Penn state altoona

Dana Brinkel’s Chem Site

Everything is chemistry, matter really matters.

“Science is a way of thinking much more than a body of knowledge” -Carl Sagan

About

Chemistry Courses

Welcome To Discovery

Ever wonder what the stars are made of? How can you personally reduce your contribution to climate change? Is it safe to mix bleach with Lysol or Clorox? Are natural cosmetics safer than synthetic? What type of electric vehicle should you purchase? Chemistry can answer all of these questions.

Features

Designed for the Student

I design my courses to make learning chemistry easy and enjoyable for students. Learning outcomes for my courses are competency-based. Accessibility, flexibility, and practical assessments are important design principles that I incorporate in each course.

Students should exert effort in learning to make their experience meaningful. My courses are not passive but ACTIVE.

Accessibility

Course nformation, activities, and learning enviornments are made usable for as many people as possible.

Flexibility

Due dates are reasonable and flexible. Automatic grace periods included, access lessons online.

Practical Assessments

No strange questions or hidden requirements. Assessments match lesson content and activities.

Office Hours

Convenient office hours. Walk-ins welcome. Zoom meetings available.

Chemistry

Courses that I Teach

I am a chemistry instructor that teaches the fundamentals and builds your confidence to get you started on your career path. The courses I teach include Molecular Science (CHEM 1), Experimental Chemistry I (CHEM 111), Experimental Chemistry II (CHEM 113), Environmental Chemistry (CHEM 20) and Environmental Chemistry lab (CHEM 21).

Chem 1 Molecular Science

Chem 1 (3 credits) is designed for students who want to gain a better appreciation of chemistry and how it applies to everyone’s everyday life. This is an excellent general education course for education, criminology, psychology, and business majors.

The beginning of the course begins with fundamentals of chemistry. We then apply these concepts to real life: household chemicals, cosmetics, air pollution, ozone depletion, climate change, water contamination and treatment, electric vehicles, nuclear applications (bombs, energy, & medicine), genetic design, nutrition (GMO’s), Fitness, and drugs.

Chem 111 Experimental Chemistry I

CHEM 111 (1 credit) is an introductory general chemistry laboratory. It is designed to complement the lecture course CHEM 110. Students are introduced to laboratory safety, experimental techniques, collecting & interpreting data, and completing laboratory reports.

In this course you will complete 8 experiments relating to density (graphing, standard deviation & percent error), spectrophotometric analysis, titrations (acid-base reactions), standardization and molar mass determination, empirical formulas, molecular geometry, qualitative analysis (solubility and reactions of ionic compounds), and calorimetry (thermochemical reactions).

Chem 113 Experimental Chemistry II

CHEM 113 (1 credit) is an introductory general chemistry laboratory course meant to complement the lecture course CHEM 112. The course builds on material learned in CHEM 111 with emphasis on quantitative analytical procedures, computer data analysis, and writing formal reports.

In this course you will complete six experiments including volumetric analysis (ion-exchange, titrations, and propagation of uncertainty), kinetics (rate law and graphical analysis), pH titrations (equivalence points using a pH meter), acid dissociation constant (analytical analysis with spectrophotometry), solubility product constant (common-ion effect and statistical analysis), and galvanic cells (electrochemical analysis with ISE).

Environmental Chemistry

Chem 20 Environmental Chemistry

CHEM 20 (3 credits) is an introduction to applications of chemistry to environmental problems. This course is a requirement for environmental majors and can also be used as a general education course.

This course involves the study of chemistry concepts and case studies relating to environmental pollution: air pollutants, acid rain, ocean acidification, acid mine drainage, pesticides, genetic modified organisms, microplastics, chlorofluorocarbons (ozone depletion), fossil fuels & enhanced greenhouse effect (climate change), batteries, photovoltaic cells, wind turbines, and nuclear waste.

Chem 21 Envrionmental Chemistry Lab

CHEM 21 (1 credit) is an introduction of basic laboratory techniques and data analyses used in environmental chemistry that complement the lecture course CHEM 20. The course provides laboratory experience in the chemistry of air, water, and soil.

INSPIRATION

Science Celebs

Science is for everyone! It does not have to be on the level of these examples, any knowledge and appreciation of science increases your understanding of our world.

Dexter Holland

Lead Singer for Offspring

Punk to PhD in Molecular Biology

Dexter stated: ‘I won’t wanna play music when I’m 40, I’d rather be a professor at a university,’ Having earned a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Molecular Biology, Dexter deferred his doctorate when he joined the music scene. Holland went back to school at USC and received his doctorate in May 2017. His molecular studies focused on microRNA in HIV genomes.

Mayim Bialik

Actor that plays “Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler” in the comedy series The Big Bang Theory.

PhD in Neurobiology

Just like her character on the show, Mayim is a neuroscientist. She earned 4 consecutive Emmy nominations for her acting in The Big Bang Theory. She has co-hosted for Jeopardy with Ken Jennings. Also, she has written four books Beyond the Sling, Mayim’s Vegan Table, Girling Up and Boying Up. Her podcast Bialik’s Breakdown focuses on mental health issues.

Ken Jeong

Actor and comedian who plays “Mr. Chow” from the movie “The Hangover”

Medical Doctor (MD)

Ken Jeong earned a B.S. in Zoology, B.S. in medicine at Duke University and MD at University of Carolina. He says he will always keep his medical license even though he does not currently practice medicine. Besides the The Hangover, he was also in the movies: Pineapple Express, Step Brothers, and Crazy Rich Asians.

Start Learning Chemistry

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Learn

Increase your understanding of the world around you by learning chemistry!

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Achieve

Start your college experience right by achieving first in a well designed course.

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Move On

Move on to higher level courses with the confidence that you can succeed.

Get in Touch

dmb47@psu.edu