Welcome to the Fall 2025 Chemistry 221 class!
My name is Dr. Michael Russell and I will be your Chemistry 221 instructor this quarter. I think this will be an exciting term, and I look forward to working with you! You can call me Dr. Russell, Mr. Russell, Professor, Michael, Mike.... almost anything respectful is fine (*except* for "Mikey" - don't go there, I have bad memories from the brat kid in the 1970's Life cereal commercial! lol)
Classes start Monday, September 22 at Mt. Hood Community College. What happens this week (and in subsequent weeks) depends on which section of CH 221 you are enrolled. There are four sections of CH 221 this quarter:
-
Section L1 (which is a face-to face class with on campus lectures and labs)
- Section L2 (which is a face-to face class with on campus lectures and labs)
- Section L3 (which is a hybrid class with virtual lectures and a face-to-face on campus lab), and
- Section L4 (which is a hybrid class with virtual lectures and a face-to-face on campus lab)
Information for each section on what is happening this week can be found below, followed by some general information for everyone about how to get started in this class.
Quick Links for Section L1, Section L2, Section L3, Section L4 and General Information for Everyone
For Section L1:
Section L1 has a required on-campus and in-person lab each Monday from 1:10 PM until no later than 5 PM. In addition, Section L1 students should attend the on-campus and in-person lectures each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 AM.
- The lectures will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 AM until 9:50 AM in AC 1303. AC 1303 is located near the Planetarium on the lower level of the main campus.
- Our first lecture will be Monday, September 22 at 9:00 AM in room AC 1303. I highly recommend you attend lectures!
- If you would like a printed copy of the Lecture Slides while I am lecturing, you can find it here, and future chapters will also be available at this location (as well as in the Companion.)
- Purchase (or print) the Chemistry 221 Companion. The Companion is a collection of all the problem sets, labs, lecture notes and more that you will need this quarter. You can purchase the Chemistry 221 Companion through the MHCC Bookstore (direct link), but you can alternatively print this (large!) document yourself. You will need printed materials this quarter in CH 221!
- A subscription to the iClicker Student App is an optional purchase if you will be attending lectures in CH 221. It is not required, but it is a fun item to have and worth some extra credit if you attend lecture.
- The lab will be on Mondays from 1:10 PM until no later than 5 PM. We will start in room AC 2501 then move to the actual lab room (AC 2507) around 3 PM. Both AC 2501 and AC 2507 are located near the "F" parking lot on the upper level of the main MHCC campus. Here is a video showing where AC 1303 and AC 2507 can be found on the MHCC campus.
For Section L2:
Section L2 has a required on-campus and in-person lab each Tuesday from 8:30 AM until no later than 11:50 AM. In addition, Section L2 students should attend the on-campus and in-person lectures each Thursday at 8:30 AM.
- The lectures will be on Thursday from 8:30 AM until no later than noon in AC 1303. AC 1303 is located near the Planetarium on the lower level of the main campus.
- Our first lecture will be Thursday, September 25 at 8:30 AM in room AC 1303. I highly recommend you attend lectures!
- If you would like a printed copy of the Lecture Notes while I am lecturing, you can find it here, and future chapters will also be available at this location (as well as in the Companion.)
- Purchase (or print) the Chemistry 221 Companion. The Companion is a collection of all the problem sets, labs, lecture notes and more that you will need this quarter. You can purchase the Chemistry 221 Companion through the MHCC Bookstore (direct link), but you can alternatively print this (large!) document yourself. You will need printed materials this quarter in CH 221!
- A subscription to the iClicker Student App is an optional purchase if you will be attending lectures in CH 221. It is not required, but it is a fun item to have and worth some extra credit if you attend lecture.
- The lab will be on Tuesdays from 8:30 AM until no later than 11:50 AM. We will start in room AC 1303 then move to the actual lab room (AC 2507) around 10 AM. AC 1303 is located on the lower level of the main academic center (near the Planetarium), and AC 2507 is located near the "F" parking lot on the upper level of the main MHCC campus. Here is a video showing where AC 1303 and AC 2507 can be found on the MHCC campus.
- Our first lab will be Tuesday, September 23 at 8:30 AM starting in room AC 1303.
