Snyder, Carl H. The Extraordinary Chemistry of Ordinary Things, 2^nd Edition; John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1995.

This represents the order in which we'll discuss the topics. We'll almost certainly not get to the end of the list, but I wanted to be sure that certain topics were covered; this is why the chapter order does not follow that in the book.
 

A three page report, worth 100 points, is due on Wednesday, April 7, 1999, at 1:00pm. It must be typed and double-spaced. The topic of this report is to be a chemical compound found in a consumer item; representative areas could include cosmetics, food items, drugs (prescription or over-the-counter), pesticides/herbicides, fuels, or any other materials that interest you. You should provide a brief history of the compound including its structure, chemical name, source (where it comes from, how it is synthesized, etc.), what its specific use in the consumer item is, etc. The technical level should be appropriate to your classmates; i.e., intelligent people whose chemical background is widely variable. The best papers will not only be technically correct and complete, but will make the topic really interesting to the readers.

Your topic requires prior approval by me; your choice is due by Wednesday, February 17 at the latest (earlier, of course, is encouraged). Just jot your name, topic, and that day's date on a small piece of paper and give it to me. If it's approved, I'll note this and give you back the slip. If it's not, I'll make a few suggestions and we can agree on a more appropriate selection.

This schedule will give you about a month to locate a topic and about 5-6 weeks to write the paper. Grading will be based not only on scientific accuracy; but also on proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.; and finally on the writing style:

• Did the author make the subject fascinating or boring?
• Was the paper a discussion, or a dry recitation of a collection of facts?
• Did the paper indicate the subject's relevance to every life, or did it read more like an encyclopedia?
• Does the reader want to learn more about the subject after reading the paper, or never want to hear about it again (or at least not care)?

Grades will be based on a curve dictated by the performance of the entire class. After each exam and the research paper, the curve will be updated and revised as necessary; this will then be shared with the class and posted on the web page.  The curve will then be unequivocally fixed prior to the final exam, so that you will know exactly how many points you need to earn a given grade.