BIOCHEMISTRY I

Course Overview: Welcome to college chemistry laboratory!!! This practical portion of your General Chemistry course is intended to give you an opportunity to apply new knowledge you gain in the lecture part of the course.

In order to get the most out of this experience, be sure to come to lab prepared!! Be sure to read through the experiments, be familiar with the necessary calculations and complete the pre-lab quiz before coming to class. If needed, the theory and calculations for the week’s lab experiment will be covered in your lecture class. Your lab instructor will demonstrate techniques and equipment usage before you begin the experiments. You are responsible for learning the theory and calculations by studying your lab book, notes from lecture class and your textbook.

Grading Policies: Each of the experiments has a value of 100 points. These points include 20 points for the pre-lab quiz and 80 points for the experiment report.

Quizzes: The pre-lab quiz must be completed before coming to lab each week.

· The quiz is administered via computer using a system called Webassign. You must purchase a Webassign access card at the bookstore. You need not purchase an additional card if you have already purchased one for lecture class.

· *****BE SURE TO LOG ONTO YOUR LECTURE WebAssign FIRST!!!!!

· Quizzes will be available for 48 hours before your lab time and must be completed by 30 minutes prior to the start of lab. Missing lab does not excuse you from doing your quiz at the appointed time! No make-up quizzes are permitted – no matter the reason!

Reports: Lab reports will be turned in to the instructor in two ways; in paper, lab report form and as WebAssign data sheets – you must complete BOTH.

· FIRST, complete the lab data sheets provided in your lab manual.

· SECOND, enter your lab data into the appropriate data sheet via WebAssign and submit your data. Please do this carefully, as you will have only one chance to submit your information. Experiment #7 does not have a required WebAssign data sheet.

· After you have completed the WebAssign submission, turn in your paper report sheets to your instructor.

· The paper lab report and WebAssign submission are due 24 hours after your lab period. Points will be docked from late reports and data sheets.

Final grades will be determined on a percentage basis = (total points earned ÷ total possible points) x 100. You will not receive a separate grade for the lab course on your transcript. The final percentage will be given to your lecture instructor at the end of the term. Consult your lecture instructor to learn how your lab grade will be included in your final mark for CH121.

Equipment and Other Student Responsibilities:

· A set of glassware and equipment will be checked out to you. If anything is lost or broken during the term you will be billed for it!! So, keep your drawer locked, and handle these items with care. Always remember to stash your items in the drawer at the end of the lab period. Keep your goggles in your drawer.

· If you break a thermometer, let your instructor know immediately. Mercury needs to be cleaned up and disposed of properly.

· You are responsible for leaving the laboratory clean. You will lose points from your lab report if you fail to clean up your area.

o Put away all your glassware, return items you checked out back to the storeroom, put ring stands and other equipment back in their proper place.

o Clean up any spills and wipe down the counter and hood. Wipe the counter with a wet paper towel, even if it looks clean.

Safety Issues:

· You are expected to follow the laboratory safety rules at all times.

· YOU MUST WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES ANY TIME YOU ARE IN THE LAB. Even if you are not presently working with chemicals, your neighbor at the next bench likely is. SO, LEAVE YOUR GOGGLES ON! Should you be caught without goggles on, your lab grade will be docked 2 points. If it happens again, you will lose n² points, where n is the number of times it has occurred, and so on……. If you would like to work on calculations without safety glasses on, go to the discussion room.

· You may not work in the lab in shorts or sandals. You must wear closed-toed shoes to work in the lab.

· FOOD AND DRINK ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE LABORATORY.

· Radios, tape-players, cd players, walkman, etc. are not allowed in the lab.

Lab Make Up Policy: READ THIS CAREFULLY!! Keep this in case you ever miss lab!

· You should always do your experiments during your regularly scheduled lab period. Please do not be late to lab.

· Make up labs will be permitted only for unavoidable, valid reasons, as assessed by the instructor. If you miss lab on the same day as chemistry lecture exam, you will not be eligible to make up the lab. You will lose points if you miss your own lab section without good cause.

· If you are unable to come to lab for a VALID reason: You must notify the instructor before the lab meets. You may be able to attend another lab period that week IF there is room.

· PERMISSION SLIPS: Before you attend another lab section, you must get a makeup lab permission slip and have it signed by your original lab instructor (me) AND the instructor of the lab period in which you intend to makeup the lab. You must make these arrangements and complete the permission slip at least one hour in advance of the lab section you plan on attending. You must turn in the signed permission slip at the chemistry stockroom to get supplies for the makeup lab.

· All make up labs must be completed within one week of the day the experiment was originally scheduled. There are no make up labs during final exam week.

· You are responsible for ensuring that I receive a copy of your lab report.

Please do not hesitate to ask your instructor or the student proctors if you have a question about an experiment. Any questions about grading should be directed to the lab instructor.