Sample 1411 Syllabus
NOTE: This is not the official syllabus for the class. Students wanting an official syllabus should check the Lone Star College website. This sample syllabus is a good model of the course content.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Topics include a mathematical introduction (metric system, significant figures and scientific notation), discussion of atoms, molecules, and ions, stoichiometry, electronic structure, periodic relationships, bonding, molecular geometries, and properties of gases, liquids, solids, and solutions. Appropriate laboratory experiments are included.
CREDIT
Credits: 4
PREREQUISITES
CHEM 1405 or 1 year of high school chemistry taken within the last 3 years. and MATH 0310 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. Corequisite: MATH 1314.
COURSE OUTCOMES/TOPICS
At the successful completion of CHEM 1411, students will be able to:
1. Define the fundamental properties of matter.
2. Classify matter, compounds, and chemical reactions.
3. Determine the basic nuclear and electronic structure of atoms.
4. Identify trends in chemical and physical properties of the elements using the Periodic Table.
5. Describe the bonding in and the shape of simple molecules and ions.
6. Solve stoichiometric problems.
7. Write chemical formulas.
8. Write and balance equations.
9. Use the rules of nomenclature to name chemical compounds.
10. Define the types and characteristics of chemical reactions.
11. Use the gas laws and basics of the Kinetic Molecular Theory to solve gas problems.
12. Determine the role of energy in physical changes and chemical reactions.
13. Convert units of measure and demonstrate dimensional analysis skills.
14. Use basic apparatus and apply experimental methodologies used in the chemistry laboratory.
15. Demonstrate safe and proper handling of laboratory equipment and chemicals.
16. Conduct basic laboratory experiments with proper laboratory techniques.
17. Make careful and accurate experimental observations.
18. Relate physical observations and measurements to theoretical principles.
19. Interpret laboratory results and experimental data, and reach logical conclusions.
20. Record experimental work completely and accurately in laboratory notebooks and communicate experimental results clearly in written reports.
21. Design fundamental experiments involving principles of chemistry.
22. Identify appropriate sources of information for conducting laboratory experiments involving principles of chemistry.
TOPICS
Units of Measurement
Chemical Nomenclature
Stoichiometry
Liquid Solutions and Mixtures
Enthalpy and Thermochemistry
Basic Quantum Theory and Atomic Structure
The Periodic Table and Periodic Trends of Elemental Properties
Chemical Bonding
Lewis Dot Structures
Gases
Intermolecular Forces, Liquids, and Solids
We will be covering chapters 1-12. 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 General 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. Counseling is available for academic, career and personal matters. For a listing of campus counselors, please visit www.lonestar.edu/counseling-services
You are not alone! We all want you to succeed.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Brown, LeMay, et. al. Chemistry: The Central Science, 14th ed. (Pearson, 2017)
Laboratory Handouts for General Chemistry I Booklet, 14th ed. (in bookstore)
Calculator with the following functions: logx, lnx, Inv., square root, yx, scientific notation
NOTE: Programmable calculators will not be allowed for use during the tests.
safety goggles
Laboratory notebook (bound not spiral)
OPTIONAL MATERIALS
A lab coat or apron
A large three ring binder
A molecular modeling set
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Michael Sundermann
OFFICE
Building B, Room B 220A
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office 936-273-7077
Metro 936-321-5161, ext. 7077
Fax 936-273-7362
email: sundermann@lonestar.edu
SEMESTER / LOCATION / TIME / CALENDAR
Spring 2020 Section 4003/4004: MW, 11:00 – 1:45, B202/201
Regular Office Hours:
TTh 9:30 am-11:00 am
F 9:30 am-11:30 am
CALENDAR
Week of Activity in addition to lecture
1/13 Lab Check-in and Safety
1/20 Martin Luther King Day Holiday, Monday 1/20
Graphical Analysis (no prelab)
1/27 Inorganic Nomenclature (no prelab)
2/3 review, The Chemical Contents of Commercial Sodas
2/10 Test – Chapters 1, 2
Determination of an Empirical Formula
2/17 A Copper-Iron Replacement Reaction
2/24 Determination of the Heat of Formation of MgO from Hess’ Law
3/2 review, Atomic Spectra
3/9 Spring Break
3/16 Test – Chapters 3, 4, 5
Atomic Orbitals (no prelab)
3/23 Determination of Solution Concentration Using Beer’s Law
3/30 Molecular Shapes (no prelab)
4/6 Evaluation of the Gas Law Constant
4/13 Test – Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9
no lab, lecture only
4/20 Gas Chromatography
4/27 Test – Chapters 10, 11, 12
5/4 Week of Final Exams
Please be aware that the lab and test schedule is tentative. Lab times and lecture times may be switched so be prepared to perform labs at anytime during the lecture and/or lab periods.
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.”
CLASS POLICY: ANY STUDENT WHO MISSES THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASS MUST WITHDRAW, AND MAY NOT ATTEND CLASS
COLLEGE POLICY: IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED CLASS BEFORE JANUARY 27, YOUR NON-ATTENDANCE MAY RESULT IN BEING WITHDRAWN FROM THE COURSE.
CAMPUS POLICIES
FERPA The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment, was established to protect the privacy rights of all students and applies to any educational facility receiving federal funds.
Lone Star College System District Board Policy Manual
Academic Integrity and Dishonesty The consequences for academic dishonesty are determined by the professor, or the professor and academic dean, or the professor and chief student services officer, and can include, but are not limited to: 1. Having additional class requirements imposed, 2. Receiving a grade of zero or "F" for an exam or assignment, 3. Receiving a grade of "F" for the course, 4. Being withdrawn from the course or program, 5. Being expelled from the college system.
EVALUATION
The breakdown of points is as follows:
45% Tests
5% Group Work and Quizzes
30% Laboratory Assignments & Quizzes
20% Final Exam
Problem Sets (See Below)
The test grade will be calculated from the average of the top three out of four tests. The score from the fourth 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. 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 four 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. The problem sets will be given a grade of check+, check, or check-. Each check+ will add half a point to the final grade, and each check- will subtract half a point from the final grade. Each set not turned in will subtract one point. The problem sets will be due the class before a test, unless otherwise specified. Problem sets can be turned in up to a week late, but cannot earn a grade higher than a check-.
The letter grades will be determined from the calculated numerical grade, rounded to the nearest percent:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
0-59 = F
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. At least once during each testing unit, 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.
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.
LABORATORY 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. Lab reports consist of the lab modules themselves with completed data tables and answers to all questions, unless notified otherwise. A lab quiz will be given on the day that the lab report is due, which is usually a week after the completion of the lab.
The grade for a lab is based on three factors: 20 percent for completing the pre-lab and signature verifying that data was recorded in the lab book, 40 percent for the post-lab report, and 40 percent for the quiz over that lab. To encourage good lab technique, the quality of your data will be a part of the lab report grade. Lab reports can be turned in up to a week late for a 20 point penalty.
If you have missed a lab, you may still take the lab quiz, although you will obviously not earn the points for the lab assignment. Conversely, if you complete the lab but are not in class for the lab quiz, you will lose those 40 points. Note: The lab quiz will be given at the beginning of class in a limited amount of time. If you are late to class, you may not have time to complete your quiz, thereby losing points.
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.