Course: Chemistry 420-001 Applied Physical Sciences 420-001 3 credit hours Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30-10:45 Phillips 0328 https://sakai.unc.edu/portal/site/poly Instructor: Target audience: Professor Scott Warren E-mail: sw@unc.edu Phone: 919-966-0994 Office: Kenan Laboratory A808 (8 th floor, turn left out of elevator) Office hours: Monday 5-6; Wednesday 5:30-6:15 or by appt. This course is intended for undergraduates who are majoring in chemistry or related fields. Course prerequisites: CHEM 261 or 261H; pre- or corequisites: CHEM 262 or 262H, and 262L or 263L. Course description: This course provides an introduction to the chemistry, physics, and analysis of polymers. The course explores the synthesis, structures, and properties of polymers. Learning objectives: 1. To identify common reactions in polymer synthesis and calculate the kinetics of these reactions. 2. To explain how chemical structure influences the structure of polymer chains in solution and the solid state. To predict chain structure using statistical descriptions of chain architecture. 3. To describe the phase transitions of polymers and their mixtures and formulate strategies for modifying phase behavior. 4. To assess spectroscopic tools for analyzing polymer composition and structure and interpret spectra. 5. To examine how polymers are applied to technological problems and propose improved designs. Course requirements: 1. Attend each class and participate in in-class problem solving. 2. Bring a calculator and your textbook to each class, as well as a notebook for taking notes and solving problems. 3. Complete each reading & reading problem set by the date noted on the calendar. 4. As part of an assigned group, make a presentation on a polymer-related technology to the class. 5. Attend all quizzes, tests, and the final exam. 6. Notify Professor Warren if you will be absent at quizzes, tests, and the final exam so that a make-up test can be scheduled. 1
Symbols Reading & reading problems are due. [##] Number of pages in the chapter. Quiz. Date Schedule 1/12 Ch.1 1/14 [28] 1/19 Ch. 2 [34] 1/21 1/26 Ch. 3 [20] 1/28 Ch. 4 [24] 2/2 2/4 Review, Ch. 1-4 2/9 Test, Ch. 1-4 2/11 Ch. 5 [38] 2/16 2/18 Ch. 6 [42] 2/23 read all but D 2/25 3/1 Ch. 7 [52] 3/3 3/8 3/10 Review, Ch. 5-7 3/15 3/17 Spring break 3/22 Test, Ch. 5-7 3/24 Ch. 8 [48] Select tech team 3/29 3/31 4/5 Ch. 9 [32] 4/7 1 page proposal 4/12 Ch.10 [22] 4/14 A,C&E 4/19 Technology 4/21 Presentations 4/26 Review, Ch. 1-10 5/3 Final, Ch. 1-10, Tuesday, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM 2
Grades: 30% Reading problem sets (10 x 3%) 20% Quizzes (8 x 2.5%) 20% Tests (2 x 10% each) 20% Final exam 10% Technology presentation Grades for the class may be scaled up at the instructor s discretion, but guaranteed minimum values for letter grades are listed below. 100% A 90% > B 80% > C 70% > D 60% > F Grades within 3% of the upper / lower cut-off will be awarded a plus / minus. Class components: Office hours (not graded): If you need help, please come to office hours. Scott will also be available for questions after class. Reading (not graded): We will read the Fundamentals of Polymer Science, 2 nd edition, by Painter & Coleman during the semester. Reading each chapter will be exceptionally important to your success in this course. Please take careful notes and identify questions that you have as you read. To help you stay on track with reading, there will be an accompanying reading problem set. Reading problem sets (graded): These are relatively easy problems that will help keep you focused on the important ideas within each chapter. These are due by 9:00 PM on the day before class i.e., either on Monday or Wednesday. These problem sets are submitted through Sakai. The problem sets also allow you to submit questions to Professor Warren that may be addressed during lecture. Lectures (not graded): The lectures will be relatively short, serving to summarize the chapter s contents. The lectures will provide time to address student s questions. In-class problem sets (not graded): A large portion of the time spent in class will focus on solving problems that illustrate important concepts from each chapter. Students will have the opportunity to work individually and in groups. Bring your book and a calculator to each class. Out-of-class problem sets (not graded): Students will have access to additional problems and their solutions, which will provide additional practice for quizzes and tests. Quizzes (graded): A quiz will be given for each chapter. Quizzes will last ~20 minutes and the questions will be similar in style to problem sets. Bring a calculator to all quizzes. 3
Tests (graded): Two tests will be given, summarizing chapters 1-4 and 5-7. Questions will be similar in style to the quizzes. Bring a calculator. Tests are closed-book. Final exam (graded): The final exam will be comprehensive, covering chapters 8-10 (50%) and chapters 1-7 (50%). The final exam will take approximately three hours, starting at 8:00 AM on Friday, May 1. Bring a calculator. The final is closed-book. Technology presentation (graded): In groups of 4, students will give a 15 minute presentation to the class on a technology in which polymers are used. The presentation will have four parts: (1) A general description of the technology and its importance, (2) Identifying the polymer(s) that are used for the application and their general characteristics, (3) Identifying a problem that needs to be solved, and (4) Proposing a new polymer or polymer(s) that might better fulfill the needs of that technology. The groups will be selected following the second exam and groups will prepare for the presentation by submitting a written proposal. Course Resources: Students are encouraged to make use of office hours. In addition, appointments can be made directly with Professor Warren. Professor Warren will be available after class for ~15 minutes to answer questions. Practice problems and their solutions will be made available to students. Numerous introductory books are available in the library that provide alternate descriptions of the phenomena described in this course. The following book is available online: Principles of Polymer Chemistry. http://goo.gl/q52ynp Many additional books on more specialized topics can be found in the library catalog using a search for polymers or polymer chemistry. Course policies: 1. Be familiar with the UNC honor code: http://studentconduct.unc.edu 2. Working with other students: All un-graded work may be performed with other students. This includes in-class and out-of-class practice problems. Of the five types of graded work, listed above, only the technology presentation may be done with others. 3. Late work: Reading problem sets lose 20% for each day late. If you cannot attend a quiz, test, or exam, please let Professor Warren know as soon as possible. A make-up exam will be scheduled. 4. Class attendance: Attendance at all classes is expected. Because quizzes are given regularly, irregular attendance will result in poor class performance. 4
5. Final exam: The final exam will be at 8:00 AM on May 3. The course final exam is given in compliance with UNC final exam regulations and according to the UNC final exam calendar. 6. Please be respectful of Professor Warren and your fellow students. Please help maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. Cell phone use is not permitted in class or during exams. Honor Code: Academic integrity is at the heart of Carolina and we all are responsible for upholding the ideals of honor and integrity. The student-led Honor System is responsible for adjudicating any suspected violations of the Honor Code and all suspected instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the honor system. Your full participation and observance of the Honor Code is expected. All work that you submit must be your own, including the reading problem sets, quizzes, tests, and final exam. The technology presentation is the only graded assignments where students may work with each other. Students are welcome to work with each other on ungraded in-class and out-of-class problems. Syllabus changes: Professor Warren reserves to right to make changes to the syllabus, including project due dates and test dates, when unforeseen circumstances occur. These changes will be announced as early as possible so that students can adjust their schedules. 5