Chemistry 1B-AL Fall 2016
on line questions and answers
 
 
Send questions regarding course material via e-mail to Professor Switkes .
Look for a response to be posted on this page ! e-mail does not sleep
 
 
 
 
DATE TOPIC
  Sat, 24 Sept 2016   Assignments
  Sat, 24 Sept 2016   JAVA Download
  Tues, 27 Sept 2016   Class Absence Policy
  Wed, 12 Oct 2016   Chem 1B Midterm
  Tues, 1 Nov 2016   WebAssign Charges
   
 
 
  go to recent questions
 
 
 

SUBJECT: Assignments
DATE:   9/24/2016 6:02 PM
QUESTION:
Hi
  I was just curious what is due for mondays class. I had just watched the pre-class video and was curious if the learning objectives worksheet has to be completed before monday as well. I hope to hear back from you soon!

[student's name]

RESPONSE: Sat, 24 Sep 2016 18:19:05

[student's name],

  GOOD !!!
You should be 'Keeping up' with the Learning Objectives worksheet and the first pre-class video takes you up thru Worksheet 1 section II.1 . Worksheets are not collected, but on Wednesday we will have a short iClicker 'check-up' with some simple questions on these sections of the worksheet. In discussion section on Mon or Tues, the LAs will say a little more about the iClicker 'check-ups', but also ask me in class on Monday and I'll give the whole class a heads-up. You can also get going on the WebAssign homework doing the first couple of problems related to the material we have already covered. Be sure to SAVE in WebAssign but HW#1 not due until a week from Wednesday.

On Monday there will also be a pair-share activity (BRING iClicker),
http://switkes.chemistry.ucsc.edu/teaching/CHEM1B/Fall16AL/CHEM1BAL_2016F_activities.html
but the activity is for purposes of teaching and 'making you think', nothing graded, nothing to prepare for. ALSO SEE THE 'THIS WEEK' on our WWW page.
http://switkes.chemistry.ucsc.edu/teaching/CHEM1B/Fall16AL/CHEM1BAL_2016F_HOME.html
Glad to hear from you.
Hope this helps,

Eugene Switkes
Professor of Chemistry

SUBJECT: JAVA download
DATE:   Sat, 24 Sep 2016 20:02
QUESTION:
Hi Professor Switkes,

My name is [student's name], and I am in your chem 1B class. I have trouble or should I say, I do not know how to complete steps 1-4 and beyond from the Java instruction. I don't know anyone who can help me either, what should I do so I will have Java downloaded before Monday? Can you help me please?

RESPONSE: Sun, 25 Sep 2016 10:03
[student's name],
 
No worry. The class will not be using the JAVA simulations until the activity on Friday, 30th September, although we hope that all of the class will be set by Wednesday so they can look at the pre-class questions.

During your Chem 1B-02 discussion section this Monday or Tuesday, Ana and the LAs will be able to offer some individual help getting JAVA going and also Gabe during his Monday office hours.

Hope this helps,

Eugene Switkes
Professor of Chemistry

SUBJECT: Class Absence Policy
DATE:   Tue, 27 Sep 2016 10:33
QUESTION:
Hello Professor Switkes

  My name is [student's name] and I am emailing you to let you know that I may not be able to attend class and section on [date omitted] due to a [very important family obligation] that I have to attend. There may be a possibility I can be back in Santa Cruz on time. Please let me know what I should do in the case I cannot make it to class and/or section. Thank you and hope you have a great day!

Best,
[student's name]

RESPONSE: Tue, 27 Sep 2016 12:52:17

[student's name],
  My policy on absences is:

  • First of all, I must try to be fair and equal to all of the students.
  • Second for most absences it is up to the student to make-up any material that they may miss (good, this is just what you are trying to anticipate). I really hope you can make it back to class by [day] . You should follow the class schedule of activities on our WWW-page.
  • Class attendance and participation has to be a high priority for CHEM1B-AL. You should speak to Ana if you will miss section on [day].
  • For "required" attendance on days of midterms and final, to be fair, I have to be very strict. Only absences for medical reasons or family emergencies can be cause for make-up exams.

Hope this helps,

Eugene Switkes
Professor of Chemistry

SUBJECT: Chem 1B Homework #2
DATE:   Sat, 8 Oct 2016 17:15
QUESTION:
Professor Switkes

  I had a question on the notation for question 16 of the homework. I've tried a couple submissions for each problem and cannot seem to understand why my submissions are correct. For example, when doing the problem regarding sulfur, I found the answer to be 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4 up/down up up, but the correct answer seems to be [Ne] 3s2 3p4 up/down up up. Can you please explain why the earlier terms are replaced with [Ne]? I googled how to do these types of problems and my notation seems to be correct but on web assign, I must have the term [Ne] for it to be correct.

Thank You
[student's name]

RESPONSE: Sat, 8 Oct 2016 18:16

[student's name],
  The inert gas notation for fully occupied inner shells would have the symbol [Ne] substituted for 1s22s22p6 (or 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 if your e-mail does not do superscripts), so [Ne]3s^2 3p^4 is equivalent to 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^4. The way Web Assign has coded answers to configurations requires the 'inert gas' notation for grading thus the examples in the instructions to Problem 16:

Enter your answer using the format [Ar] 4s2 3d10 4p2 for [Ar]4s23d104p2.
and
for carbon C: enter [He] 2s2 2p2 UP UP BLANK
for oxygen O: enter [He] 2s2 2p4 UP/DOWN UP UP

Here [He] is equivalent to 1s^2 and [Ar] is equivalent to 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 Requiring the inert gas configuration is needed for WebAssign to mark answer correct. If it was on an exam and we were grading by hand, either notation would be graded correct (if the student had the correct configuration).
Hope this helps,

Eugene Switkes
Professor of Chemistry

SUBJECT: Chem 1B Midterm
DATE:   Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:58:25
QUESTION:
 

  I was wondering if we will be responsible for knowing the electromagnetic spectrum for Friday's midterm?

Thank You
[student's name]

RESPONSE: Thu, 13 Oct 2016 08:15

[student's name],
  The expectations regarding radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum were: 1. know names and order (of wavelengths) of types of radiation from cosmic rays to radio waves as on slide 40
http://switkes.chemistry.ucsc.edu/teaching/CHEM1B/Fall16AL/HANDOUTS_2016F/lects1-2_2016F_HO.pdf
BUT NOT SPECIFIC NUMERICAL VALUES OF WAVELENGTH OR FREQUENCY
2. Know that the visible region is 400-700 x 10-9 m (as on front page of sample exam)
3. Know the ROYGBIV ordering of wavelengths in the visible and that R is at the long wavelength end of visible region and BIV at short (there isn't really much distinction among BIV and any of these color names would be interchangeably correct on exam).
Hope this helps,

Eugene Switkes
Professor of Chemistry

SUBJECT: How do I enter the charges for NO3- and other ionic compounds?
DATE:   ue, 1 Nov 2016 12:21:09
QUESTION:
-Professor Switkes  

  I've run into a problem. I'm not sure how to assign negative ion charges to the three NO3- molecules. I don't know which oxygen to place it on, and I am not sure if I can place the atom in brackets and just assign the electron to the whole molecule. Where should I place the negatives?

RESPONSE: Tue, Nov 1, 2016 12:26 PM

[student's name],
  You should assign formal charges to each atom by placing the + or - (or nothing) on the atom; the sum of formal charges should equal the total charge of the atom or ion.
Hope this helps,

Eugene Switkes
Professor of Chemistry


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