Portland State University - - Professor Carl C. Wamser

Chemistry 331 - Fall 1997

Pre-Assessment Survey (ungraded)

The feedback from this will help the instructor assess the prior background and knowledge of the class as a whole in order to design the course better.

You should use the results of this quiz to determine how well-prepared you are to succeed in this course. Specific deficiencies should be remedied by referring to your general chemistry text or asking the instructor for advice.

Returning this completed form before the end of the first week of classes (Friday, October 3, 5 pm) will earn 2 extra credit points. Returned any time thereafter will be worth 1 point.


1. About you:

Last name:
First name:
PIN (last four digits of your SSN):
E-Mail Address:


2. Your Background:

2.1 Did you complete a year of college-level general chemistry?

Last year (1996-97) at PSU
Last year (1996-97) elsewhere (where?)
Earlier (where? when?)
No (what was your last chemistry course?)

2.2 Have you enrolled in organic chemistry before?

At PSU
Elsewhere (specify)

2.3 Why are you taking this course?

Major requirement (your major)
Professional school requirement (specify)
Other reason (specify)

2.4 What do you expect to get out of this course?

A B C Pass
Other (specify)


3. Essential Math Skills:

3.1 Written in scientific notation, the number 56,409,000 would be expressed as:

56.409 million
5.6409 x 106
5.6 x 107
56.409 x 106
5.6409 x 107
I don't know

3.2 The molecular weight of benzene is 78 grams/mole, so you convert x moles of benzene into grams by:

multiplying x by 78
dividing x by 78
I don't know

3.3 Solve this equation for x : ( 3x + 12 = x - 4 )

x = 4
x = -4
x = 8
x = -8
x = 2
x = -2
I don't know


4. Essential Chemistry Background:

4.1 The Lewis structure of CH4 has a total of how many valence electrons?

4
6
8
12
16
I don't know


4.2 In the following acid-base reaction, water acts as

H2O + NaOCH3 <===> NaOH + CH3OH

an acid
a base
I don't know


4.3 The C-C bond of ethane, CH3CH3 would be described as what type of bond ?

ionic
covalent, nonpolar
covalent, polar
I don't know


4.4 The C-Cl bond of ethyl chloride, CH3CH2Cl, would be described as what type of bond ?

ionic
covalent, nonpolar
covalent, polar
I don't know


5. Visualization Skills:

5.1 Which of the structures shown below are identical to structure A ?

all of them
B and C only
B, C, D, and F
B, C, and D
some other combination
I don't know


5.2 The structures shown below are the same molecule in different views. Where should the Br substituent be located?

A
B
C
D
E
I don't know


5.3 Which of the structures shown below are identical?

all are identical
each one is different
A and B are identical
A and C are identical
B and C are identical
I don't know


When completed, press "submit' to send your survey to Dr. Wamser.
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