Syllabus
Table of contents
Course Description
In Physical Chemistry 322, we will discuss the physical basis that underlies chemical reactivity. This includes both the extent to which reactions go to completion (Thermodynamics) and the speed at which they do so (Kinetics). The other main topic of the course, Statistical Mechanics, will demonstrate that macroscopic, thermodynamic properties result from the underlying microscopic properties of the atomic nature of matter.
Prerequisites: Chem 190, Math 116, and one of Physics 105, 195, or 205
Recommended: Chem 321
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand. Paul Ehrenfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933. Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics. Perhaps it will be wise to approach the subject cautiously.
David L. Goldstein, States of Matter
Course Structure
In a traditional college course, you attend lecture to listen to the professor talk about the material for an hour, and work on problem–solving on your own outside of class time. The thing is, problem solving is often the more challenging part of the learning process, and this leaves you to do the harder part on your own. A more effective use of time would be for you to engage with the lecture material before class, so that together we can spend class time working on problem–solving.
In this course, we will be flipping the classroom. The course content will be delivered through videos and notes outside of class, and in–class time will focus on applying concepts and solving problems collaboratively.
Grading Scheme
There are two possible grading schemes for the course, the higher of the two will be used for your grade. Regardless of which grading scheme is used, you must have a passing exam average (60%) in order to pass the class.
Scheme 1: Exam + HW + Quiz
| Assessment | Percentage % |
|---|---|
| Pre-Class Quizzes | 10 % |
| Homework | 15 % |
| 4 Exams | 75 % |
| Total | 100 % |
Scheme 2: Exam Only
| Assessment | Percentage % |
|---|---|
| 4 Exams | 100 % |
| Total | 100 % |
Pre-Class Quizzes
Before each class, you should watch the lecture recording posted on Blackboard. Questions about the lecture material should be posted to the discussion board. There will be a short 2 question quiz about the lecture material, due when class begins at 9 am.
There are 40 total pre-class lectures and quizzes, each worth 2 points. At the end of the semester, the lowest 8 grades will be dropped. There is no making up pre-class quizzes.
Homework
Each activity worksheet will include an extra problem for you to work on outside of class. You are welcome to work with other students on these problems, but you may not directly copy another student’s solution. Homework assignments are collected weekly, submitted to Gradescope by Friday by 9am. Each problem is graded out of 3 points, 1 point for effort and a reasonable attempt at solving, 2 points for correctness.
The primary purpose of homework is to help you learn the course material. Graded homework is returned by Monday, and if you did not earn full credit you may revise your work using the answer key and asking for help in office hours. Corrections are due the following Friday by 9am, also submitted to Gradescope. However, only on time homework with a reasonable effort is eligible for corrections.
Late homework is accepted up to 6 days past the deadline, with a penalty of 1 point per day, after which no late submissions are allowed. Late submissions are still be graded (after the late penalty is applied), but they are not eligible for corrections. To ensure fairness for all students, I cannot provide assistance on assignments past their deadline.
Exams
| Exam | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Exam 1 | Thursday, February 20th @ 6–10 pm |
| Exam 2 | Thursday, March 13th @ 6–10 pm |
| Exam 3 | Thursday, April 24th @ 6–10 pm |
| Exam 4 | Sunday, May 17th @ 9 am–1 pm |
Note: You must have a passing exam average in order to pass the class.
Allowed Materials
All exams are open note, you may bring to bring a 2 page (front and back) “cheat sheet”. This can consist of your own notes, copies of my notes, your homework/activity worksheets, answer keys posted to Blackboard and textbook excerpts.
The “cheat sheet” must be a physical, printed or handwritten, document. It will be collected at the end of the exam and returned once exams are graded. Unauthorized material on the “cheat sheet” is considered an academic integrity violation.
You may also bring a scientific or graphing calculator to the exam. All other electronic devices, including smartphones, smartwatches and smart glasses are prohibited. Possession of electronics during the exam is considered an academic integrity violation.
You are required to present your physical Hamilton College ID at the exam. Students without their ID will be told to return when they have their ID.
Exam Conflicts
All exam conflicts must be reported by the Jan 28, 5pm by filling out the exam conflict form. If you do not report a conflict, you are expected to take the exam at the scheduled time. Conflicts may require documentation to be submitted. For approved conflicts, alternative exam times will generally be scheduled within 24 hours of the original exam time.
If the conflict is conditional (for example qualifying for an athletic competition or pending conference acceptance), you are still required to submit an exam conflict form. You must also provide a date by which you will know whether the conflict is confirmed or not.
Typically Approved Conflicts
- Another exam at same time
- College approved event or travel (athletic competition, academic conferences etc)
- Mandatory practice for athletics, choir or orchestra
Not Approved
- Personal travel
- Work shift
- Club sports / club events
- Optional team events or practice
If you experience a last minute emergency, for example illness or family emergency, that prevents you from taking the test on that day, you are required to notify me by noon of the exam day. Makeup exams for emergencies are given at my discretion and require documentation. Makeup exams may also be different than the original exam.
