Welcome to the Spring 2026 Chemistry 223Z class!
My name is Dr. Michael Russell and I will be your Chemistry 223 instructor this quarter. I think this will be an exciting term, and I look forward to working with you! You can call me Dr. Russell, Mr. Russell, Professor, Michael, Mike.... almost anything respectful is fine (*except* for "Mikey" - don't go there, I have bad memories from the brat kid in the 1970's Life cereal commercial! lol)!
Classes start Monday, March 30 at Mt. Hood Community College. What happens this week (and in subsequent weeks) depends on which section of CH 223 you are enrolled. There are two sections of CH 223 this quarter:
- Section L1 (which is a face-to face class with on campus lectures and labs), and
- Section L2 (which is a hybrid class with virtual lectures and a face-to-face on campus lab)
Information for each section on what is happening this week can be found below, followed by some general information for everyone about how to get started in this class.
Quick Links for Section L1, Section L2, and General Information for Everyone
Section L1:
Section L1: For Week 1 in Section L1
- The first lecture is Monday, March 30 at 9 AM in AC 1303. Lectures are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 AM - 9:50 AM in AC 1303.
- The first lab is Monday, March 30 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501. For the first day of lab, bring your calculator, a pair of safety goggles and a printed copy of the "Unknown Chloride" lab. Labs will be each Monday from 1:10 PM - 5 PM starting in room AC 2501 and moving to room AC 2507.
More information on Section L1:
Section L1 has a required on-campus and in-person lab each Monday from 1:10 PM until no later than 5 PM. In addition, Section L1 students should attend the on-campus and in-person lectures each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 AM.
- The lectures will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 AM until 9:50 AM in AC 1303. AC 1303 is located near the Planetarium on the lower level of the main campus.
- Our first lecture will be Monday, March 30 at 9:00 AM in room AC 1303. I highly recommend you attend lectures!
- If you would like a printed copy of the Lecture Notes while I am lecturing, you can find it here, and future chapters will also be available at this location (as well as in the Companion.)
- Purchase (or print) the Chemistry 223 Companion. The Companion is a collection of all the problem sets, labs, lecture notes and more that you will need this quarter. You can purchase the Chemistry 223 Companion through the MHCC Bookstore (direct link), but you can alternatively print this (large!) document yourself. You will need printed materials this quarter in CH 223!
- A subscription to the iClicker Student App is an optional purchase if you will be attending lectures in CH 223. It is not required, but it is a fun item to have and worth some extra credit if you attend lecture.
- The lab will be on Mondays from 1:10 PM until 5 PM. We will start in room AC 2501 then move to the actual lab room (AC 2507) around 3 PM. We will start in room AC 2501 then move to the actual lab room (AC 2507) around 3 PM. Both AC 2501 and AC 2507 are located near the "F" parking lot on the upper level of the main MHCC campus. Here is a video showing where AC 2501 and AC 2507 can be found on the MHCC campus.
- Our first lab will be Monday, March 30 at 1:10 PM starting in room AC 2501.
- For the first day of lab, please bring a printed copy of the "Unknown Chloride" lab, a pair of safety goggles and your calculator. (Note that this lab is also in the Chemistry 223 Companion.) Safety goggles are required for this lab, and I encourage you to bring your own pair (we will use them multiple times throughout this quarter.) You can purchase one here or get a pair from the Dollar store, but make sure you have a pair (and make sure they are goggles, not glasses.)
- Also, start working on the Introduce Yourself Assignment for CH 223.
Section L2:
Section L2: For Week 1 in Section L2
- The first lab is Wednesday, April 1 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501. For the first day of lab, bring your calculator, a pair of safety goggles and a printed copy of the "Unknown Chloride" lab. Labs will be each Wednesday from 1:10 PM - 5 PM starting in room AC 2501 and moving to room AC 2507.
More information on Section L2:
Section L2 has a required on-campus and in-person lab each Wednesday from 1:10 PM until no later than 5 PM.
- The lab will be on Wednesdays from 1:10 PM until 5 PM. We will start in room AC 2501 then move to the actual lab room (AC 2507) around 3 PM. Both AC 2501 and AC 2507 are located near the "F" parking lot on the upper level of the main MHCC campus. Here is a video showing where AC 2501 and AC 2507 can be found on the MHCC campus.
- Our first lab will be Wednesday, April 1 at 1:10 PM starting in room AC 2501.
- For the first day of lab, please bring a printed copy of the "Unknown Chloride" lab and your calculator. (Note that this lab is also in the Chemistry 223 Companion.) Bring some safety goggles!
- Also, start working on the Introduce Yourself Assignment for CH 223.
- Purchase (or print) the Chemistry 223 Companion.
- The Companion is a collection of all the problem sets, labs, lecture notes and more that you will need this quarter. You can purchase the Chemistry 223 Companion through the MHCC Bookstore (direct link), but you can alternatively print this (large!) document yourself.
- You will need printed materials this quarter in CH 223!
- You will need to learn the lecture material on your own using one or more of these methods:
- You can read the chapters in the textbook.
- You can use my "Complete Lectures" for each section. Complete lectures include all the relevant information from each section, and most are split into two separate videos.
- You can watch the recordings of the live lectures I offer Section L1 of CH 223 this winter. These videos should be available by noon on the day they were given.
- You can view the Screencasts (i.e. mini lecture videos) for each chapter.