- For the first day of lab, please bring a printed copy of the "Eight Bottles" lab and your calculator. (Note that the "Eight Bottles" lab is in the Chemistry 221 Companion.)
- Also, start working on the Introduce Yourself Assignment for CH 221.
- A set of safety goggles will be required - get them! You can purchase one here or get a pair from the Dollar store, but make sure you have a pair (and make sure they are goggles, not glasses.)
For Section L3:
Section L3 has a required on-campus and in-person lab each Wednesday from 1:10 PM until no later than 5 PM.
- The lab will be on Wednesdays from 1:10 PM until 5 PM. We will start in room AC 2501 then move to the actual lab room (AC 2507) around 3 PM. Both AC 2501 and AC 2507 are located near the "F" parking lot on the upper level of the main MHCC campus. Here is a video showing where AC 2501 and AC 2507 can be found on the MHCC campus.
- Our first lab will be Wednesday, September 24 at 1:10 PM starting in room AC 2501.
- For the first day of lab, please bring a printed copy of the "Eight Bottles" lab and your calculator. (Note that the "Eight Bottles" lab is in the Chemistry 221 Companion.)
- Also, start working on the Introduce Yourself Assignment for CH 221.
- A set of safety goggles will be required - get them! You can purchase one here or get a pair from the Dollar store, but make sure you have a pair (and make sure they are goggles, not glasses.)
- Purchase (or print) the Chemistry 221 Companion.
- The Companion is a collection of all the problem sets, labs, lecture notes and more that you will need this quarter. You can purchase the Chemistry 221 Companion through the MHCC Bookstore (direct link), but you can alternatively print this (large!) document yourself.
- You will need printed materials this quarter in CH 221!
- You will need to learn the lecture material on your own using one or more of these methods:
- You can read the chapters in the textbook.
- You can use my "Complete Lectures" for each section. Complete lectures include all the relevant information from each section, and most are split into two separate videos.
- You can watch the recordings of the live lectures I offer Section L1 and section L2 of CH 221 this term. These videos should be available on the day they were given on our website and on YouTube.
- You can view the Screencasts (i.e. mini lecture videos) for each chapter.
- All of these methods are acceptable; you can also use the Internet to find your own preferred method of learning.
For Section L4:
Section L4 has a required on-campus and in-person lab each Friday from 1:10 PM until no later than 5 PM.
- The lab will be on Fridays from 1:10 PM until 5 PM. We will start in room AC 2501 then move to the actual lab room (AC 2507) around 3 PM. Both AC 2501 and AC 2507 are located near the "F" parking lot on the upper level of the main MHCC campus. Here is a video showing where AC 2501 and AC 2507 can be found on the MHCC campus.
- Purchase (or print) the Chemistry 221 Companion.
- The Companion is a collection of all the problem sets, labs, lecture notes and more that you will need this quarter. You can purchase the Chemistry 221 Companion through the MHCC Bookstore (direct link), but you can alternatively print this (large!) document yourself.
- You will need printed materials this quarter in CH 221!
- You will need to learn the lecture material on your own using one or more of these methods:
- You can read the chapters in the textbook.
- You can use my "Complete Lectures" for each section. Complete lectures include all the relevant information from each section, and most are split into two separate videos.
- You can watch the recordings of the live lectures I offer Section L1 and section L2 of CH 221 this term. These videos should be available on the day they were given on our website and on YouTube.
- You can view the Screencasts (i.e. mini lecture videos) for each chapter.
- All of these methods are acceptable; you can also use the Internet to find your own preferred method of learning.
General Information for Everyone:
CH 221 is a cool class (#biased lol), and I want you to have a great experience while in my classroom, so here are a few tips and tricks to get you started:
- First, know that I am here to help you in any way that I can, and I encourage you to contact me any time you need assistance. Email is the best way to contact me (mike.russell@mhcc.edu) or you can visit me during my office hours in room AC 2568 on the MHCC campus (located half way between the math and science departments.) Office hours will be held in AC 2568 each MW 10 AM - 11 AM and MWF noon - 1 PM.
