This is the class notes for an introductory Chem class at Ohio state – for as long as they are up, they may help you review concepts for AP Chem next year!
Intermolecular Forces
May 19, 2009
Finals Review
May 6, 2009OMG WHAT NO!
Oh, but yes. Now is a good time to start thinking about reviewing for finals! I guarantee it will be much more painful if you wait and do it all at once. Trust me on this! It’s not my first rodeo!
In that vein, I happened across this website which is a review for the NY State Regents test in Chem. A little history – NY has state-standardized year-end final exams in most courses or subjects for the “college bound” classes. So this is targeted at that course and test. They do cover some things we don’t and we probably cover some they don’t; nevertheless it seemed like a helpful overview of the major topics in a first-year Chemistry course. You may want to add this site to your list of resources as it might help you study!
Acid/Base Notes
April 28, 2009Whoa, been a long time. In some kind of strange fit I wrote out detailed notes for myself on acid/base – then scanned them and now make them available to you for the low, low price of only cupcakes. They are faint (pencil) but should be half way readable. Also, bear in mind since they were for my use there’s spots where I’ve just made a quick note or skipped over things; nevertheless I think they might be helpful so here you go.
FISHER’S KIDS GO AWAY!!@!~!
Just kidding, you’re welcome to them too. 
Link, I hope: acid-base-notes
Stoich!
January 30, 2009Here’s a copy of the extra stoich practice problems. Not sure I’ll have a chance to scan the key, but you can check them with me Monday if not.
Apologies!
November 19, 2008I’m sorry, I have let Chemblog slide other than adding links to my helpful tools page…by the way, check that out, good general help and some balancing equations help on it! I’ll try and catch up, but I’ll backdate the posts so they match the day we did the work.
The Mole!
November 10, 2008Introduced the concept of the mole, a unit used in chemistry. Like a dozen, it is a word that means a specific number of things. A mole is equal to 6.022 x 1023 basic particles, such as atoms, molecules, ions, or electrons. So a mole of copper metal contains 6.022 x 1023 atoms of copper. A mole of water contains 6.022 x 1023 molecules of water.
The mole is the number of atoms of C-12 that have a mass of exactly 12 grams – the same value for the mass of a single C-12 atom in amu. Since the masses on the periodic table are relative, that means that a mole of an element weighs, in grams, the atomic mass of that element from the periodic table. This is known as the “molar mass” – the mass of one mole. The mass of a mole of a compound can be found by adding the molar masses of the elements that the compound is made of.
So, a mole of hydrogen atoms weighs 1.008 g. A mole of oxygen atoms weighs 16.00 g. A mole of water, which is comprised of 2 H and one O, would weigh 2(1.008) + 16.00 = 18.02 g.
The molar mass of a covalent (molecular) compound is sometimes referred to as the molecular mass or molecular weight. These terms mean the same thing as molar mass – the mass of one mole of the substance.
Extra Credit Mole Project!
Sew a stuffed mole, and get extra credit! This is one of the very few extra credit opportunities you may have this year (like, out of two), so be sure and take advantage! The mole is due on Friday, 11/21.
Naming Test
November 6, 2008Took the naming test today – please be sure and speak to me if you need to schedule a makeup!!
Naming Review and Study Tips
November 4, 2008Test tomorrow!
Be sure and check out the Helpful Tools and Links page (bottom of right column) – there is a link to an overview of naming rules and organic naming rules there which you may find helpful.
Some general tips:
- Make sure you know the rules for each kind of naming (ionic, covalent, acids, organic).
- Be able to identify the kind of compound, so you know which set of rules to apply.
- Just like learning a new language, practice! practice! practice! is the best way to get good at it. Try extra problems at the end of Chapter 3 (odd answers in back of book), or try a friend’s WebAssign if they have different problems than you do.
Organic Compounds
October 31, 2008Last type of naming – organic compounds.
Compounds based on chains of carbons are classified as organic. Usually, the first element in the formula will be carbon, followed by hydrogen and possibly other elements. Compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons and are named using a prefix for the number of carbons in the chain, and a suffix for the type of bonds between the carbons.
