Quantitative Analysis Laboratory

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Accurately perform quantitative measurements
• Analyze and interpret experimental data using appropriate statistical methods
• Evaluate sources of error
• Communicate results in a clear and scientifically sound laboratory report

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Experiment #1 - #2	10 points
Experiments #3 - #8	50 points
Written lab reports (2 reports (#4 and #8 @10 points each) + 1 draft (5 points))	25 points
Quizzes/lab notebook checks	15 points

The lowest score from #3-#8 lab form will be dropped.

In this laboratory, the majority of your grade is based on the accuracy of the final results of your experiments. After you complete an experiment, you will turn in a report that includes your final result, a determination of some characteristic (usually concentration) of an unknown solution. The value that you submit will then be compared to the true value for the unknown solution, and your final grade will be based on how close your value is to this true value. The grade expectations for each experiment are listed at the beginning of that experiment in the Laboratory Manual. Because you are graded on your final value, a single calculation error could drastically affect one’s grade. Check your calculations thoroughly before you submit your report. Resubmissions will not be accepted. You can also come and talk to us prior to turning in your report for help with calculations. Please don’t wait to get help until the lab period when the report is due. Laboratory reports are due at the beginning of the laboratory period following the completion of the experiment. Late reports will not be accepted.

All of your results, calculations, observations, etc. will be recorded in your laboratory notebook. A description of how to keep the laboratory notebook is included in the introductory portion of the laboratory manual. The quality of your notebook influences your ability to write a quality laboratory report, and helps you to determine sources of error when experiments go wrong. Please make sure that you have a bound laboratory notebook by the second week or lab or sooner. Students without a completed pre-lab summary in their laboratory notebooks will not be permitted to participate in the lab.

Two experiments will require a formal written laboratory report. For the first report (exp.4), you will submit a 1st draft, to which you will receive feedback, and then submit a corrected 2nd draft. For the second formal report(exp. 8), only submit one draft. CHE 333 is considered a writing-intensive course/lab.

We will check your laboratory notebooks throughout the semester to ensure that they are up to date. These laboratory checks may be included in your quiz grade at the discretion of the instructor.

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
93-100%	A
90-92%	A–
87-89%	B+
83-86%	B
80-82%	B–
77-79%	C+
73-76%	C
70-72%	C–
67-69%	D+
63-66%	D
60-62%	D–
<60%	F

Attendance/Participation:

Students must attend the full laboratory session and prelab lecture in order to get credit for the experiment. For safety reasons, students who do not attend the entire prelab lecture will not be allowed to conduct the experiment. Some experiments will span more than one laboratory period, and students who miss a laboratory period will fall behind. There will be no makeup experiments. Students with a documented illness or family emergency may, with prior permission of the instructor, attend the other laboratory section.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required.