Chemistry 221

CH 221Z Announcements

October 17, 2025

Items Due During Week 5:

Section L1: Due in Recitation on Monday, October 20 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
• We will take Midterm Exam I during recitation (no quizzes or problem sets this week)
• The Chemical Nomenclature lab Lab
• Exam Prep I
• Bring a printed copy of the "Identification of an Unknown Compound" lab to recitation. Bring your safety goggles! They are required this week!

Section L2: Due in Recitation on Tuesday, October 21 at 8:30 AM in AC 1303:
• We will take Midterm Exam I during recitation (no quizzes or problem sets this week)
• The Chemical Nomenclature lab Lab
• Exam Prep I
• Bring a printed copy of the "Identification of an Unknown Compound" lab to recitation. Bring your safety goggles! They are required this week!

Section L3: Due in Recitation on Wednesday, October 22 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
• We will take Midterm Exam I during recitation (no quizzes or problem sets this week)
• The Chemical Nomenclature lab Lab
• Exam Prep I
• Bring a printed copy of the "Identification of an Unknown Compound" lab to recitation. Bring your safety goggles! They are required this week!

Section L4: Due in Recitation on Friday, October 24 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
• We will take Midterm Exam I during recitation (no quizzes or problem sets this week)
• The Chemical Nomenclature lab Lab
• Exam Prep I
• Bring a printed copy of the "Identification of an Unknown Compound" lab to recitation. Bring your safety goggles! They are required this week!

All Sections:
• Start working and researching your reserved element for the Rough Draft of your Class Presentation Paper which will be due during the sixth week. Make sure to include the Rough Draft Cover Sheet for this assignment!

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This is the week to study and prepare for the first midterm exam which covers material from problem sets 1, 2 and 3 (essentially Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.) If you have any questions, contact me!

Here's what is happening in week 5 of CH 221:

• Midterm Exam I
  • This midterm exam covers problem sets #1, #2 and #3 (essentially Chapters 1, 2 and 3.)
  • The midterm will have 12 multiple choice questions and four short answer questions. You will not need a scantron to complete the exam, but you will need to mark your answers clearly on the exam itself. You will have 90 minutes to complete the midterm exam.
  • The midterm exam will be closed book; no notes are allowed. You will be able to use your calculator and a periodic table (which I will provide.)
  • The first and last pages of the exam deserve some comment. The first page of the midterm will include an integrity statement that you will be required to sign. Signing the integrity statement implies that you have not received (and will not be giving) any information on the midterm exam to others that might imply cheating; a failure to sign the integrity statement grants an automatic score of zero, so make sure the first thing you do is to sign the statement. The last page of the midterm exam will be a scoring page which will be filled out by the instructor when the exam has been graded; you do not need to complete anything on this page. An example of the integrity statement and grading sheet can be found here: link

• Midterm Exam I details by section of CH 221:
  • Section L1 will take the midterm on Monday, October 20 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501.
  • Section L2 will take the midterm on Tuesday, October 21 at 8:30 AM in AC 1303.
  • Section L3 will take the midterm on Wednesday, October 22 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501.
  • Section L4 will take the midterm on Friday, October 24 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501.

• To Study and Prepare for Midterm Exam I:
  • Watch the Complete Lecture of an Exam Review for the first Midterm Exam here: Midterm Exam I Review
  • Lecture videos for the Exam Review for the first Midterm Exam will be available on YouTube and as a Podcast.
  • A sample exam is available on the Chemistry 221 website under Quizzes and Exams.

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Also happening during Week 5 in CH 221:

• Due: The Exam Prep I worksheet.
  • This week we will not have a problem set, seminar self quiz or regular quiz, but you will need to complete the Exam Prep I worksheet.
  • The Exam Prep I worksheet consists of several problems followed by the answer; your goal will be to 'show your work' (in detailed steps) how to go from the question to the final answer. If you have questions on how to do this, you can reach out for assistance to the LSC/AVID center or the instructor.
  • The Exam Prep I worksheet will be due at the time of your midterm exam I.
• Due: The Chemical Nomenclature Lab.
  • Bring the completed lab with you to recitation
• Start: The Identification of an Unknown Compound Lab.
  • Bring a printed copy of the Identification of an Unknown Compound lab with you to class. Bring your safety goggles - they are required this week!
  • Here is a video which shows what the lab will be like, offer hints, etc.
• Heads up: Next week the Rough Draft Class Presentation Paper on your reserved element will be due ... more info here: https://mhchem.org/rd1/221rd.pdf

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Here's a preview of what's going to be happening during Week #6:

• Explore the material in Chapter 4. There are several tools to help you learn the material.... they include:
  • Read Chapter 4 in the textbook
  • Watch the Complete Lectures for Chapter Four here: Part I, Part II.
  • Lecture videos for Chapter 4 will be found on YouTube and as a Podcast.
  • Chapter Guide Four (online learning materials for Chapter 4) might be helpful
  • "Mini video lectures" ("Screencasts") can be found in the Videos page for CH 221 under Chapter 4.
  • The Concept Guide for Chapter 4 and other Chapter 4 handouts might prove useful.
• Due: Problem Set #4 which covers problems from Chapter 4.
  • Use this link to get the Fall 2025 version of problem set #4 and use this link to find the recitation video which you can use to self correct your work before turning in to the instructor.
  • Practice Problem Set #4 might be of help while completing problem set #4; answers are included at the end of the document.
• This Week: Seminar Self Quiz #4 and the (actual) Quiz #4
  • All quizzes (Seminar Self 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.
  • First, take Seminar Self Quiz #4. 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 Self Quiz.
  • After taking the Seminar Self Quiz, you will take the actual Quiz #4. Quiz #4 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.)
  • Sample Quiz #4 (answers at the end) might be useful to help you prepare and study.
• Due: The "Identification of an Unknown Compound" lab.
  • Bring the completed lab with you to recitation
• Start: The Lewis Structures Lab.
  • Bring a printed copy of the Lewis Structures lab with you to class.
  • Here is a video which shows what the lab will be like, offer hints, etc.
• Due: The Rough Draft of your Class Presentation Paper.
  • A "rough draft" for this assignment means at least two typed pages with at least one science peer reviewed abstract and citation; see the FAQ for more information. Also make sure you include the completed Rough Draft cover page.
  • The Rough Draft of your Class Presentation Paper is due in recitation.
  • More information on the Rough Draft Class Presentation paper can be found by using this link.

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