General Chemistry Spring 2009

In today's class we continued our discussion of Chemical Kinetics. We looked at video to see examples of how concentration, temperature and a catalyst affect the rate of a reaction. We then defined speed of a chemical reaction and looked at a plot of concentration versus time to see how to calculate the initial rate of a reaction. We then determined the order of a reaction and introduced the rate law for a reaction.

In today's class we finished our discussion of oxidation and reduction reactions. We discussed the electrolytic cells and nonspontaneous reactions. We looked at nonspontaneous reactions and what the products of electrolyzing molten liquid salts and electrolyzing aqueous salts. Near the end of class we began a discussion of Chemical Kinetics by looking at a chemical reaction at the particulate level and introducing the idea of a mechanism for a chemical reaction.

In today's class we continued our discussion of oxidation and reduction reactions. We discussed the standard reduction potential table and we did several different types of problems using the SRP table. We also discussed free energy and equilibrium constants and their relationship with the standard cell potential.

In today's class we continued our discussion of oxidation and reduction reactions. We discussed how to build an electrochemical cell containing an anode compartment and a cathode compartment. We used Dr. Greenbowe's simulations to construct the cell and measure the voltage of the cell. We discussed the standard hydrogen electrode and its importance.

In today's class we began a discussion of oxidation and reduction reactions. We looked at a set of reactions to look for patterns. Based on the patterns in the reactions we discuss an early definition of oxidation and reduction, gain (oxidation) of oxygen atoms and loss (reduction) of oxygen atoms. Next we discussed oxidation-reduction in terms of electron loss and gain. We introduced half-reactions, and oxidizing and reducing agents. Then we looked a balancing oxidation-reduction reactions. We discussed balancing in acidic solutions and basic solutions.

In today's class we continued discussing buffers and how to look at a buffer as a common ion system. Now we looked at buffers and how they resist change in pH by reacting with any strong acid or strong base that is added. We did several calculations involving adding strong acid and strong base to a buffer.

In today's class we reviewed acid-base titration curves within the context of the different types of acid-base systems that occurred at important point on the titration curve. We next discussed an example of a weak acid strong base titration by calculating the pH of the solution at several key points on the titration curve. Following that discussion we started discussing buffers and how to look at a buffer as a common ion system, and we discussed how an acid and a base would react with a buffer.

In today's class we reviewed the different types of solutions that we have discussed. We next did a common ion calculation. Then we discussed neutralization reactions and how to calculate the equilibrium constant. Neutralization reactions have large equilibrium constants so they alway go to completion. Now we are ready to tackle titration problems. We discussed the titration of a strong acid and a strong base. We did several type of calculation.

In today's class we discussed salts and how they can effect the pH of a solution. We started by looking at neutralization reactions to form salts. We did this as a way to classify salts. We then discussed the acid, base or neutral character of salts. For acidic and basic salts we determined how to calculate the equilibrium constant, and we did two sample calculations. Near the end of class we did an example of a common ion problem.

In today's class we discussed the calculating the pH of a strong acid, a strong base, a weak acid and a weak base. We also looked a a weak diprotic acid to see how to calculate the pH of the solution.