1.2: Course Overview
- Page ID
- 548514
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)👋🏼 Welcome to Physical Chemistry Lab!
This laboratory course complements the undergraduate Physical Chemistry lectures by giving students hands-on experience with instruments, data analysis, computational methods, and scientific reporting central to the field of chemistry. Emphasis is placed on interpreting real experimental data and applying core physical chemistry concepts through guided inquiry.
The course is managed through Canvas, which hosts announcements, grading, instructor contact information, and assignment submission portals. The laboratory manual is hosted on LibreTexts and linked within Canvas. Because the manual is continually updated, students should always refer to the live LibreTexts site to access the most current version of each experiment.
Where to find Information about this course
- Canvas: Our course site is on Canvas. All course information is accessible through links on Canvas. All assignments will be submitted electronically on Canvas (using embedded Gradescope submission), and all rubrics are available in the submission portal.
- Lab Manual: The lab manual lives on LibreTexts, and this is where you find pre-lab assignments and procedures for each meeting.
- CHEM301L and CHEM310L use the same Lab Manual, but each course covers different modules in the latter half of the semester. Be sure to look out for course-specific instructions and use your syllabus schedule to guide you on what modules and sub-modules you should complete.
- You can download a copy of the lab manual at any time. Please note that the manual is a "living" document that we update regularly. The latest version is available on LibreTexts. We recommend that you download a pdf copy as a backup for times when you need to work offline. All instructions for operating instruments will be available in lab, but you must have all procedures and plans written in your notebook ahead of time (this is part of your pre-lab assignemnt).
- Syllabus: The syllabus contains additional details and policies that are not provided in the public manuals on LibreTexts, including instructor contact information. The detailed schedule of deadlines and assignments is also in the Syllabus document.
Course Structure
This course is organized into instructional modules, each focused on a major topic or technique in physical chemistry. You will work in collaborative groups to complete each experiment, analyze data, and interpret results. However, you will write your assignments independently and all written work submitted for individual scores will be your own.
Assignments include:
- Pre-Lab Assignments – due the day of Lab Meeting by 1:00 PM (25 minutes before each meeting)
- Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs) – due by the end of each lab meeting.
- Post-Lab Assignments and Reports – due for scoring according to the syllabus schedule.
A detailed breakdown of points in each assignment is available in this google spreadsheet (Click).
Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Avoiding Harassment
All members of this course will foster an environment or listening and considering new ideas from a diverse group, with respect for all participants without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, political orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other aspect of how we identify ourselves other than as fellow scientists.
There is zero tolerance in this course for any form of harassment or hate speech, during class meetings or outside of scheduled class time, which could include verbal or physical conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with anyone else’s participation or performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment; any such harassment will result in dismissal from the course and will be reported to the college.
"Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values."