1.1: Pre-Semester Orientation Assignments
- Page ID
- 466824
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)📅 Due: All items in Part I below must be completed before the first day of class (11:59 pm on the Tuesday day prior to FDOC). Part II must be completed prior to the first lab meeting, and Part III should be completed as necessary.
🕒 Time: Plan at least four hours in the weeks prior to the first day of classes (FDOC) to complete Part I of this assignment. Parts II and III will take additional time.
🎯 Purpose: These pre-semester assignments are designed to help you start the semester prepared and confident. You will get familiar with the course structure, Canvas site, expectations, and resources.
We’re excited to begin the semester with you. Before our first in-person meeting, there are a few essential tasks that will set you up for success. Think of this page as your roadmap—everything you need to complete before the first lab meeting is gathered here in one place.
In each module, you'll find a "pre-" page like this one to guide you in preparing for our meetings.
Part I. Get Familiar with Course Tools and Policies
Complete the following written and preparation tasks before our first meeting:
- Explore the Canvas Site
- Log into Duke’s Canvas platform.
- Locate the CHEM 301L course site.
- Carefully read the Start Here Module.
- Find the Course Syllabus (posted on Canvas in the Orientation Module).
- Browse the Modules, Assignments, and Announcements sections.
- Complete the Orientation Module
- Find the CHEM 301L Lab Manual on Libretexts.
- Read the full "1: Orientation to CHEM301L" Module in the Lab Manual.
- Review the Duke Chemistry Safety Manual (linked in Canvas or the Lab Manual).
- Complete the Orientation Assignment (see syllabus).
- Access and download the “Orientation Assignment” (at the end of the syllabus) from Canvas.
- Complete the assignment carefully, following all instructions.
- Submit your finished version as a PDF on Canvas before the first Dry Lab.
- Download the full lab manual PDF in case of Canvas or LibreTexts outages.
Part II. Prepare for the First Lab Meeting
The first meeting is a "Dry Lab". You do not need eye protection or lab attire during Dry Lab meetings.
- Be Ready for to use MatLab in the first Lab Meeting
- Complete the Pre-Lab Assignment for MatLab.
- Bring your computer, with MatLab and custom files installed, to the first meeting.
Part III. Review Prerequisite Knowledge
You are expected to begin the course with working knowledge from prior chemistry and lab courses, especially:
- General, Organic, and Physical Chemistry:
- General chemical principles, units, and stoichiometry
- Operation of electronic balances and typical chemistry glassware
- Organic functional group reactivity
- Thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium
- Specific knowledge from Physical Chemistry Lecture (if taken previously)
- Particle in the box model
- Harmonic Oscillator model (vibration of bonds)
- Rigid Rotor model (rotation of molecules)
- Equilibrium thermodynamics
- Reaction kinetics
- Computation of electronic structure
- Specific material from college-level math pre-requisites
- Derivatives and partial derivatives
- Matrices and their operations
If you need to brush up on any of these areas, please revisit your prior course notes or request resources from the instructor.