Office hours: Monday 3-4, Tuesday 2 - 3 and by appointment 

I am completely committed to making this an excellent course and encourage feedback that you believe will improve it. I am happy to see you without an appointment but cannot promise I will be able to speak with you at length on those occasions. You can also reach me by e-mail at: rothberg@chem.rochester.edu

Lecture: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11-11:50 in Hubbell Auditorium.  Back to top

Text: Chemical Principles, 5th edition by Steven Zumdahl, Heath 1995. Back to top

Reserve: The following may be of use and are on reserve in Carlson Library.

 1.     Chemical Principles by Steven S. Zumdahl  (Fifth Edition)

2.     Study Guide for Chemical Principles by Paul B. Kelter

3.     Complete Solutions Guide for Chemical Principles by Steven S. Zumdahl and Thomas J. Hummel

4.     Principles of Modern Chemistry by Oxtoby, Gillis and Nachtrieb 

5.     General Chemistry by Hill and Petrucci

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Laboratory: The lab is mandatory and is an important part of the course. You will sign up at the first lecture for a lab section.

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Recitations: You will also sign up for recitation sections at the first lecture. Focus problems exemplifying the principles discussed in the reading and lecture will be reviewed. These will be posted with the lecture summaries on the course web page. Please attend your assigned section. Exams will be returned and reviewed there.

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Examinations: Exams during the semester will be held during common exam times (8:00 - 9:30 AM) on Thursday February 15, Thursday March 22 and Tuesday April 17. The procedure for returning graded exams for regrading is as follows: Examinations to be regraded should be given to your T.A. at recitation when the exam is returned. The numbers of the problems to be regraded should be indicated clearly on the front of the exam. Once you have left your recitation section, you may not submit your exam for regrading except for incorrect addition. Please do not use the regrade system frivolously as it takes a considerable amount of time and effort.

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Homework: Homework is probably the most important vehicle for genuine learning. I will provide representative practice problems that illustrate the concepts in each lecture, as well as additional practice homeworks that resemble the examination format. Note that the solution manual for the book problems is on reserve in Carlson. When pactice problems are assigned whose solutions are not in the manual, solutions will be posted on the web site. While the homework will not be graded, I strongly recommend that you work on them. They will form the basis for discussion in recitation in addition to other questions that arise. Collaboration on the homework and discussion of the problems is encouraged. Learning studies show that active discourse with your peers is an efficient way to develop understanding.

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Grade weightings: Final grades will be based on the following:

      Midterms:      50 %(10-20-20, 20-10-20 or 20-20-10)

      Laboratory:    20 %

      Final exam:    30 %

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