CHEM 201-01
General Chemistry
Syllabus • Fall 2000
Professor Charles H. Clapp
RB 216
cclapp@bucknell.edu
ext. 73137
COURSE
OBJECTIVES The basic principles of chemistry provide fundamental insight into the
macroscopic world of materials and organisms. The purpose of this course is
to acquaint students with these basic principles and to help students learn to
apply these principles broadly and effectively.
COURSE
FORMAT There will be three lectures (MWF, 8:00 a.m.) per week. In addition, each
student has been assigned to one three-hour lab section. There will also be
two recitation sections at time to be arranged. These sections will be used to
discuss problems and answer questions.
TEXTBOOK Brady, Russell and Holum, Chemistry: Matter and Its Changes
LECTURES
AND
READINGS
In reading the textbook you should keep in mind that the primary objective of
the course is to develop a working knowledge of important chemical principles.
These principles will be discussed in class and they will also be presented in
the text, sometimes in a different manner. You will probably understand the
principles more thoroughly if you strive to understand both the explanation
presented in class and that presented in the text.
Both the lectures and the textbook will provide many examples in which
chemical principles are used to solve problems. The examples presented in
lecture will be selected to complement those presented in the text. It is
recommended that you study carefully all of these examples and then test and
extend your understanding by solving problems on your own.
PROBLEMS Since the objective of the course is for students to develop a working
knowledge of chemical principles, there will be heavy emphasis on problem
solving. Problems will be assigned with every lecture, and it is recommended
that you do these problems as soon as possible. These assignments will not
be collected, but you should make a determined effort to solve them, since
most of the questions on quizzes and exams will involve problem solving.
Answers to many of the problems will be placed on reserve in the Bertrand
Library, and the problems will be discussed at Recitation Sections. If you have
difficulty with the problems, you are urged to consult the instructor.
