Welcome to CH 221Z!

CH 221Z Announcements

November 7, 2025

Items Due During Week 8:

    Section L2: Due in Recitation on Thursday, November 13 (note special time due to Veterans Day) at 8:30 AM in AC 1303:
  • We will take Midterm Exam II during recitation (no quizzes or problem sets this week)
  • The Valence Bond and Molecular Orbital Theory Lab
  • Exam Prep II
  • Bring a printed copy of the "Empirical Formula" lab to recitation. Bring your safety goggles - they are required this week!
    Section L3: Due in Recitation on Wednesday, November 12 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
  • We will take Midterm Exam II during recitation (no quizzes or problem sets this week)
  • The Valence Bond and Molecular Orbital Theory Lab
  • Exam Prep II
  • Bring a printed copy of the "Empirical Formula" lab to recitation. Bring your safety goggles - they are required this week!
    All Sections:
  • Next week is the week of Class Presentations on your reserved element. You will give your (less than five minute) presentation to your lab group and turn in the final Class Presentation paper. More information can be found using this link.
  • Veterans Day is commemorated at MHCC on Tuesday, November 11, and Mt. Hood Community College is closed. Section L2 will have recitation and lab on Thursday, November 13 at 8:30 AM in AC 1303 this week (no lectures.)

Exam II is happening this week, so prepare to show me all that you have learned over the last several chapters - you've got this! If you have any questions, contact me.

Here's what is happening in week 8 of CH 221:

  • Midterm Exam II
    • This midterm exam covers problem sets #4 and #5 (essentially Chapters 4 and 5.)
    • The midterm will have 12 multiple choice questions and four short answer questions. You will not need a scantron to complete the exam, but you will need to mark your answers clearly on the exam itself. You will have 90 minutes to complete the midterm exam.
    • The midterm exam will be closed book; no notes are allowed. You will be able to use your calculator and a periodic table (which I will provide.)
    • The first and last pages of the exam deserve some comment. The first page of the midterm will include an integrity statement that you will be required to sign. Signing the integrity statement implies that you have not received (and will not be giving) any information on the midterm exam to others that might imply cheating; a failure to sign the integrity statement grants an automatic score of zero, so make sure the first thing you do is to sign the statement. The last page of the midterm exam will be a scoring page which will be filled out by the instructor when the exam has been graded; you do not need to complete anything on this page. An example of the integrity statement and grading sheet (for Exam I) can be found here: link
  • Midterm Exam II details by section of CH 221:
    • Section L1 will take the midterm on Monday, November 10 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501.
    • Section L2 will take the midterm on Thursday, November 13 at 8:30 AM in AC 1303 (date different due to Veterans Day.)
    • Section L3 will take the midterm on Wednesday, November 12 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501.
    • Section L4 will take the midterm on Friday, November 14 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501.
  • To Study and Prepare for Midterm Exam II:
    • Watch the Complete Lecture of an Exam Review for the second Midterm Exam here: Midterm Exam II Review
    • Lecture videos for the Exam Review for the second Midterm Exam will be available on YouTube and as a Podcast.
    • A sample exam is available on the Chemistry 221 website under Quizzes and Exams.

Also happening during Week 8 in CH 221:

  • Due: The Exam Prep II worksheet.
    • This week we will not have a problem set, seminar self quiz or regular quiz, but you will need to complete the Exam Prep II worksheet.
    • The Exam Prep II worksheet consists of several problems followed by the answer; your goal will be to 'show your work' (in detailed steps) how to go from the question to the final answer. If you have questions on how to do this, you can reach out for assistance to the LSC/AVID center or the instructor.
    • The Exam Prep II worksheet will be due at the time of your midterm exam I.
  • Due: The Valence Bond and Molecular Orbital Theory Lab.
    • Bring the completed lab with you to recitation
  • Start: The Empirical Formula Lab.
    • Bring a printed copy of the Empirical Formula lab with you to class. Bring your safety goggles - they are required this week!
    • Here is a video which shows what the lab will be like, offer hints, etc.
  • Heads up: Next week is the week of Class Presentations on your reserved element. You will give your (less than five minute) presentation to your lab group and turn in the final Class Presentation paper. More information can be found using this link.

Here's a preview of what's going to be happening during Week #9:

  • This is Class Presentations week!
    • This upcoming week you will be giving your Class Presentation and submitting your final Class Presentation paper. The details differ depending on which section you are in, so see below for more information. And remember, the Empirical Formula lab is due this week as well.
    • Note that you MUST turn in your paper and present your presentation to your regularly scheduled lab section this week. Changing lab sections for any reasons will result in a point penalty, so make sure you attend your regular lab section this week!
  • Class Presentations:
    • The Paper: Details on the requirements for the written paper can be found in the Class Presentations page and in the FAQ.
    • The Presentation: You will be giving a roughly five minute presentation to your class section during recitation (Section L1: Monday, November 17 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501; Section L2: Tuesday, November 18 at 8:30 AM PM in AC 1303; Section L3: Wednesday, November 19 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501; Section L4: Friday, November 21 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
    • We will start promptly so make sure you are there on time. A part of your grade includes full attendance on this day, so be there and don't be late, ok?
    • During your presentation you can use the podium Windows computer in AC 2501/AC 1303 for PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.-type presentations, or you can just 'chalk talk' your presentation (use the chalk board, or visuals, etc.) Any questions? Let me know!
    • If you plan on using a cloud based presentation system (Google Slides, PowerPoint online, etc.) you will need to log in to your online accounts to access presentations, so make sure you know your username and password to log in, etc. You can also bring a USB thumb drive and use it to access your presentation (this is a great back up method and is recommended!) I will not log in to my MHCC account to access your presentations, so make sure you have this information ready to access on presentation day.
    • A part of your grade will be completing and turning in the "Class Presentation Reviewer Guide." I will provide the guide before the presentations start (or you can bring one yourself, your call).
    • Your Class Presentation paper will be due at the time of your Class Presentation. Print it before class starts; printing after would invoke a point penalty. If you do not present on your assigned Class Presentation day, there will be a significant point penalty.... so make sure you attend and present on your lab day, ok?
    • The Empirical Formula lab is also due at the time of your Class Presentation.
    • If you have any questions, please let me know!
  • We will not be completing any quizzes, labs or problem sets this week.

Back to the top

Video of the Week

A Video Introduction to Midterm Exam II

A video greeting from your instructor Dr. Michael Russell

Back to the top

Podcast Corner


Apple Podcast | YouTube | RSS | Amazon / Audible | More Videos...

Back to the top

Questions? Contact me!