2026-08-17 Prep week · 2.1 h planned Setup 45 min Confirm lab kit + tech is ready Science Interactive lab kit delivered, webcam, headset, scientific calculator, printer/scanner. A phone or tablet will not be enough. Setup 20 min Install Chrome + Honorlock extension app.honorlock.com/install/extension — required for every proctored exam. Setup 60 min Read the lecture syllabus end to end Then read the separate lab syllabus posted by Shikha Manchanda.
2026-08-18 Prep week · 2.6 h planned Setup 45 min Set up Access Pearson: eText + MasteringChemistry Reach it through Canvas so your $49.99 course-material charge covers it. Setup 20 min Join the CHM 113 Slack workspace Linked from the Canvas front page — the fastest place to get homework help. Review 90 min Math warm-up: scientific notation, logs, algebra Rearranging equations, exponent rules, and log/antilog on YOUR calculator. Do this now, not during Exam 1.
2026-08-19 Prep week · 2.4 h planned Setup 40 min Put every due date in your own calendar Dr. Briggs explicitly warns not to rely on the Canvas calendar being complete or accurate. Setup 45 min Learn your scientific calculator cold EXP/EE key, parentheses, log/ln, y^x, and sign changes. Practice 10 exponent calculations. Read 60 min Pre-read: OpenStax Ch. 1.1–1.2 Get a first exposure before the lecture videos start.
2026-08-20 Week 1 · 4.9 h planned Read 100 min Unit 1: Tro 1.1–1.4 / OpenStax 1.1–1.4 Classification of matter, phases, physical vs chemical properties, SI units. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 1 lecture videos, handwriting notes Handwrite. Dr. Briggs writes everything out so you can copy it. Problems 60 min Unit 1 practice: classification + phase changes Lab 45 min Lab 1 — read the manual and pre-lab Check the lab syllabus for this week's exact pre-lab deadline.
2026-08-21 Week 1 · 5.8 h planned Read 90 min Unit 1: Tro 1.5–1.6, 1.8 / OpenStax 1.5–1.6 Sig figs, uncertainty, dimensional analysis, density. Problems 120 min 30 dimensional-analysis and density problems This is the single highest-yield drill of week 1. Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #1 (handwritten) Handwrite on paper or tablet, save as PDF. Lab 90 min Lab 1 — run the investigation
2026-08-22 Week 1 · 5.8 h planned Read 110 min Unit 2: Tro 2.3–2.8 / OpenStax 2.1–2.3 Dalton, Thomson, Millikan, Rutherford, subatomic particles, isotopes. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 2 lecture videos Problems 75 min Isotope notation + weighted average atomic mass Lab 75 min Lab 1 — post-lab report
2026-08-23 Week 1 · 4.7 h planned Read 100 min Unit 2: Tro 3.2–3.6 / OpenStax 2.4, 3.6–3.7, 4.1–4.2 Periodic table layout, ions, ionic vs covalent, writing formulas. Problems 90 min Memorize: element symbols, diatomics, polyatomic ions Flashcards. These are pure free points on Exam 1. Mastering HW 90 min Start Mastering Unit 1 + Unit 2
2026-08-24 Week 2 · 6.1 h planned Read 110 min Unit 3: Tro 2.9, 3.8–3.9, 4.2–4.4 / OpenStax 6.1–6.2, 7.1, 7.3 Mole concept, molar mass, balancing, stoichiometry. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 3 lecture videos Problems 120 min 25 mole / molar mass / stoichiometry problems Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #2
2026-08-25 Week 2 · 5.8 h planned Read 80 min Unit 3: Tro 16.1–16.3, 16.9 / OpenStax 13.1–13.3 Equilibrium — conceptual only, no calculations on this exam. Problems 100 min Limiting reactant + percent yield drill Include particulate box diagrams — they show up on the exam. Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #3 Lab 120 min Lab 2 — pre-lab + investigation
