exceptions should be arranged before your absence or will not be granted.

Course Policies

Laboratory Behavior: Students are expected to attend each lab period and participate fully in that day's activity. Students should respect the rights of others and minimize avoidable distractions and come to lab prepared.

You should bring your computer, notebook, pen, and calculator to EVERY laboratory meeting. Please read the introduction and procedure for the experiment BEFORE coming to lab. You can set up your lab notebook pages with the introduction, template procedure, and blank tables for recording lab data before you come to lab.

Never bring food or drink into the laboratory. This includes sealed bottles and items inside backpacks – leave them outside the lab! Do not chew gum, use tobacco products, or apply cosmetics in the lab. Do not place personal items inside fume hoods or where they may come into contact with chemicals. Keep walkways clear of chairs, bookbags, etc. (place them in cubbies!). Wash your hands before leaving lab, and never wear gloves or lab coats outside the lab!

The sparing use of cell phones during lab sessions is permitted but discouraged. If you must, please use your cell phone outside the laboratory, and never leave an experiment unattended to do so! Likewise, do not place your cellphone in a fume hood or on a chemical bench!

In an effort to maintain a productive work environment for all students, please refrain from playing music, videos, etc., in the classroom/laboratory.

Proper Laboratory Attire: Students must arrive to lab wearing appropriate attire. Students without appropriate attire will be asked to leave and will not be able to complete the activity for the day (and will be counted absent).

• Wear eye protection at all times (whenever you are in the room).

• Wear closed-toed shoes that fully cover your feet up to the ankle at all times.

• Wear long pants that extend over the top of your shoes at all times.

• Wear a hair tie for long hair.

• Never wear tank tops, sleeveless shirts, shorts, or sandals.

After-hours Instrument Access: You may occasionally want to conduct analyses outside of class time. The instrument lab is typically open from 8AM to 4PM M-F; please plan your work to fit within that time (it's often OK to start a run at the end of the day and leave it to run overnight, if you are using an instrument that can be left unattended). If you are completing work outside of class you must work with a lab partner who is also familiar with the instrument you're working on. Never work in the lab alone! Likewise, please refrain from bringing guests into the instrument lab unless they have specifically passed the instrument safety training. If you will require significant help on the instrument please schedule a time to meet with your instructor or the Instrumentation Specialist in advance.

Pregnancy: Certain chemicals can have severe harmful effects on unborn children. Any student who is pregnant or might have become pregnant and wished to avoid these hazards should notify her TA or instructor before conducting any laboratory work so that proper safety precautions can be taken.

Attendance: Please email your instructor ahead of time if you encounter circumstances that absolutely prevent you from making it to lab on time. Attendance to all class periods is mandatory. Absences from group work sessions may incur a loss of points up to a zero for the assignment and deductions in the student's group participation grade.

If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19, cold, flu, or other contagious sickness please do NOT come to class! Likewise, do not attend if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is suspected to have COVID-19. Please maintain diligent communication with your instructor during these situations and appropriate accommodations will be made.

Inclement Weather: Please check the University website for campus closings during times of bad weather. Your safety is a priority when traveling. Use common sense when attempting to get to campus and notify your instructor if you are unable to safely make it. Announcements will be made via e-mail if class must be canceled when the University has not officially closed.

Institutional Policies

All standard WCU required syllabus content](https://www.wcu.edu/learn/faculty/coulter-faculty-commons/teaching-and-learning/syllabus-additional.aspx) is included in this syllabus through this link and applies to this course.

Course Recording and Broadcasting: Course recording is bound by University Policy 122. Students should request prior permission of their instructor before recording and class meetings.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. Students who require accommodations must identify themselves as having a disability and/or medical condition and provide current diagnostic documentation to the Office of Accessibility Resources. Please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources, 135 Killian Annex, (828) 227-3886 or by email. Visit the OAR website at http://accessibility.wcu.edu/ for more information.

Academic Integrity Policy and Reporting Process: This course follows the guidelines set forth in WCU's Academic Integrity Policy. Refer to the policy for specific rules and sanctions!

Written work may be checked for plagiarism using computer software. Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated and will by handled according to WCU's academic honesty policy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be very valuable, but must also be used with extreme caution. Although you are not specifically disallowed from using AI to help with your work, you must follow certain guidelines if you decide to do so. These are: (1) Do not use AI and the sole tool for your assignment; (2) if you use AI, you must explicitly state that you did so and cite the AI engine you used (e.g. ChatGPT-X); (3) you must fact check anything you produce with AI; (4) you should never use AI to be deceptive. Students found to be using AI outside these guidelines will be considered in violation of WCU's academic honesty policy. Anything you turn in should be fully your own work and not generated by AI!

Community Vision for Inclusive Excellence: All members of the WCU community are expected to embrace WCU's mission of inclusive excellence. See the Community Vision for Inclusive Excellence.

Resources

Getting Help

WCU provides many resources to help students succeed. All students are encouraged to take advantage of resources such as the library and tutoring centers, regardless of their academic standing! A few are listed below.

• Office Hours - don't hesitate to ask your instructor for help! See the top of this document for more information.

• Writing and Learning Commons (WaLC) for help and feedback on writing. Visit tutoring.wcu.edu or call 828-227-2274.

• Math Tutoring Center for help with calculations and math. For more information, visit mtc.wcu.edu or call 828–227–3830.

University Dates

• Academic Calendar The University academic calendar can be found at here. It includes dates for all breaks, University closures, final exams, etc.

• Final Exam: The University final exam schedule can be found on the Registrar's webpage. Note there is no final exam for the lab portion of Chem 370 (but there may be for the lecture portion).

This syllabus and the course schedule are subject to revision as needed. Students will be notified of changes and are responsible for adhering to the modifications.