Approved Browsers. Our system is designed for use on Mozilla Firefox, and is compatible with both PCs running Microsoft Windows and Apple Macs running OS. Points will not be returned for technical issues when prelabs & Data Entry are submitted using non-approved browsers. The following web browsers have been tested and their main flaws are listed below. We can see what browser you use for submission.

PC running Microsoft Windows: Chrome (seems to work ok except for the videos), Edge & IE (does not work due to the videos)
Apple Mac OS: Google Chrome (seems to work ok except for the videos), Safari (is problematic as it does not support HTML5 error checking)
Note: the movie player uses HTML5 video.

Browser Window. Open a new browser window to conduct the prelab / data entry every time. Login to the Website using your OSU ID, and work to complete the submission within one hour (60 minutes) from login.

Instructions. There are specific instructions for each prelab and data entry page. Be sure to read them before doing anything. Failure to follow instructions properly will result in losing points.

Videos: All videos must be watched to the end, and the video must be allowed to stop itself. If the page is reloaded it must be watched to the end again. As long as you are using FireFox you can go back and re-watch sections of the video without problem, this is NOT true for Chrome, Edge, IE and Safari. Note: many, or all of the videos have been closed captioned. This can be accessed by clicking on the [CC] icon on the right side of the video controls along the bottom of the screen.

Prelab Pull-down Menus. Read each question carefully and answer by selecting the proper choice from the pull-down menu. In some cases, you will be required to select two answers: this can be accomplished on a Windows PC by holding [CTRL] while making selections, or on a Mac by holding [Command] while making selections.

Drag & drop. Click and drag the phrase (or other item) to the target area (a bold underline box) and drop it. Note: once dropped into a target area the item cannot be moved again so read the question and answer(s) carefully before moving items. If you make a mistake and wish to change answers you will need to reload the page which will reset all of the random numbers and you will have to watch the video(s) again.

Prelab Stoichiometry Tables. Calculate the values of the missing boxes using the starting values in red. Keep the number of significant figures consistent throughout the stoichiometry table, and avoid round-off errors in between the calculated values. The prelab submission will be rejected if data is missing (empty boxes) and the randomized starting values will be reset. (Note: the pages use HTML5 error checking on input data before submission so hopefully this will not happen. Safari does NOT support this feature.) All entries and calculations may be graded and mistakes will be scored as incorrect.

Data Reset and Network Time-Out. Randomized prelab starting values are known to reset under several situations. If your values are reset, all calculations must be repeated and your new data must be entered to be counted as correct. A prelab submitted without attention to these data reset guidelines will be scored as incorrect. The following circumstances are known to cause data reset and should be carefully avoided:

• If the browser page is refreshed or reloaded
• If the prelab is submitted with missing data (empty box or missing drawing) and the submission is rejected
• If your device (computer, tablet, smartphone) changes wireless access point (i.e. you move around the building before you submit)
• If your OSU Login expires and must be re-entered
• If sixty (60) minutes has passed since your OSU Login was accepted (if accessed from Carmen, if accessed directly it is one hour)

Randomized Starting Values. Each student will receive a unique and randomized set of starting values as the basis to answer calculation questions and complete the stoichiometry tables for most prelabs. Only the correct answers based on the values provided will be counted as correct.

Submission Deadline. Each prelab must be completed prior to your scheduled laboratory time for that lab to count for credit. Zero (0) credit will be given for a prelab submitted after the start of your laboratory section.

Entry Mistakes and Miscalculations. A prelab that includes incorrectly entered values or miscalculations indicates a lack of awareness. Once submitted, all typos and miscalculations will be considered incorrect, and points will be deducted as such. Check your work carefully before submitting it.

Significant figures. All significant figure errors will be penalized.

Measured values. All measured values (masses, volumes, temperatures...) should be entered with the correct decrease of accuracy for the method used, i.e. temperatures to 1 decimal place, volumes to 0-3 decimal places and masses to 2-4 decimal places depending on how they were measured. Remember NO mathematical operation should increase the implied accuracy of a measured value (i.e. averaging 3 temperatures cannot lead to an answer with 2 decimal places.)

Unknowns: it is your responsibility to record unknown numbers. If you failed to do so in the lab enter xxx-0000 as the unknown number where xxx corresponds to the specific experiment code. This will result in the loss of all accuracy points since there is no way to determine what unknown you had.

All prelab / data entry may only be submitted once. However, you can access prelabs / data entry pages and reload them as many times as you wish (remember, though, that questions and numbers will randomize.)

Save a Copy. You can check your submission using the Feedback link on the General Chemistry Labs home page.

Confirmation Email. Upon submission, a confirmation email will be sent to your OSU email account (lastname.###@osu.edu). Receipt of this email is the best proof that your submission was completed and accepted on time. Failure to receive this email is likely due to failure of the prelab / data entry to submit properly. If no email is received, then the best course of action is to repeat the prelab and submit it again before the deadline. (However, check your "junk mail" folder first, sometimes the email will have been added to this folder.) The Feedback pages are also a permanent record of your successful submissions, and can be referenced if you cannot locate the confirmation email.

Problems. Email chemlabsupervisor@osu.edu. Be sure to include your name.#, the course number, your Lab TA’s name, the experiment title, and a copy of the error message received. Screenshots may also help in determining the problem. NOTE: we do not respond to non-OSU email accounts for security reasons!