1405 Syllabus
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
This course is a preparatory course for students who have never had chemistry and covers the metric system, atoms and elements, bonding, solids, liquids, gases, stoichiometry, solutions, reactivity, and acids and bases. The lab includes experiments in inorganic chemistry. This course is appropriate for nursing students, as well as students who will pursue higher level chemistry.
CREDIT
Credits: 4 (6 contact hours per week, combination of lecture and lab activities)
PREREQUISITES
MATH 0308 or qualifying score on MATH placement test, ENGL 0305 or ENGL 0316 AND ENGL 0307 or 0326, OR higher level course (ENGL 1301), OR placement by testing
ADA STATEMENT
Students with disabilities who believe that they need accommodations in this course are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Office at 936-273-7239; located in Building E, Office 103H as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
COURSE OUTCOMES/TOPICS
At the successful completion of CHEM 1405, students will be able to:
1. Solve problems using procedures outlined in class.
2. Identify the states of matter and the transitions between them.
3. Compare elements, compounds and mixtures.
4. Apply the Law of Conservation of Matter to balance chemical equations and solve simple stoichiometry problems.
5. Determine atomic structure and chemical properties of elements from their positions in the periodic table.
6. Perform conversions between molarity, mass of solute and volume of solution.
7. Draw the Lewis Structure of a simple compound from its formula.
8. Know the rules for nomenclature of simple inorganic compounds.
9. Identify acids and bases, acidic and basic solutions and calculate pH.
10. Know the properties of gases and the gas laws and apply the laws to problem solving
11. Demonstrate ability to carry out laboratory experiments using common chemical measuring devices and safety precautions.
We will be covering chapters 1-15. There will be some topics in the textbook that will not be covered in lecture. You will not be tested on this material unless I have specifically assigned it for you to read. There will also be a few topics that are not in the book that I will cover in lecture. You are responsible for this material.
The importance of understanding each topic in the course cannot be overemphasized. Chemistry is truly a course that relies on understanding early topics before an understanding of later topics can be realized. Since Introductory Chemistry is partially a skills course, there will be quite a few problems to work. It is required that you purchase a scientific, non-programmable calculator.
If you are having difficulty with a particular topic, be certain to get individual help promptly. (My office hours are posted.) There are also tutors in the ELC to help. In addition, each division has two counselors to help. The counselor assigned to the sciences is:
Ms. Sue Jan Herber
B220 A 936-273-7074
You are not alone! We all want you to succeed.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Corwin, Charles H. Introductory Chemistry: Concepts and Connections, 4th ed. (Prentice Hall, 2005)
Underdown, Marie. Digging Chemistry! 4th ed.
Safety goggles
Calculator: NOTE - Programmable calculators will not be allowed for use during the tests.
Laboratory notebook (bound not spiral)
OPTIONAL MATERIALS
Corwin, Charles H. Study Guide and Solutions Manual, Introductory Chemistry, Concepts and Connections. 4th ed. (Prentice Hall 2005)
Gammon, S.D. and Sharon Hutchinson. Chemistry Skill Builder—CD ROM. (Prentice Hall 2005)
A lab coat or apron
A large three ring binder
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Michael Sundermann
OFFICE
Building B, Room B220D
PHONE/E-MAIL
Office 936-273-7077
Metro 936-321-5161, ext. 7077
Fax 936-273-7362
e-mail sundermann@lonestar.edu
SEMESTER / LOCATION / TIME/CALENDAR
ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS
Studies have shown that consistently missing class and/or being tardy to class has an adverse effect on student performance and success. Any student tardy to lab will not be allowed to perform that lab. Laboratory instructions are crucial, not only to understanding the experiment, but for safety purposes as well.
NO LONGER ATTENDING CLASS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE WITHDRAWAL FROM THIS CLASS, NOR DOES A STUDENT’S NOTIFICATION TO THE INSTRUCTOR THAT THE STUDENT WISHES TO BE DROPPED. FAILURE OF A STUDENT TO FILL OUT A “SCHEDULE CHANGE FORM” TO OFFICIALLY DROP THIS CLASS MAY RESULT IN A GRADE OF “F.”
ANY STUDENT WHO MISSES THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASS MUST DROP.
EVALUATION
The breakdown of points is as follows:
50% Tests (Includes problem sets and group work)
30% Laboratory assignments
20% Final exam.
The test grade will be calculated from the average of the top four out of five tests. The score from the fifth test will be dropped. No make-up tests will be given. If you believe an error was made in grading the test, you can ask for a regrade. Tests must be written in unerasable pen to be eligible for a regrade. Missing the final exam will drop your grade by one letter.
Note that the laboratory grade is thirty percent of the course grade. In other words, it has a very significant impact on your final grade. The lab grade will be earned by completion of lab assignments, pre-labs, lab quizzes and a lab notebook. The lowest lab grade will be dropped when the average is determined.