- I have several videos to help you get started in this class. If interested, check out the following:
- A video introduction to Chemistry 221: link
- Finding AC 1303, AC 2501, AC 2507 and AC 2568: link
- Getting Started in Chemistry with Dr. Russell! link
- CH 221: A Video Introduction to Chapter Guide One: link
- Link to CH 221 Videos: link
- Fall 2025 Videos on YouTube: link
- My YouTube channel: link
- Look around the CH 221 website (http://mhchem.org/221) We will not be using the MyMHCC Portal, Canvas or Blackboard this quarter, but you will find a variety of goodies on our website.... check it out!
- View the CH 221 Syllabus and check out the 'Getting Started' guide (http://mhchem.org/Syl221/). This will let you know what the course is like. Also be sure to check out the "What's Due This Week" Guide (both in the syllabus and here).
- Download (and start reading!) our free textbook (link). This is an "Open Education Resources" (OER) textbook, and it's free to download (and read.) You can purchase a printed copy elsewhere, but I would not normally recommend it.
- You will need a scientific calculator (with EXP or EE buttons for powers of ten). The TI-30XIIS is a great calculator and not too expensive!
- Start Problem Set #1 (link). Problem Set #1 covers Chapter 1 of our textbook, and it's officially due during Week 2 of fall quarter.
- To begin, start by completing the problem set on your own first. You can write on the problem set itself, or on separate paper - your call.
- Next, self correct your problem set using the recitation video for the problem set. The link to the recitation video can be found on the front page of the problem set under "Step Two" - the recitation video link for problem set #1 is: http://mhchem.org/1/1
- Self correct every problem on the problem set. For the questions you get wrong, cross out the old answer and put in the correct answer; you might make notes about how to do this problem correctly the next time. Also self-correct the problems you get right using a star, smiley face, etc. - some kind of mark which lets me know that you know the problem is correct.
- Turn in the self corrected problem set at the beginning of your lab period. Problem sets turned in without self correct marks (on all problems) or missing problems will receive a lower grade.
- Self-corrected problem set #1 is due:
- Section L1: Monday, September 29 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
- Section L2: Tuesday, September 30 at 8:30 AM in AC 1303
- Section L3: Wednesday, October 1 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
- Section L4: Friday, October 3 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
- Get a printed copy of the Eight Bottles lab (link) and bring it with you to the first lab. We will complete the experimental lab work during the lab period, then you will turn the completed lab in at the beginning of recitation the following week. (Note that the "Eight Bottles" lab is in the Chemistry 221 Companion.)
- Prepare for the Seminar Quiz #1 and the actual Quiz #1 during Week 2.
- All quizzes (Seminar Quizzes and actual Quizzes, as well as midterm exams and finals) are closed book / no notes allowed. You cannot use a cell phone or computer; you can have a dedicated calculator and a periodic table (which I will provide) only
- When you first enter recitation, turn in the assignments that are due (the Eight Bottles lab, the self-corrected Problem Set #1 and the Introduce Yourself Assignment)
- Next, take Seminar Quiz #1. You will have 20-30 minutes to complete the quiz, and afterwards we will self correct the Quiz as a class before turning it in. If you are late, or do not attend recitation for any reason, your score will be a zero on the Seminar Quiz.
- After taking the Seminar Quiz, you will take the actual Quiz #1. Quiz #1 will take about 30 minutes and consist of several 'show your work' questions. Turn in the quiz when done (I will pass back any corrected work I have for you at this time.)
- Look over Sample Quiz #1 (link). Sample Quiz #1 will be similar to the actual Quiz #1 which we will take during the second week.
- Reserve a Class Presentation Element (link). Everyone will be creating a paper and giving a presentation this quarter on an element, and everyone must have a different element.... so reserving an element with me is the way to get started. You can read more about the process here, and to reserve an element, email me directly.
OK, I *think* that is is :), but I'm sure I missed something, so.... if you have any questions, on anything!, please contact me (mike.russell@mhcc.edu). There are no dumb questions!!! My answers might be dumb, but your questions are not, so please let me know if I can help.
Have a wonderful day, and I look forward to a great term with you! Peace, Michael
Dr. Michael A. Russell
Chemistry 221 Website
Office Hours: MW 10 AM - 11 and MWF noon - 1 PM in AC 2568 on the main MHCC campus
