Day 152

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment below by 8 am tomorrow.

As an optional assignment, you may submit a summary of the lecture on polymers by next Wednesday. The word limit is 500.

On further reflection, the error of the volumetric flask should be used to determine the concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution. The volumetric flask indicates a standard deviation of ± 0.40 mL. In an actual chemistry laboratory class, you would be required to carry that standard deviation throughout your calculation. I'm not going to make you do that. Instead, let's round that error and say the smallest increment on the volumetric flask is 0.1 mL. Therefore, we added 10.00 mL (graduated cylinder) of 1.0 M sodium hydroxide (from stock bottle) to create a 500.00 mL solutions. (1.0 M)(50.00 mL) = M2(500.00 mL); M2 = 0.10 M NaOH. If you've already done your calculations and used a different value for molarity, it shouldn't take much time to redo your calculations. Just go back to your handwritten equations and take everything out to one more digit.

In an actual chemistry lab class, you are required to write in pen during lab, and you cannot rewrite your data onto a new sheet. For this class, you may rewrite your data onto a clean sheet. Here is a link to the Titration Lab Packet. You do not need to attach your calculations on a separate sheet. The sample calculations in the report are sufficient.

I wish I had time to give a tutorial on Excel since this program is used frequently in chemistry. I recommend using Excel whenever possible. If one of your measurements is incorrect, you can simply replace that number rather than redoing every calculation.

I require at least two citations on this lab report. I forgot to mention that you can also cite further experimentation in your conclusion section. Here is a link to the ACS Citations. Most of the articles on Google Scholar are inaccessible to the general public, so you may use other sources (not Wikipedia). I found several sources that describe how phenolphthalein works, so you shouldn't have any issues finding these same sources.

Email me if you have any questions.

Day 151

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment below by class tomorrow.

The lab report can now be submitted at the latest by Sunday at 5 pm, but I would prefer a hard-copy by Friday.

Day 150

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment below by 8 am tomorrow.

You should fill-out your data sheet and answer all the questions tonight. You should also type-up your results section. If you're really ambitious, you can write your entire report.

There will be a guest speaker tomorrow and a corresponding assignment.

Day 149

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment by 8 am tomorrow.


I performed the lab successfully today with a few of the Chem I students, so you will be redoing the lab during class tomorrow. The molarity of the sodium hydroxide remains at 0.1 M.

I will return your drafts with feedback tomorrow. Remember that the entire lab report will be due at the beginning of class on Friday.

There will be a guest speaker on Wednesday and a corresponding assignment that will be due the day of your final (the next Wednesday).

Day 147

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment below by 8 am tomorrow.

We will perform the acid-base titration lab on Monday. You can send me your introduction and material and methods sections for feedback. I won't accept your drafts after class on Monday. Your prelab questions, which I will hand-out tomorrow, will also be due on Monday. Below, you will find links to the Chapter 4 reading and one of my old lab reports.

Chapter 4 (especially sections 4.3, 4.5, and 4.6)
Lab Title Page, Lab Report, Lab Appendix

Day 146

Hi class,

I'm sorry for posting so late once again. You can comment on this post anytime before class tomorrow. Your grades should be updated on Edline.

Day 145

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment below by 8 am tomorrow.

The quiz on chapter 11 will be administered during class tomorrow.

Day 144

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment below by 8 am tomorrow.

I'm sorry for posting so late. The quiz on chapter 11 will be administered during class tomorrow. Make sure you not only know what the concepts are but also what affects them and why. Rework the example problems from lecture and the homework problems. This is the last quiz of the year, so make it count.

Day 143

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment below by 8 am on Monday.

The quiz on chapter 11 has been moved to Tuesday. Here are the Chapter 11 Solutions (Odd). I'll send each of you a recording explaining the last six homework problems. If you have any questions about the quiz, you can ask me at the end of class on Monday.

Day 140

Hi class,

Don't forget to comment below by 8 am on Friday.

We will finish going over the homework problems on Friday, and your quiz on chapter 11 will be administered on Monday.

Please check the blog tomorrow for your assignment that will be due on Tuesday.