Chem 2242. Preparatory Reading and Writing Assignment

These readings and a brief written report should be completed during the month of June. A brief written report is due June 30.

Readings and Report (complete by June 30)

This reading assignment consists of a review of some material from general chemistry that is especially relevant to the study of analytical chemistry, followed by a written report. The readings are from the textbook for the course (Skoog et al, Analytical Chemistry, An Introduction, 2000).

• Readings
  • Chapter 3. Important Chemical Concepts: Expressing Quantities and Concentrations. Read this chapter. Work through the examples in the text. You are also encouraged to complete the starred exercises at the end of the chapter.
  • Chapter 4. The Basic Approach to Chemical Equilibrium. Read this chapter. Work through the examples in the text. You are also encouraged to complete the starred exercises at the end of the chapter.
• Report. Prepare a detailed report on your study of chapters 3 and 4. The report should be prepared using Microsoft Word and sent to me (dpoe@d.umn.edu) by June 30 as an email attachment, or use the the online report form. Please respond to the following questions:
  1. Chapter 3.
     1. For each of the examples 3-1 through 3-11 in Chapter 3, (Note: This refers to the worked-out examples spread throughout the chapter, not the end-of-chapter exercises)
        1. What skill or concept does the example illustrate?
        2. Did you work through the example?
        3. Did you work the problem on your own and obtain the correct result without referring to the author's solution?
        4. Do you want to review this example or a related topic during the corresponding class session at the University of Wroclaw? If yes, you may wish to include a specific question about some aspect of the topic.
     2. Please provide a complete list of the end-of-chapter exercises that you completed. Include any questions you have about any of these.
     3. Please comment on the value of each of the following as it pertains your preparation studying analytical chemistry.
        1. The readings in Chapter 3
        2. Working through the examples in the chapter
        3. Completing the exercises at the end of the chapter
  2. Chapter 4. Please respond to the same questions listed above.
  3. Do you feel that completing the review of Chapters 3 and 4 was a useful and appropriate preparation for Chem 2242?
  4. Do the think that preparing this report was a useful exercise towards achieving the goal of being prepared to study analytical chemistry?

Additional Readings

Here are some optional readings and information about Poland. Additional items may be added occasionally.

Poland, by James A. Michener, Ballantine Books, 1984. This is an historical novel, spanning roughly eight centuries of Polish history. Provides a backdrop for Polands current political and cultural situation. A long, epic work with a wealth of characters. For me, sort of a long, hard slog.