Dec 24, 2005

Final exams can be picked up from Young Hall 3104 from 1-3 pm each afternoon starting sometime in Winter quarter, bring ID. Any problems with grades and/or finals should now be addressed to Cari or Heather, the senior TAs from the class.

Dec 16, 2005

Grades have been posted in Gradebook, you should be able to check them, finals with stamps will be mailed Monday - and the rest of you should check this website from time to time to see where you can pick up your final exam. Have a great holiday season and good luck in Chem 30B and beyond - Stuart

Dec 16, 2005

GRADING BREAKDOWN
 
- Overall class mean was 250/500
 
- Grade cut-offs:
 
511-450 A+ / 449-400 A / 399-360 A-
359-330 B+ / 329-295 B / 294-250 B-
249-210 C+ / 209-180 C / 179-140 C-
139-120 D+ / 119-100 D / None given D-
99-0 F
 
- Grade distribution: As 26%, Bs 27%, Cs 33%, D and F 14%
- Automatic A cut-off was kept at 160/200 - the mean was too high to lower the cut-off like previous quarters - sorry
- Improvement by 15% or greater on the final bumped up your grade one level
- Improvement by 10% or greater on the final bumped up your grade one level if you beat the mean
- The high score (219/200, which two people got) on the final was awarded an automatic A+

Dec 14, 2005

Grading is underway, should be done by Friday, blank final and KEY are posted! Happy Holidays!

Dec 10, 2005

There will be extended office hours before the final exam: Sunday 11 December 2-5 pm in CS24 and Tuesday 13 December 4-5:30 pm in CS76

Dec 10, 2005

Ryan will have his regularly scheduled office hours at 9 am on Tuesday. Cari and Kaushik will also have their normal office hours on Monday as well, in the usual place.

Dec 9, 2005

The class photo is here!

Dec 9, 2005

Heather will have extra office hours on Tuesday from 1-3 pm in Young Hall 4085F

Dec 9, 2005

If you want your final exam mailed back to you, bring THREE FIRST CLASS STAMPS with you to the final

Dec 9, 2005

Lecture 25 Assignments: STUDY FOR THE FINAL EXAM!!!

Dec 7, 2005

The average on the quiz was 27/30, the high score was 35... and don't think you can get away with cheating, you can't...

Dec 5, 2005

GRADING POLICY for the FINAL:
- Graded out of 200 points, but with bonus questions there will be 230 points available
- Score 160 or higher and that's an automatic A regardless of what you've scored up to that point
- Improve your performance by 15% or more on the FINAL relative to your pre-final percentage score, and the grade you get will be boosted to the next highest one, i.e., a B- goes to a B, a B goes to a B+ etc... (not applicable for A to A+)
- If you improve your performance by 10% on the FINAL relative to your pre-final percentage score AND beat the FINAL MEAN, you get the same deal as for the 15%ers
- NOTE: your current percentage is based ONLY on exams you have taken, if you missed a quiz or a midterm, for the purposes of working out your current pre-final percentage, that doesn't count as a zero, I just don't figure it into the equation, i.e., I'm not rewarding people for missing quizzes and midterms

Dec 5, 2005

Wednesday's lecture will comprise Quiz 3 and Evaluations, and there will be a regular class on Friday

Dec 5, 2005

Lecture 24 Assignments: Reading Ch 8 Problems 8.2-8.4, 8.9-8.28

Dec 2, 2005

DOs and DON'Ts for the FINAL:
- Model kits are allowed, but must be unassembled when brought into the room
- Do not write in RED pen - that's just stupid
- Calculators are NOT allowed
- There are NO REGRADES of the FINAL
- Bring some form of PHOTO ID with you, ALL IDs WILL BE CHECKED

Dec 2, 2005

The FINAL examination for this class is on Wednesday December 14th from 11:30 am-2:30 pm in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom

Dec 2, 2005

There will be extended office hours before the final exam: Sunday 11 December 2-5 pm in CS24 and Tuesday 13 December 4-5:30 pm in CS76

Dec 2, 2005

Lecture 23 Assignments: Reading Review Ch 9 Problems 9.43-9.47 not 9.47g,h

Nov 30, 2005

202 students took the pop quiz today, the average was 12/25...

