Assessment Outcomes Data Report
CHEM 3060
– FALL 2006
Instructor: Alexander
I. Boldyrev
Course Description:
Chemical thermodynamics, Changes of state. Chemical equilibrium. Chemical
kinetics
Enrollment: 11
Assessment method:
gain-score exam
Outcomes Data:
Physical Chemistry 3060
Gain-Score Exam
Fall, 2006
Answer all questions on the
scantron sheet. The exam is anonymous so please do not make any
identifying marks on the scantron. Test was performed in class
on September 6 and on December 6.
1. The ideal gas law
a) Is an example of an equation of state
b) Describes how gases behave under arbitrary conditions
c) Can be derived from the kinetic-molecular theory
d) All of the above
2. Which is NOT true of heat
a) It is a state function
b) It can be converted into work
c) It is related to the average kinetic energy of particles
d) It can be made to flow from
cold to hot if, e. g., work is done
3. Which of the following is a state function – the first law states that E = q + w
a) E
b) q
c) w
d) All are
4. Which has the highest absolute entropy?
a) H
b) He
c) Cl2
d) Need more information
5. Imagine that a process may proceed along two different paths. Consider the entropy changes of the system and surroundings. Which of the following is the best answer? That is, it is (i) not only true in general but is also (ii) the most precise and accurate statement?
a) The entropy change of the system plus that of the surroundings will be the same for both paths
b) The entropy change of the system plus that of the surroundings will be different for both paths
c) The entropy change of the system will be the same along both paths but that of the surroundings will be different
d) The total entropy change
and the entropy changes of the system and surroundings will all depend
on the particular paths chosen
6. If you were asked to explain to a non-scientist that each of the following quantities actually “is”, as opposed to how it is defined, which would you pick as being the easiest to explain?
a) Energy
b) Entropy
c) Gibbs free energy
d) Enthalpy
7. In general, in a spontaneous process a system tries to
a) Minimize its energy
b) Maximize its entropy
c) Minimize its Gibbs free energy
d) All of the above
8. In general, a spontaneous process is one of which
a) Happens immediately without any external intervention
b) Has zero activation barrier
c) Is exothermic
d) None of the above
9. On the phase diagram of a pure substance the triple point is the only point at which all three phases (solid, liquid and vapor) can co-exist in equilibrium. For pure water it occurs at 173.16 K and 0.00603 atm. Imagine that you have pure water in closed container that also contains air. The temperature is at the freezing point, 273.15 K, and the total pressure is 1 atm. What phases are present in equilibrium?
a) Solid only
b) Liquid only
c) Solid + liquid
d) Solid + liquid + vapor
10. Imagine you have a solution of a sodium chloride in water. Which of the following phase can NOT co-exist on a temperature-composition phase diagram? Here NaCl means solid NaCl either in dry form or as a hydrated crystal.
a) ice + liquid solution
b) Ice + solid NaCl
c) Ice + pure water + solid NaCl
d) Liquid solution + NaCl
11. The eutectic point is
a) The point on a phase diagram at which the liquid-gas phase boundary disappears
b) The point at which a non-spontaneous process become spontaneous as a function of temperature
c) The point on a two-component (e. g., Si-Au) temperature-composition diagram with the lowest melting point
d) The point on a phase diagram
at which the solid-liquid phase boundary disappears
12. Which of the following is not an equilibrium constant itself or is NOT directly related to an equilibrium constant?
a) Solubility product
b) Gibbs free energy
c) Standard reduction potential
d) None are
13. In the half-reaction defining the standard reduction potential involving fluorine gas and fluoride ion, which, if any, is true about the half-reaction as written?
a) one electron is involved
b) The standard reduction potential is negative
c) Fluoride is being oxidized
d) None are true
14. The rate law for the reaction aA + bB -> cC + dD is
a) k[A]a{B]b
b) k[C]c[D]d
c) k[A]a[B]b/[C]c[D]d
d) Cannot tell
15. In the Arrhenius equitation which part accounts (approximately) for the effect of the shape of a reactant molecule on the rate constant?
a) Activation energy term
b) Frequency factor term
c) Activation energy and frequency factor term
d) None do – transition state theory is needed
Q# beginning end
Kinetic Theory of Gases
1 7 6
Thermodynamics
2 5 6
3 2 9
4 5 8
5 2 4
6 6 3
7 8 8
8 3 7
Phases and Solutions
9 1 3
10 4 9
11 2 8
12 6 4
Chemical kinetics
13 2 3
14 3 7
15 2 4
MEAN SCORES
58 89
Summary:
A gain score exam was written which consisted of 15 multiple choice
questions. The exam was administered in both the first and last
weeks of the course, and the results were compared. Questions
were identified with specific topics, so that the amount of material
gain could be elucidated for each topic.
Overall,
the mean score increased from 38.7% at the begging of the course to
59.3% at the end of the course, the increase is of about 20 points.
Topics, which showed the largest net gain from the beginning to the
end are thermodynamics and phases and solutions. The areas showing
less of the net gain were kinetic theory of gases and chemical kinetics.
Students performed well on kinetic theory of gases at the beginning
of the course, which shows that the problem 1 was based on general chemistry
rather than physical chemistry. The appropriate correction will be done
for the future assessment test. Coverage of the chemical kinetic will
be modified the next time this course is taught. More time will
be spent on this topic, and there will be more quizzes and homeworks
devoted to this area.
The standard teaching evaluation forms provided another means of assessment. The 10 respondents rated the overall quality of the course at 5.0 and the instructor effectiveness at 5.1. Students prized quizzes on every lecture, readiness of the instructor to help students outside of the class as well as instructor enthusiasm. There was a lower score associated with the choice of textbook. Written comments from students reinforced a certain level of dissatisfaction with the textbook, so some consideration will be given to changing this textbook as well as the use of the CD-ROM associated with the textbook.