Please look over the following frequently asked questions. If there is a question not answered, please contact Dr. Mitchell Bruce, General Chemistry Coordinator at mbruce@maine.edu

Laboratory and classes, start of the term:

I already have an ICN code/account and/or a notebook from another semester, do I have to purchase a new ICN access code and notebook?

Yes. ICN access is granted on a per course/semester basis. In general, if you register for the lab course, you need to obtain a new ICN code and a notebook. An exception is if you took an incomplete in lab and will be completing the lab course in the next semester. See Robert Kirk, laboratory manager (229 Aubert Hall)

When do general chemistry labs start?

The General Chemistry lab courses (CHY 123 and 124) start the first week of classes. During the first week, you will attend a mandatory safety training and lab orientation session scheduled at the time of your lab session.

Are there recitations during the first week of classes?

Often yes. Please check with your instructor .

I get an error when trying to activate my ICN account, what do I do?

If you are having issues with your ICN barcode, please contact robert.kirk@umit.maine.edu

Learning styles and advice about doing well in general chemistry:

I seem to learn differently than other people. Can I learn more about this?

Yes, people have different learning styles. You can get feedback on your learning style by taking a simple learning styles quiz. The quiz is found on various sites on the internet. Here is a site that was active on September 15, 2011: Learning Styles.

How can I get off to a great start in chemistry?

Attend class, keep up with assignments, and find other students you can ask questions and study with. If Peer Led Teaming Learning is offered, participate. If electronic homework is used, use it to strengthen your understanding of course materials. If you have questions about class or lab, contact your instructors.

Retaking, changing, or dropping class or lab:  

I am retaking the class. Do I need to retake the lab?

Students who have taken the general chemistry laboratory in the last four years and have gotten a grade of C or better do not need to retake the lab if they retake the class.

I plan on dropping class, can I stay in lab?

No, for safety reasons we do not allow students who withdraw from class to continue in lab. However, we can offer to facilitate your completion of the lab when you retake the general chemistry class. If you have received six or more lab grades of at least 90% (54 out of 60 on a 60 point lab report scale) you can request to be excused from these experiments when you take the course again. We will need to see all your graded lab reports and your lab notebook. Contact the lab manager, Robert Kirk, at the beginning of the semester you retake the class and lab, and he will be able to help you.

I want to change my lab section, what do I do?

It’s possible to change your lab section, since we offer a number of lab sections throughout the week. However, movement between sections depends on available space. Start by visiting the chemistry main office (154 Aubert Hall) and asking a secretary if there are any openings in the section you’d like to move to. Robert Kirk, the laboratory manager (229 Aubert Hall), can also sometimes help in changing sections, but only after you’ve first checked with the chemistry main office.

Laboratory safety:

Can I wear contact lenses in lab?

No, because it is not safe. In lab, there can be very low concentrations of chemical gases that normally are drawn out of the room by fans. At these low concentrations, the gases are safe. However, if you wear contact lenses, since they are (usually) gas permeable, the moist interface between the contact lens and your eye can become an area that concentrates the chemicals – leading to an unsafe condition. There are additional reasons. For example, even though you wear protective goggles – there is always a chance that you may not wear the protective goggles and that a chemical solvent can get into your eyes. Wearing contact lenses if this happens can complicate washing out your eyes. Even if you do wear the protective goggles there is also a very small chance that a chemical solvent can get into your eyes. Hard contact lenses also have safety issues. Thus, our rule is based on safety considerations. Please wear your glasses in lab – it is really for your protection.

Where can I find out additional information about lab safety?

Visit the General Chemistry Website at http://umaine.edu/general-chemistry/ and follow the link to Policies. You will find there a link to a pdf file that has additional information concerning safety.

Laboratory, general questions:

What do I do if I need to leave early or arrive late for a lab? Can I just get data from my lab partner to finish my lab?

No. You are expected to complete the lab experiments yourself and be there the entire time. Even if you are asked to pair up and be part of a group, you are required to participate during the entire lab. Many times in lab, things don’t go as planned or are not as straight forward as you first thought. As a rule of thumb, if you miss more than 15 min. of lab, you should plan to make up the lab at another time. See the FAQ concerning making up a lab.

I missed or will miss a lab. How can I make it up?

The procedure for making up a lab involves:

a. Contacting the TA of another section to ask if there is room for you to Makeup an Experiment. At the beginning of the semester, the most up to date list of Lab Sections and TAs is best found on the wall near Bob Kirk’s office (229 Aubert Hall). A few weeks into the semester, you may try this link: Lab Instructor Schedule

b. Preparing fully for the lab

c. Showing up at the start of another lab period

You can discuss your request with Bob Kirk, the Laboratory Manager, who may be able to facilitate finding an open place for you to do the lab.

1. Please plan to make up the lab the week of the missed lab experiment or the next week at the latest. After Graded Lab reports have begun being handed back you may not be able to Makeup the lab.

2. Please complete all pre-lab assignments for the lab. 3. At the beginning of the lab period identify yourself to the TA.

4. You are responsible for getting the TA’s Signature on you Pre-Lab assignment and you Lab Notes for the Experiment.

5. You will need to attach the yellow copies of these to your lab report that is due to your TA.

Can I always make-up a lab?

No. (a) Due to the large number of students enrolled in lab classes, a request to make up a lab during any given lab period is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the Lab Manager and the lab instructor with whom you will make up your missed lab. (b) If you attempt to make up a lab two or more weeks after it has been given, you need to initiate a discussion with Bob Kirk well in advance of the lab period you will make up the lab. This is because you may have to help prep the lab (make up solutions or find equipment).

Laboratory: on InterChemNet links:

I’m having trouble viewing the film clips. What should I do?

This could be due to a broken link or your security settings on your computer may be set too high. If you are using Windows XP, before reporting a possible broken link, first try the following: go to Control Panel, SecurityCenter, Internet Options, Security, Default Levels, move the slider from High to Medium. Then try the Movie.