Nov 30, 2005

Lecture 22 Assignments: Reading 9.5-9.11 Problems 9.37-9.42

Nov 29, 2005

Midterm 2 is graded, the mean was 31/100 - that's bad. You should all do it again for homework. Note: the low score was 0/100 and the high score was 102/100. The best improvement over midterm 1 was +51 points, the biggest drop was -73 points!

Nov 29, 2005

Sorry for the delay, but the notes for Monday's lecture are now posted...

Nov 29, 2005

I made a mistake in Monday's lecture when talking about solvent effects and whether they stabilise the ground state or the transition state - I got the graphs backwards, the one with a single hump is for the SN2 reaction, and the one with an intermediate is for the SN1 reaction - sorry!

Nov 29, 2005

Lecture 21 Assignments: Reading 9.1-9.8 Problems 9.1-9.36

Nov 23, 2005

Just a few quick notes from across the ocean... 1. There is no class on Friday November 25th. 2. The midterms will not be graded until Monday November 28th.

Nov 18, 2005

Lecture 20 Assignments: Same as Lec 19, and there's a midterm you may want to study for...

Nov 16, 2005

Make sure you go to the correct room for the midterm: room assignments are based on the first letter of your last name: A-J in CS76, K-Z in CS50

Nov 16, 2005

DOs and DON'Ts for the midterm:
- Model kits are allowed, but must be unassembled when brought into the room
- Do not write in RED pen - that's just stupid
- Calculators are NOT allowed
- Scripts written in pencil WILL NOT be re-graded
- Bring some form of PHOTO ID with you

Nov 16, 2005

Lecture 19 Assignments: Reading 9.1-9.5 Problems 9.1-9.30

Nov 14, 2005

Lecture 18 Assignments: Reading 7.6-7.9, 9.1, 9.2 Problems 7.4, 7.5, 7.10-7.12, 7.16-7.18

Nov 12, 2005

A problem set concerning the reactions of alkenes has been posted below.

Nov 9, 2005

A handout explaining the structure of B2H6 (diborane) has been posted below.

Nov 9, 2005

Quiz 2 is graded: high was 35/30, low was 0/30 and the mean was 15/30

Nov 9, 2005

Lecture 17 Assignments: Reading 6.5-6.7, 7.6 Problems 6.41-6.52

Nov 8, 2005

Sorry, but I can't resist...
 
This piece of news is just fantastic! The Kansas Board of Education has redefined science! 'Intelligent Design' will be taught alongside evolution in Kansas schools... my favourite quote from the article is this - "the board rewrote the definition of science, so that it is no longer limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena." Marvellous!! One of the people who voted against it observed that, "This is a sad day. We're becoming a laughingstock of not only the nation, but of the world..." How very sad, and how very true. Next month Kansas is to vote on whether the Earth is flat or not. The most ironic line of the article is the last, which tells us that, "In August, President Bush endorsed teaching intelligent design alongside evolution." Perhaps the greatest indication that there is no 'Intelligent Design' is the fact that he is President. I wonder if he can spell 'Intelligent'?

Nov 7, 2005

Lecture 16 Assignments: Reading Rest of Ch 6 Problems 6.8, 6.9, 6.12, 6.16-6.40

Nov 6, 2005

My regular Monday office hours are postponed, they will begin at 5:30 pm instead of 4 pm (there is a Departmental event I must attend).

Nov 4, 2005

A cell phone was handed in during the class after 30A this morning - if you lost a cell phone, go and see Prof Hardinger (his office is next to mine)...