2026-08-26 Week 2 · 4 h planned Lecture Quiz deadline 30 min DUE 11:59 PM — Lecture Quizzes #1, #2, #3 Submit as PDF via Canvas. Late submissions are not accepted. Mastering HW 150 min Finish Mastering Unit 1–3 homework You may repeat an assignment up to three times to improve your score. Review 60 min Build your Exam 1 cheat sheet (handwritten, front/back)
2026-08-27 Week 2 · 3.8 h planned Mastering HW deadline 60 min DUE 11:59 PM — Mastering Units 1, 2, 3 Three 10-point assignments, 20 questions each. Extra Credit 75 min Take Practice Exam 1 under real conditions Pencil, calculator, 75 minutes, nothing else. 7 extra credit points for submitting on Canvas. Review 90 min Grade the practice exam and re-work every miss
2026-08-28 Week 2 · 2.8 h planned Extra Credit deadline 15 min DUE 11:59 PM — submit Practice Exam 1 on Canvas 7 extra credit points. Exam deadline 75 min EXAM 1 window opens 12:01 AM (Units 1–3) 75 minutes inside the ~48-hour window. Print the periodic table and equation sheet first. Lab 75 min Lab 2 — post-lab report
2026-08-29 Week 2 · 1.3 h planned Exam deadline 75 min EXAM 1 closes 11:59 PM — last safe start 10:44 PM Do not leave it to the last hour.
2026-08-31 Week 3 · 5.2 h planned Read 100 min Unit 4: Tro 5.2–5.4 / OpenStax 6.3–6.4, 11.2 Molarity, dilution, solution stoichiometry, electrolytes. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 4 lecture videos Problems 75 min Molarity and M₁V₁ = M₂V₂ drill Lab 45 min Lab 3 — pre-lab
2026-09-01 Week 3 · 5.3 h planned Read 90 min Unit 4: Tro 14.4–14.5 / OpenStax 14.1–14.3 Brønsted–Lowry, Kw, pH and pOH. Problems 90 min pH / pOH / [H₃O⁺] conversions — 25 problems Watch sig figs: only digits after the decimal in a log count. Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #4 Lab 90 min Lab 3 — run the investigation
2026-09-02 Week 3 · 4.6 h planned Read 110 min Unit 5: Tro 8.1–8.6 / OpenStax 3.1–3.3 Light, quantization, photoelectric effect, Bohr model, quantum numbers. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 5 lecture videos Problems 75 min E = hν and E = hc/λ calculations Unit bookkeeping (nm → m) is where most points are lost.
2026-09-03 Week 3 · 4.8 h planned Read 80 min Unit 5: Tro 9.2–9.3, 21.7 / OpenStax 20.1, 20.3 Historical radioactivity background only. Problems 90 min Quantum numbers + Bohr transition problems Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #5 Lab 75 min Lab 3 — post-lab report
2026-09-04 Week 3 · 6.2 h planned Read 100 min Unit 6: Tro 9.4–9.8 / OpenStax 3.4–3.6 Electron configurations, Aufbau, Hund, periodic trends. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 6 lecture videos Problems 90 min Write 30 electron configurations from memory Include ions, Cr and Cu anomalies, and paramagnetic/diamagnetic calls. Mastering HW 90 min Start Mastering Units 4–6
2026-09-07 Week 4 · 5.8 h planned Problems 90 min Periodic trends: radius, IE, EA, metallic character Practice explaining WHY, not just ranking. Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #6 Lab 120 min Lab 4 — pre-lab + investigation Mastering HW 90 min Mastering Units 4–6 continued
2026-09-08 Week 4 · 4.5 h planned Review 150 min Exam 2 mixed problem set (Units 4–6) Shuffle the problem types so you cannot rely on knowing the chapter. Review 60 min Build your Exam 2 cheat sheet Extra Credit 60 min Attend/view this week's Discussion Session
2026-09-09 Week 4 · 3.8 h planned Lecture Quiz deadline 30 min DUE 11:59 PM — Lecture Quizzes #4, #5, #6 Mastering HW 120 min Finish Mastering Units 4, 5, 6 Review 75 min Timed 25-question self-test on Units 4–6
2026-09-10 Week 4 · 4 h planned Mastering HW deadline 45 min DUE 11:59 PM — Mastering Units 4, 5, 6 Review 120 min Re-work every problem you missed this week Lab 75 min Lab 4 — post-lab report
2026-09-11 Week 4 · 1.3 h planned Exam deadline 75 min EXAM 2 window opens 12:01 AM (Units 4–6) 75 minutes within the ~48-hour window.