Course Policies
Academic Fairness
To ensure fairness for all students, all course policies must be applied consistently. Requests for individual exceptions, such as extra credit, grade changes based on effort, retroactive extensions after deadlines or extensions due to stress, will not be granted.
That being said, I understand that unforeseen circumstances can occur. In cases of emergency, such as serious illness, personal injury, urgent family matters etc, please contact me as soon as possible and appropriate accommodations can be made at my discretion.
Academic Integrity and Honor Code
If I suspect a possible violation of the Honor Code, I am required to report it to the Chair of the Honor Court and the Associate Dean of Students for Academics. The full rules are laid out in the Honor Code.
The Honor Code applies to all assignments submitted for a grade, including pre-class quizzes, homework assignments, and exams. You are absolutely encouraged to discuss concepts and problem solving strategies with other students, learning from each other is part of this course! Just make sure that whatever you turn in is your own work and reflects your own understanding. As such, copying another student’s work or the textbook answer key is considered a violation of the Honor Code.
If the Honor Court determines the Honor Code is violated, the penalty depends on the type of assignment. For homework, a first violation will result in a score of 0 on that assignment and a full letter grade deduction from the overall course grade, a second violation an automatic failure of the course. For exams, any violation will result in automatic failure of the course.
Use of AI Tools
With the rise of Generative AI usage in higher education, it is important to establish what AI can and cannot be used. You are in college to learn material about a subject. AI can be used to support you in learning, but it should not be a substitute for your own thinking on assignments you turn in for a grade.
Allowed Uses of AI • Quizzing Yourself: You may use AI to help quiz yourself on topics you are studying. For example: “Make me some practice problems about the partition function” • Concept Explanations: AI can be used to explain concepts you do not understand. For example, if you don’t understand a derivation in the lecture or the solution for an activity, you can ask AI to help you understand.
AI is fantastic at reviewing material, having AI generate problems is a way to get more practice in. An acceptable way of using AI is to ask AI to help explain a topic. However, AI can get things wildly incorrect, so be cautious when doing this. This is why AI is better as a tool for review than a tool for learning.
Prohibited Uses of AI • Completing Pre-Class Quizzes: The quizzes are used to assess your understanding of the lecture content, so AI is prohibited • Completing Homework Assignments: The assignments are designed for you to practice the problem solving we learned in class
Anything submitted for a grade should reflect your own understanding. While AI can be used for review and studying, using AI on an assignment is considered a violation of the Honor Code.
File Submission Requirements
You are responsible for ensuring files are uploaded properly to Gradescope, in the correct format and legible. Pages should be properly assigned to the homework problems on Gradescope. Technology problems are not a valid reason for missing or late work, and I cannot regrade an assignment that was submitted incorrectly.
Grade Dispute Policy
If you believe something has not been graded correctly you may request a regrade. To request a regrade, you must wait 24 hours after the grades are released. Then send me an email explaining what you are requesting a regrade for, an explanation for how your work satisfies the rubric, and the number of points you believe you should have earned on the problem.
A regrade means the entire assignment will be regraded, not just the problem in question. Your overall score may increase, decrease, or remain the same. Regrades close one week after grades are released and all grades after that point are considered final.
Communication Expectations
I typically respond to email time within 24 hours during normal working hours, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm. If you email me over the weekend, do not expect to receive a response before end of day Monday. If you email me for help or to request a meeting with less than 24 hours notice, I likely will not respond in time, so plan accordingly.
You are expected to check your Hamilton email and Blackboard at least once daily Monday through Friday to stay up to date on course announcements, assignment updates and other information.
Emailing about a missed class is not necessary, as attendance is optional. If you email me about an absence, you likely won’t get a response unless you ask a question.
Office Hours and Appointment Policy
During regularly scheduled office hours, you can drop by to ask for help on homework or just to chat about life. You do not need an appointment, though if someone did make an appointment at the same time you drop by, they will be prioritized.
Appointments require a one hour lead time. If you schedule an appointment, either during office hours or outside of office hours, please be on time and keep your appointment. Missing an appointment may affect future scheduling, as it limits my availability to other students seeking help.
Attendance Policy
Attendance is not required for this class, all of the course material is available via Blackboard. However, students who frequently miss class are expected to review material on their own. Office hours are not a substitute for attending lecture.
Syllabus Changes
I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus as necessary. Students will be notified of any changes in class and via Blackboard.
Accessibility and Accommodations
Hamilton College will make reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities. If you are eligible to receive an accommodation(s) and would like to make a formal request for this course, please discuss it with me within the first weeks of the course. You will need to provide Allen Harrison, Assistant Dean for Accessibility Resources (aharriso@hamilton.edu) with appropriate documentation.