Nov 4, 2005

There is NO lecture, office hours or discussion sections next Friday (11th), it is Veterans' Day and UCLA is closed, plan accordingly...

Nov 4, 2005

I've started to post mechanism summary sheets, keep an eye out for these in coming weeks in the Handouts section below...

Nov 4, 2005

For a pdf file of the notes I used in Chem 30C today, click here

Nov 4, 2005

For more information about the Gunpowder Plot and Bonfire Night, go here

Nov 4, 2005

Lecture 15 Assignments: Reading Ch 6.3-6.6 Problems 6.4-6.7

Nov 2, 2005

Lecture 14 Assignments: Reading Ch 6.3-6.6 Problems 6.1-6.3, 6.13-6.15

Oct 31, 2005

If anyone is looking for private tutoring, I know of a few graduate students who are looking to take on extra students. The rates per hour vary from person to person, but if you are interested, let me know, and I will pass on their details to you.

Oct 31, 2005

Lecture 13 Assignments: Reading Ch 5 & 6 Problems those from Ch 5 that seem appropriate

Oct 29, 2005

Lecture 12 Assignments: Reading Ch 4 Problems 4.1-4.47

Oct 28, 2005

221 students attended class today - not bad! Lecture notes for today's lecture will be posted over the weekend...

Oct 26, 2005

Grading is finally done. The mean was 55/100, high was 98/100, low was 5/100. Key is posted above.

Oct 24, 2005

Lecture 11 Assignments: Reading 3.6-3.9 Problems 3.9, 3.34-3.40

Oct 21, 2005

Lecture 10 Assignments: Reading 3.4-3.5 Problems 3.1-3.8, 3.14-3.33

Oct 21, 2005

Lecture 10 Assignments: Reading 3.4-3.5 Problems 3.1-3.8, 3.14-3.33

Oct 20, 2005

Make sure you go to the correct room for the midterm: room assignments are based on the first letter of your last name: A-J in CS76, K-Z in CS50

Oct 20, 2005

DOs and DON'Ts for the midterm:
- Model kits are allowed, but must be unassembled when brought into the room
- Do not write in RED pen - that's just stupid
- Calculators are NOT allowed
- Scripts written in pencil WILL NOT be re-graded
- Bring some form of PHOTO ID with you

Oct 20, 2005

Somebody left their sunglasses in my office hours today...

Oct 19, 2005

Lecture 9 Assignments: Reading 3.1-3.5

Oct 17, 2005

Don't forget to look through my old exams for practice problems...

Oct 17, 2005

Lecture 8 Assignments: Reading 2.9, 2.10, 3.1, 3.2 Problems 2.12-2.15, 2.38-2.61

Oct 14, 2005

Just a quick note about quiz 1. A lot of you seem to be freaking out about your poor performance. Let me just try and calm you down a bit. You will be graded out of 500 points, this quiz was worth 30, even if you got a zero, you can still pass this class, and even get an A. BUT - use this as a wake-up call, organic chemistry is a tough subject. Don't fall behind. Identify your weaknesses and address them. You have two weeks until midterm 1, if you screw that up, then passing the class is a possibility, but an A will be harder (but not impossible).

Oct 14, 2005

Lecture 7 Assignments: Reading Rest of Ch 2 Problems 2.9-2.11, 2.36, 2.37

Oct 12, 2005

Someone left a green folder with their lecture notes in it in class today - please hand them in to me or the mail and information window in Young Hall...

Oct 12, 2005

The quiz is graded. The mean was 14/30 (47%), high score was 36/30, low score was 0/30.

Oct 12, 2005

Lecture 6 Assignments: Reading 2.6-2.8 Problems 2.8, 2.32-2.35

Oct 10, 2005

I will have office hours Tuesday 11-1 pm in the usual place.

