Welcome to Chem 1001Chemical Fundamentals

Professor Paul Russo242 Choppin Hallchruss@LSU.edu

578-5729http://macro.lsu.edu/russo

Course Objectives• Exemplify rational thought processes. • Emphasize the importance of truth. • Provide a sound intro to chemistry for those who

never had it or forgot everything. Some will eventually choose science or technology majors.

• Chemistry for non-science & non-technical majors—enough to appreciate what science/tech people do, vote intelligently, etc.

• Mental exercise, new ways of approaching a problem.

• More practice at judging good vs. bad things.• Recognize & cherish excellence, beauty and quality.

What is science?A way of thinking that is based in

observation, experimentation, and reason.

Mechanics use scientific reasoning all the time.

An interesting read, no matter what your political

perspective.

Where does Chemistry fit in?

Your text offers another view; everyone is entitled to their own!

Biomedical Materials

Science, Medicine & Engineering

Chemistry & a bunch of other aging, traditional departments, such as:Biology, Physics, Computer, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering.

Earth

Geology, Civil Engineering, Ag. Engineering, Forestry, etc.

Interdisciplinary Links

Must there be Chemistry education & research? Yes.Must there be Chemistry Departments? Hmmm….

The Sunday Times - Britain December 05, 2004

Universities hit by new science crisisGeraldine Hackett, Education Correspondent THE crisis over science in Britain’s universities deepened this weekend when it emerged that almost a third of physics departments face closure because of student shortages and funding cuts. Only days after Gordon Brown unveiled his plan to boost the country’s “scientific genius”, academics said 16 of its 50 physics departments were at risk. It follows warnings that, by 2010, there could be just six chemistry departments left from the present 40. Last week Newcastle became the first from the Russell group of universities to announce that it is axing its pure physics courses. Newcastle was named in Brown’s pre-budget report last week as one of Britain’s future “science cities”. The move follows the closure of 18 physics departments— more than 30% of the total— since 1997 and adds to the growing crisis in physical sciences. Twenty-eight chemistry departments have closed in the past nine years.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1389501,00.html

Louisiana: 25% of USA’s chemical output…but very little of the profit.

LSU Department of Chemistry

•Member of the Dirty Dozen •Ranked #1 in any subject, all-LSU, all-state by the

National Academy of Sciences•National ranking: 66th (out of ~220)•Ranked 33rd in chemistry research funding

(similar schools: Notre Dame, U. Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins)

•Widely known for teaching initiatives. •Most Chem Majors do research; I have

certainly seen them have betteropportunities than students at, say, Duke University.

Chemistry = “Fairly Small Stuff”

Stop here: Day 1

Chemistry is the study of “Fairly Small Stuff”

Kinds of Chemistry•Analytical: very quantitative. What chemicals and how much. •Inorganic: elements > 21 on the Periodic Table. Synthesis

and characterization. Theory of bonding, crystals, metals, etc.

•Macromolecular: Large molecules. Can be biological or synthetic,

physical or analytical. My kind of chemistry! •Materials. Can include macromolecules, but also

ceramics, films, optical devices, plastic wire, etc. •Organic: chemistry of Carbon. Mostly synthesis. •Physical: Asks why? Experiments and theory. •Zillions of others:  pharmaceutical, geo, agro, environmental. •And don’t forget Chemical Engineering….ooops…

Chemical and Biological Engineering.

Chemists do OKStarting B.S. Salary: $32,000 average

(this is $20,000 less than Chemical Engineers)

Paid to attend graduate school: $18,000 - $30,000

Starting Ph.D. in industry: $60,000 - $85,000

Nobel prize-winner in university: $30,000per month!

Longer-than-average lifespan.Traditionally low stress compared to many other careers.Now we all get to learn Chinese, too!

Let’s explore these websites today.

http://www.acs.orghttp://www.acs.org

http://chemistry.LSU.eduhttp://chemistry.LSU.edu

http://macro.lsu.edu/saacshttp://macro.lsu.edu/saacs

http://macro.lsu.edu/russo/Courses/1001Web/index.htmhttp://macro.lsu.edu/russo/Courses/1001Web/index.htm

Course website!

About you!Largest groups by major:

Theater (11)Ag. Business = Business (8)Accounting (6)Finance (5)

HobbiesSports (19)Dance (7)Reading (4)Drawing, Acting (2)Travel, Sleeping, Movie, Cooking (1)

We are still working on making you into groups!

Today’s Announcements

Free help: 113 E. B. Doran

Paid tutors: list outside Choppin 109Center for Academic Success B-31

Coates HallForward your PAWS e-mail!

Daily Examination, most frequent things you wish you

understood better.Why is Louisiana so big in Chemicals?What chemicals? How does this benefit

LA?What will be on those quizzes?Answers to that first “freebie” quiz.

Assorted amusing and interesting comments.

“Water is H2O.”Adam Sandler as The Water Boy

•Though not the sharpest knife in the drawer, Bobby Boucher knew that water was H2O.•That means two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. •Any guesses how long humans have known this? •How do we know?

•Hey, what are atoms? •How do we know? •How long have we known about them?

Trivia: Who did Bobby date?

A note about nomenclature (Names)

•H2O = water = two atoms of hydrogen per atom of oxygen.•Better name: hydrogen oxide (or dihydrogen oxide) •That name DOES NOT say that these atoms are really

joined in a molecule! (However, these two usually are).

•MgCl2 = magnesium chloride, which is NOT a molecule but a compound.

•Confusing, eh? We’ll explain eventually. •There are lots of rules for chemical names, but let

experience be your teacher. •Some chemists, like me, are not very fussy about names.

  http://www.ndc.edu/sutheimer/dihydrogen%20oxide.htm

             

This page is only for people who wish to ban dihydrogenoxide because of its toxic properties

•Causes excessive sweating and vomiting •A major component of acid rain •Can cause severe burns in the gaseous state •Accidental inhalation can kill you •Primary contributor to erosion •Decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes •Has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients •May dissolve metal ions especially in the presence of road salt

What’s in a name?

Leuven, Belgium

A bad thing: we will now open up your cranium & pour in some information. It would be much better for you to figure it out yourself.