2026-09-12 Week 4 · 1.3 h planned Exam deadline 75 min EXAM 2 closes 11:59 PM Last safe start 10:44 PM AZ time.
2026-09-14 Week 5 · 5.6 h planned Read 110 min Unit 7: Tro 10.1–10.5 / OpenStax 4.1–4.4 Lewis symbols, octet rule, ionic vs covalent, lattice energy, electronegativity. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 7 lecture videos (part 1) Problems 90 min Draw 25 Lewis structures Speed matters — you will draw these under time pressure. Lab 45 min Lab 5 — pre-lab
2026-09-15 Week 5 · 5.4 h planned Read 100 min Unit 7: Tro 10.6–10.11 / OpenStax 4.5–4.6, 9.4 Formal charge, resonance, octet exceptions, VSEPR, polarity, bond energies. Problems 90 min VSEPR table drill: all 13 AXₙEₘ cases Electron geometry, molecular geometry, angle, polarity — for each. Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #7 Lab 90 min Lab 5 — run the investigation
2026-09-16 Week 5 · 4.4 h planned Read 100 min Unit 8: Tro 11.2–11.5 / OpenStax 5.1–5.3 Valence bond theory, hybridization, sigma vs pi bonds. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 8 lecture videos Problems 75 min Assign hybridization + count σ/π bonds in 20 molecules
2026-09-17 Week 5 · 5 h planned Read 90 min Unit 8: Tro 11.6–11.8 / OpenStax 5.4 Molecular orbital theory, homonuclear diatomics only. Problems 90 min Fill MO diagrams for B₂ through Ne₂ and their ions Bond order, bond length, magnetism for each. Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #8 Lab 75 min Lab 5 — post-lab report
2026-09-18 Week 5 · 6.3 h planned Read 110 min Unit 9: Tro 5.5–5.9, 17.3, 17.5 / OpenStax 7.2, 15.1, 16.1 Solubility rules, precipitation, acid–base, gas evolution, redox. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 9 lecture videos Problems 90 min Write 20 net ionic equations Memorize the solubility rules first — everything else follows. Mastering HW 90 min Start Mastering Units 7–9
2026-09-21 Week 6 · 5.8 h planned Problems 90 min Oxidation numbers + identify oxidizing/reducing agents Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #9 Lab 120 min Lab 6 — pre-lab + investigation Mastering HW 90 min Mastering Units 7–9 continued
2026-09-22 Week 6 · 4.5 h planned Review 150 min Exam 3 mixed problem set (Units 7–9) Review 60 min Build your Exam 3 cheat sheet Extra Credit 60 min Attend/view this week's Discussion Session
2026-09-23 Week 6 · 3.8 h planned Lecture Quiz deadline 30 min DUE 11:59 PM — Lecture Quizzes #7, #8, #9 The syllabus calendar prints this as "LQ #6, 7, 8, 9" — check Canvas and submit whatever is listed there. Mastering HW 120 min Finish Mastering Units 7, 8, 9 Review 75 min Timed 25-question self-test on Units 7–9
2026-09-24 Week 6 · 4 h planned Mastering HW deadline 45 min DUE 11:59 PM — Mastering Units 7, 8, 9 Review 120 min Re-work every missed problem; re-draw weak Lewis structures Lab 75 min Lab 6 — post-lab report
2026-09-25 Week 6 · 1.3 h planned Exam deadline 75 min EXAM 3 window opens 12:01 AM (Units 7–9)
2026-09-26 Week 6 · 1.3 h planned Exam deadline 75 min EXAM 3 closes 11:59 PM Last safe start 10:44 PM AZ time.