There will be five problem sets given to coincide with the material presented in lecture in order to help prepare for the tests. You may consult fellow students as well as the instructor for help with the problem sets, but you may not simply copy answers. These questions will be a good cross section of the material covered in class and will resemble the types of problems that will be on the tests. Your grade will depend on the completeness and accuracy of your answers. You must show your work to get full credit. The problem sets are worth 5% of each test grade.
After the first exam, if the raw score on your exam totals 80 points or higher (from a maximum of 90 points), you will not have to turn in the problem set for the next test, and will automatically receive the 5 points on the next test. However, if in a subsequent test, your raw score is below 80, then you must again turn in your homework for the next test.
The letter grades will be determined from the calculated numerical grade based on a class curve. I will therefore not be able to give more than an approximation of your letter grade during the semester. However, a 90 average guarantees an A, an 80 average guarantees at least a B, a 70 average guarantees at least a C, and a 60 average guarantees at least a D.
GROUP WORK
Students will be assigned to small groups of 3 to 4 students. The members of each group are chosen by the instructor. You are encouraged to work in your group during class and thus will be required to sit with your group in class. (The members of your study groups will also constitute your lab partners.) Several “group problems” from the textbook will be assigned to groups for each testing unit. Once during each testing unit, usually the Monday before a test, approximately thirty minutes of class time will be devoted to the working of group problems. Because thirty minutes will not be sufficient time to look over all of the problems, students are encouraged to work in their group outside of class.
After group problems are reviewed, a short in-class quiz will be given, individually, consisting of one or more group problems. These quizzes will count 5% of your total grade. However, one member of each group, chosen randomly, will be selected to solve one or more of these questions and then explain those problems in front of the class using his/her notes only. The chosen student’s thoroughness and accuracy of explanation will determine his/her 5%. In addition, a grade of 0 to 3 will be assigned to each member of that student’s group depending on whether the answer and explanation are complete and correct. These points will be counted as EXTRA CREDIT on the appropriate test.
Group board work is considered a review. Obviously, if a group member is not present for the board work, he/she cannot receive his/her group points. It is your responsibility to be present at that time.
If a group becomes smaller than three members, the instructor will probably consolidate that group with another group.
LABORATORY SAFETY
Lab safety will be stressed in this class. Safety goggles must be worn at all times during the lab period. You will not be admitted to lab without proper eye protection. Additionally, a student may be dismissed from lab if he/she removes his/her safety glasses during the lab. Certain chemicals you will be working with may present a health hazard, be extremely reactive, or flammable. The instructor will review all safety aspects at the start of each lab.
LAB GUIDELINES
In general, a pre-lab exercise must be completed before each laboratory. Normally the pre-lab assignment consists of reading the experiment and any supplemental material pertaining to the experiment. Additionally, the laboratory notebook must be prepared according to the guidelines given below. If the student has not completed the required pre-lab assignment by the beginning of the laboratory period, he/she will not be allowed to participate in the laboratory.
The grade for missed lab activities is zero. Missed labs cannot be made-up. Since the lowest lab grade is dropped, a single missed lab will not adversely affect the final grade.
Lab reports are usually required for each laboratory experiment. These reports are usually due a week following the completion of the lab. Lab reports consist of the lab modules themselves with completed data tables and answers to all questions, unless notified otherwise.
Pre-labs are usually worth 3 points, the lab assignment itself is worth 3 points, and the data sheet and post-lab report is usually worth 9 points, for a total of 15 points per lab.
Guidelines for laboratory notebooks:
1. The lab notebook will be a bound notebook.
2. The lab notebook will have a table of contents listing the page numbers of each lab. Each page of the notebook following the table of contents will be numbered consecutively. No pages should be ripped out of the notebook under any circumstances. Write only on one side of the page.
3. All information in the lab notebook will be in ink. Corrections will be crossed out with a single line through the incorrect statement or data. There should be no erasures. Laboratory notebooks are considered legal documents in academic and industrial research.
4. Each lab notebook will be organized as follows:
a. Title of the experiment.*
b. Date that the experiment was conducted*
c. Purpose of the experiment.*
d. Safety hazards*
e. A step-by-step procedure of the experiment*
f . A quantitative record of the actual data obtained in the experiment
*Pre-lab (to be completed before class)
5. The notebook will be ready for evaluation by the instructor at the beginning of the class period with a completed pre-lab write up (a – e above) and will be signed by the instructor to indicate completion. The student will not be permitted to do the lab exercise if the pre-lab write up in his/her notebook is not complete.
6. Each student must record his/her own data in his/her own lab notebook, not in the laboratory textbook or module. When a student has completed the lab, the instructor will sign his/her completed data table and the blank data table in the lab module. This indicates that not only has the lab been completed, but that the student has left his/her lab area clean and all equipment has been returned to its proper place. All data should be recorded in the lab notebook, not in the laboratory textbook or handout.