1. Purpose

To fulfill the CHML1045 Gordon Rule requirement you will write a research paper with a minimum of 1750 words and a maximum of 1950 words.  Each student will be assigned an element and it is your responsibility to obtain all required information, write a paper using a computer word processor, and create both hardcopy and a computer file of the paper.  The name of the file must be “Gordon Rule Research Project,” and it must be turned in on a 3.5" floppy disk or CD Rom. It will not be returned to you.

Absolutely no paper will be accepted late.  You should try to turn in your paper before this date.  If the paper is late for any reason, you must be assigned the grade of F in the course (FL state law).

Each paper will have the following sections in this order.

1. Discussion of the physical properties of the element.

You may not include chemical properties in this section.  You should have at least one table and/or graph.  All tables and graphs must be on a page by themselves.  Include a discussion that explains the tables and their contents in the body of the paper.  You should have the following properties as a minimum: name, symbol, chemical group, crystal structure, atomic number, atomic mass, electron shells, filled orbitals, melting point, boiling point, electronegativity, covalent radius, atomic radius, atomic volume, first ionization energy, second ionization energy, principal oxidation states, density, specific heat, enthalpy of vaporization,  enthalpy of fusion,  electrical conductivity,  and thermal conductivity.  If you cannot find one of these properties, substitute another.

2. History of the element

You should discuss the history of the discovery and the naming of the element.  You may include a short discussion of the scientist who discovered or named the element.

3. Chemical properties of the element

This section should review the principal chemical reactions that your element undergoes.  You will be given no credit for reactions of compounds of this element, they are included in another section.  You must have a minimum of five chemical equations in your discussion.

4. Chemical and physical properties of three of the most important compounds that contain your element

You should survey the chemical and physical properties of three important compounds that contain your element.  Besides giving properties, you can also include their uses.  Attempt to use tables and diagrams in this discussion.

5. Uses of your element

You should discuss ways that your element is used in industry, commercially, medically, or any other way.  You will receive no credit if you discuss uses of compounds containing this element.

6.  Chemically-related topic

The final section is the most important section in the paper because you must select a CHEMICAL topic regarding your element and discuss it fully.  Any chemical topic relating to your element is acceptable.  No credit will be given for biological, psychological, sociological, or other nonchemical topics relating to the element.  Credit in this section will be awarded based on how much chemistry is applied.  The most credit will be given to those who attempt to discuss a quantitative aspect of their element.  The minimum number of words in this section is 500.  Your letter grade will be reduced by one if this 500-word minimum is not observed.  This section should have at least one figure.  It can be scanned or a photocopy.

Starting on a new page, the bibliography will contain all references used.  You must have correct bibliographic form and a minimum of five books, textbooks, or references (this does not include WWW information).  You may only use only one encyclopedia.   The only encyclopedia that may be used as a reference is one devoted entirely to chemistry or chemical technology.  No other encyclopedias may be used or cited in the bibliography.   The bibliography is not to be included in the total word count for the paper.

Correct bibliographic form for books, articles, and Web based materials can be found when you click this link. Use the form listed under WWW Sites.
 

5. Grading

The Gordon Rule paper is worth 200 points.  No paper will be accepted after the due date; thus, the grade of zero is assigned to the paper if it is late.  Remember you must pass the Gordon Rule paper to pass the course.  Papers that are not computer word processed will not be accepted.  If you fail to turn in the 3.5" disk with the paper in electronic format, you will lose 50 points, which means that the maximum grade that you can obtain is 150 points (75%).  The grading scale for the paper is as follows:

1. Chemistry content 125 points

The more chemistry that you use and apply, the greater the number of points that you will receive in this section.

2. Science writing 25 points

Scientific papers are  terse and to the point.  They rarely use the active voice.  Scientific papers make uses of equations, tables, and graphs, whenever possible.  Warning: If you write this paper like an English theme you will lose a significant percentage of these 50 points.

3. English  25 points

You should follow all of the rules of correct English grammar.  Refer to your English handbook, if you need help.  You may want to run your paper through a grammar checker before turning it in.

4. Organization and Format   25 points

Read section 7 that gives the organization and format of this paper.  You will receive all 50 points for this section if you exactly following these guidelines.

If your paper, without the bibliography, is not between 1750 and 1950 words as measured by my computer, you will lose 50 points.  NOTE: One-paragraph sections are not acceptable.

6. Information Sources

1. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Chemical Rubber Company.

2. Handbook of Chemistry, Dean, McGraw-Hill Book Company

3. The Chemist's Companion, Gordon and Ford, Wiley Interscience

4. Chemistry & Reactivity, Kotz and Purcell or any general chemistry textbook

5. Introduction to College Chemistry, Wolfe, McGraw-Hill

6. Inorganic chemistry textbooks for example by Cotton and Wilkinson

7. Reader's guide to periodic literature

8. Write to the companies that mine or produce your element

9. You should use the World Wide Web.  The best place to start is your instructor's Web Page:

WorldWideWolfe HCC Pages

You should also start by going to the area of WorldWideWolfe that has periodic table links.

Periodic Tables

See the Web Page Handout for additional information.

7. Format

1. One inch margins: top, bottom, left, and right (-10 points)

2. Double spaced throughout (-10 points)

3. All tables and figures are on separate pages, numbered, and titled  (-10 points)

4. All subtopics are left  justified and boldfaced (-1 point)

5. Footnotes, using the correct form, must be at the bottom of the page (-5 points)

6. Endnotes are not acceptable (-25 points)

7. The page number must be in the upper right corner (-5 points)

8.  The first line of the paper is the title of the paper centered in the middle  of the page. (-5 points)

9. The second line of the paper is your name centered in the middle of the page.  The third line is the centered date. (-5 points)

10. Each extraneous page (filler pages) will cost 10 points.

11. One stable will be placed in the upper left corner of the page. (-5 points)

12. A deduction of 25 points will be made if you include a cover page or plastic holder.

13. Each new subsection will begin on the top of the next page (-5 points)

14. Each chemical or mathematical equation must be on a separate line (-3 points)
 

Your paper must be taken to the HCC Writing Center at least one time before noon on 29 October 2003.  At the writing center you will be given help on all aspects of writing, grammar, and style.  The people in the Writing Center are unfamiliar with chemistry and science writing.  They will not be able to help you with chemistry references or technical writing.  If you do not take your paper to the writing center, 50 points will be deducted from your paper.  Therefore, make sure you have properly signed into the writing center and work with one of the Writing Center's staff.

8. Plagiarism 

You will receive a ZERO on your Gordon Rule paper if you plagiarize in any way.  If you use material that is not yours, you must cite a reference in the footnotes.  You will definitely be awarded a ZERO on this paper if you take material directly from the Internet and add it to your paper.  Remember do not DRAG and DROP.  It will cost you!

9. Laboratory Assignment

Along with the computer assignment, this week you must turn in the complete first section (the physical properties of your assigned element) of your paper in the correct format.  Remember that you must include at least one table or graph.  It must be word processed and in the format specified above.  It is worth 50 points, just as any other laboratory report.  Note, you do not have to turn in a floppy disk for this assignment.