2026-09-28 Week 7 · 5.6 h planned Read 110 min Unit 10: Tro 12.1–12.5 / OpenStax 10.1–10.4 Intermolecular forces, properties of liquids, phase transitions, phase diagrams. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 10 lecture videos Problems 75 min Rank 25 substances by IMF strength and boiling point Lab 60 min Lab 7 — pre-lab (EXTRA CREDIT notebook) Lab 7 and Lab 8 notebooks are worth extra credit — do not skip them.
2026-09-29 Week 7 · 5 h planned Read 90 min Unit 10: Tro 12.8, 12.9, 14.3 / OpenStax 10.5, 11.1, 11.3 Solid types, unit cells, dissolution and solubility. Problems 75 min Heating curves + phase diagram reading Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #10 Lab 90 min Lab 7 — run the investigation
2026-09-30 Week 7 · 4.8 h planned Read 100 min Unit 11: Tro 6.2–6.6 / OpenStax 8.1–8.3 Pressure, simple gas laws, ideal gas law, gas stoichiometry. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 11 lecture videos Problems 100 min 30 PV = nRT and combined-gas-law problems Kelvin, always. Watch which R you need.
2026-10-01 Week 7 · 5.3 h planned Read 90 min Unit 11: Tro 6.7–6.10 / OpenStax 8.4–8.6 Partial pressures, KMT, effusion/diffusion, real gases. Problems 90 min Dalton's law, gas collected over water, Graham's law Lecture Quiz 45 min Draft Lecture Quiz #11 Lab 90 min Lab 7 — post-lab report + notebook
2026-10-02 Week 7 · 6.7 h planned Read 110 min Unit 12: Tro 7.2–7.5, 12.7 / OpenStax 9.1–9.3 Energy, calorimetry, enthalpy, Hess's law, ΔH°f, heating curves. Lecture 90 min Watch Unit 12 lecture videos Problems 110 min q = mCΔT, calorimetry, Hess's law — 25 problems Mastering HW 90 min Start Mastering Units 10–12
2026-10-05 Week 8 · 6.3 h planned Lecture Quiz deadline 45 min DUE 11:59 PM — Lecture Quizzes #10, #11, #12 Mastering HW 150 min Finish Mastering Units 10, 11, 12 Review 60 min Build your Exam 4 cheat sheet Lab 120 min Lab 8 — pre-lab + investigation (EXTRA CREDIT notebook)
2026-10-06 Week 8 · 3.5 h planned Mastering HW deadline 45 min DUE 11:59 PM — Mastering Units 10, 11, 12 Review 75 min Timed 25-question self-test on Units 10–12 Lab 90 min Lab 8 — post-lab report + notebook
2026-10-07 Week 8 · 3.3 h planned Exam deadline 75 min EXAM 4 window opens (Units 10–12) Review 120 min Begin cumulative final review: Units 1–3 The final is 50 questions covering Exams 1–4.
2026-10-08 Week 8 · 6.3 h planned Exam deadline 75 min EXAM 4 closes Exam deadline 120 min FINAL EXAM window opens (cumulative, Units 1–12) 50 questions × 4 pts, 120 minutes. Review 180 min Cumulative review: Units 4–8, then 9–12
2026-10-09 Week 8 · 2 h planned Exam deadline 120 min FINAL EXAM closes — 200 points, cumulative Resurrection Final Rule: a strong final can replace your lowest midterm percentage.