- All of these methods are acceptable; you can also use the Internet to find your own preferred method of learning.
General Information for Everyone:
All students of CH 223 are expected to know and use the following constants in these versions with these significant figures only:
- Avogadro's number (6.022 x 1023)
- the speed of light (c = 2.998 x 108 m s-1)
- Planck's constant (h = 6.626 x 10-34 J*s
- the heat capacity of liquid water (C = 4.184 J g-1 °C-1)
- the "gas constant" (R = 0.082057 L atm mol-1 K-1),
and
- the "energy gas constant" (R = 8.3145 J mol-1 K-1)
- 273.15 (to convert Kelvin to Celsius temperatures and vice-versa)
We will use these occasionally during CH 223 and I expect you to know them and use these values of the constants... using other versions (i.e. less sig figs, etc.) can result in point loss on assignments. Knowing common metric conversions is also expected in CH 223 (i.e. kilo, centi, milli, micro and nano.)
CH 223 is a cool class (#biased lol), and I want you to have a great experience while in my classroom, so here are a few tips and tricks to get you started:
- First, know that I am here to help you in any way that I can, and I encourage you to contact me any time you need assistance. Email is the best way to contact me (mike.russell@mhcc.edu) or you can visit me during my office hours in room AC 2568 on the MHCC campus (located half way between the math and science departments.) Office hours will be held MW 10 AM - 11 AM and MW noon - 1 PM and F 8 - 9 AM in AC 2568.
- I have several videos to help you get started in this class. If interested, check out the following:
- A video introduction to Chemistry 223: link
- Finding AC 1303, AC 2501, AC 2507 and AC 2568: link
- Getting Started in Chemistry with Dr. Russell! link
- CH 223: A Video Introduction to Chapter Guide One: link
- Link to CH 223 Videos: link
- Spring 2026 Videos on YouTube: link
- My YouTube channel: link
- Look around the CH 223 website (http://mhchem.org/223) We will not be using the MyMHCC Portal, Canvas or Blackboard this quarter, but you will find a variety of goodies on our website.... check it out!
- View the CH 223 Syllabus and check out the 'Getting Started' guide (link). This will let you know what the course is like, and be sure to check out the "What's Due This Week" Guide (both in the syllabus and here: here.
- You will need a scientific calculator (with EXP or EE buttons for powers of ten). The TI-30XIIS is a great calculator and not too expensive!
- Start Problem Set #1 (link). Problem Set #1 covers Chapter 12 of our textbook, and it's officially due during Week 2 of fall quarter.
- To begin, start by completing the problem set on your own first. You can write on the problem set itself, or on separate paper - your call.
- Next, self correct your problem set using the recitation video for the problem set. The link to the recitation video can be found on the front page of the problem set under "Step Two" - the recitation video link for problem set #1 is: http://mhchem.org/3/1
- Self correct every problem on the problem set. For the questions you get wrong, cross out the old answer and put in the correct answer; you might make notes about how to do this problem correctly the next time. Also self-correct the problems you get right using a star, smiley face, etc. - some kind of mark which lets me know that you know the problem is correct.
- Turn in the self corrected problem set at the beginning of your lab period. Problem sets turned in without self correct marks (on all problems) or missing problems will receive a lower grade.
- Self-corrected problem set #1 is due:
- Section L1: Monday, April 6 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
- Section L2: Wednesday, April 8 at 1:10 PM in AC 2501
- Get a printed copy of the Unknown Chloride lab (link) and bring it with you to the first lab. We will complete the experimental lab work during the lab period, then you will turn the completed lab in at the beginning of recitation the following week. (Note that the "Unknown Chloride" lab is in the Chemistry 223 Companion.)
- Prepare for the Seminar Self Quiz #1 and the actual Quiz #1 during Week 2.
- All quizzes (Seminar Self Quizzes and actual Quizzes, as well as midterm exams and finals) are closed book / no notes allowed. You cannot use a cell phone or computer; you can have a dedicated calculator and a periodic table (which I will provide) only
- When you first enter recitation, turn in the assignments that are due (the Unknown Chloride lab, the self-corrected Problem Set #1 and the Introduce Yourself Assignment)
- Next, take Seminar Self Quiz #1. You will have 20-30 minutes to complete the quiz, and afterwards we will self correct the Quiz as a class before turning it in. If you are late, or do not attend recitation for any reason, your score will be a zero on the Seminar Self Quiz.
- After taking the Seminar Self Quiz, you will take the actual Quiz #1. Quiz #1 will take about 30 minutes and consist of several 'show your work' questions. Turn in the quiz when done (I will pass back any corrected work I have for you at this time.)
- Look over Sample Quiz #1 (link). Sample Quiz #1 will be similar to the actual Quiz #1 which we will take during the second week.
- Reserve a Class Presentation Topic (link). Everyone will be creating a paper and giving a presentation this quarter on a topic in science that interests you, and everyone must have a different topic.... so reserving a topic choice with me is the way to get started. You can read more about the process (here (link)), and to reserve a presentation topic, you can email me (mike.russell@mhcc.edu) directly. Class Presentation Reservations must be completed by 9 AM on Friday, April 17,.
OK, I *think* that is is :), but I'm sure I missed something, so.... if you have any questions, on anything!, please contact me (mike.russell@mhcc.edu). There are no dumb questions!!! My answers might be dumb, but your questions are not, so please let me know if I can help.