Oct 10, 2005

Lecture 5 Assignments: Reading 2-2.6 Problems 2.1, 2.2, 2.7, 2.16-2.31

Oct 09, 2005

My office hours for this Monday (10th) need to be rescheduled, they will not be at the usual time (4 pm). I will either have them earlier in the day on Monday, or sometime on Tuesday... stay tuned.

Oct 07, 2005

The first QUIZ will be in class on Wednesday 12th October at 8 am sharp - do not be late!

Oct 07, 2005

Lecture 4 Assignments: Reading Rest of Ch 1 Problems 1.18, 1.55-1.71

Oct 05, 2005

Lecture 3 Assignments: Reading Rest of Ch 1 Problems 1.14-1.17, 1.48-1.54

Oct 03, 2005

Lecture 2 Assignments: Reading 1.3-1.4 Problems 1.6-1.13, 1.23-1.47

Oct 03, 2005

Lecture 1 Assignments: Reading 1-1.4 Problems 1.1-1.5, 1.19-1.22

Oct 02, 2005

You DO NOT need to hand in homework assignments. If you have trouble completing them, use that as a starting point for discussion with me or your TAs in office hours.

Oct 01, 2005

Sorry for the delay - Lecture 1 notes are posted - notes will usually be posted within a couple of hours of a lecture ending...

Sept 30, 2005

Office hours are now posted below.

Sept 30, 2005

There is no class on Friday 11th November, update your syllabus (a new updated one is posted.

Sept 21, 2005

For this class, you can send e-mail to me at my chem account (cantrill@chem.ucla.edu), or at chem30@gmail.com

Sept 21, 2005

THERE ARE NO OFFICE HOURS OR DISCUSSIONS IN WEEK 0, THEY BEGIN THE WEEK OF OCT 3RD. THE FIRST LECTURE, HOWEVER, IS ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH.

Sept 9, 2005

A very tentative syllabus is posted - I will update it as soon as I get my TAs assigned.

Sept 9, 2005

Yes, this is an 8 am class. I don't like it. You probably don't like it. Can we do anything about it?
 
No.
 
I won't make you come to class, but I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you do attend. Here is a good reason why... I've noticed that attendance in my classes correlates very strongly with exam performance. This is not the case with a lot of the classes you will take at UCLA, but with mine, it does - that's how I teach. Don't come to class, and the chances are good that your grade WILL SUFFER.
 
Here is some data from Spring quarter...
 
Overall, 236 students took midterm 2, and I have calculated the cumulative scores for all of those students - and it is the cumulative score (not midterm 2 score) that the following numbers are based on. Of the 50 students with the highest cumulative scores, 47 of them were in class on the day I took attendance. Of the 50 students with the lowest cumulative score (students that hadn't dropped before midterm 2), only 29 of them were in class on the day I took attendance... Draw your own conclusions. We can go further - let's split the class in half, the top 118 students and the bottom 118 students. 92% of the top half of the class attended lecture on the day I collected names, whereas only 65% of the bottom half of the class were there that day. As I've said in the past, I don't expect you to come to class, that's up to you, I won't make you. And if you can get an 'A' (or a grade you are happy with) without coming, then great. On the other hand, should you not be satisfied with your grade at the end of this class AND you did not come to lecture (or, more importantly, my office hours) - don't even think for one second about complaining about your grade... to me, or anyone else for that matter...

Sept 9, 2005

Please read and digest my philosophy and policy page - it will save you a lot of heartache later on...

Sept 9, 2005

A quick note to say that Chem 30A will use the FOURTH edition of Brown & Foote in Fall quarter - it won't be dramatically different to the previous incarnation, but all questions will be assigned from the new edition... and you won't be able to sell the 3rd edition back to the bookstore once the 4th edition is out (at least I think that's right...)

Sept 9, 2005

If you are looking for a molecular model kit, they probably have some at the Student Store, but you can also get them on Amazon, it's expensive, but cheaper than most textbooks after all, and you could probably re-sell it in the future...