Course Syllabus

CHEM 100 Course Description

There are two (1.5) hours of lectures per week and one three hour (3.0) laboratory exercise every two weeks. The laboratory exercises and reports are an integral part of the course. Failure to complete all exercises and reports will result in an incomplete grade for the course.

The course assumes no background in chemistry. However, it is not an introductory course for the chemistry major. It is designed for the non-science major who seeks a laboratory science course. The material focuses on the practical significance of basic chemistry in the context of societal, political, and economic issues that affect our world. Therefore, the subjects covered in this course may include but are not limited to: the chemistry of the atmosphere and water; fission and fusion; energy; and new materials.

It is the Instructor's policy to permit course withdrawals NO LATER than one week prior to the second midterm.

Required Materials

• "Chemistry in Context: Applying Chemistry to Society" by A.T. Schwartz; published by W.C. Brown.
• "Chemistry in Context Laboratory Experiments" 
• Calculator that does logs and exponents
• Safety Goggles

   

Course Schedule and Grading^*

^* This course schedule and/or grading scheme is tentative and therefore subject to change. Please contact the course instructor for details.

Guidelines for the Course

• Be prompt and regular in attendance. Excessive absences or tardiness may result in a lower grade.
• Organize your materials in a three-ring binder.
• Come to class prepared.

Laboratory Preamble(Olin 306 and 310)

Note that the labs meet only once every two weeks.

It is important that you show up on time and be prepared by reading your lab manual before you show up. At the beginning of the laboratory a brief lecture on the laboratory experiment (equipment, methodology, and theory) is given in Olin 306. It is absolutely important that you attend this brief lecture; missing it may result in danger to you and a poor grade on your laboratory write up.

Please wear goggles at all times, unless otherwise advised by your instructor.

Record all laboratory data in ink in your laboratory manual. Do not use white-out or erase. If you make a mistake simply cross it out and re-write it. At the end of each lab have me or the TA initial your lab before you leave.

Lab Reports: An integral part of all the labs are the reports. Failure to turn in all the reports on time will result in an incomplete grade for the entire course.

Please include all of the following in each of your laboratory reports:

1. Your name and lab day
2. Experiment title.
3. Two to three sentences explaining the purpose of the lab.
4. Data: hand in the sheets from the lab manual.
5. Answers to the assigned questions.
6. Brief summary of your results that explains how it relates to the study of the environment. Also discuss sources of possible errors or problems.

LAB REPORTS ARE DUE ONE WEEK AFTER YOUR LABORATORY

Laboratory Schedule^*

Lab No.	Date	Experiment	Experiment in Lab Manual
1.0	9/10 and 9/13	Check-in Preparation and Properties of Gases. Part I.	1.0
2.0	9/24 and 9/27	Sunscreens and Sunglasses.	Instructions in Handout
3.0	10/1 and 10/4	Energy Content of Fuels 6.0	An Energy Conservation Problem 5.0
4.0	10/22 and 10/25	Field Trip to Tyron Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Wear appropriate shoes, slacks and bring raingear if rains looks likely: the treatment plant is outdoors.
5.0	11/5 and 11/8	The Ubiqutous Styrofoam Cup 16.0	Classification and Identification of Common Plastics 17.0
6.0	11/19 and 11/22	Reactions of Acids and Common Substances. Vinegar Titration	Expt. 8 and 9

Course Syllabus

CHEM 115 Course Description

Chemistry 115 is intended to cover general chemistry concepts in greater depth. This usually means there will be a stronger emphasis on a quantitative description of chemical phenomena. Moreover, the course assumes that students have had a strong exposure to high school chemistry. Therefore the first week of the course will be a quick review of the basic fundamental concepts of general chemistry. Students are encouraged to review the concepts of atomic structure, ions, electronic configuration of atoms/ions, ionic and covalent bonding, Lewis dot structures, periodic table trends, nuclear decay, molecular formulation, mole concept for atoms and molecules, chemical equations, stoichiometry, chemical equilibrium, phase transitions, acid-base properties and definitions, gas laws, and unit analysis/conversion.

The course comes with a laboratory component that meets only once a week on Tuesday afternoons from 12:30PM to 3:40PM. Enrollment in Chemistry 115 requires that you conduct all laboratory exercises. Should a conflict arise (athletics, illness, and burgeoning crisis) with the laboratory exercises, scheduling must be worked out with the instructor as soon as possible.

Required Materials

• "Chemical Principles" by Steven S. Zumdahl

   

Course Schedule and Grading^**

Course Schedule^**
REVIEW

• Atoms, molecule, ions; nomenclature; Chapters 2, 3, 4
• periodic table; chemical formulas; stoichiometry; balancing equations; limiting reagents; types of reactions
• Nuclear Chemistry^*a; Chapter 21
• Gases^*a; Chapter 5

Exam #1

• CHEMICAL REACTION DESCRIPTION
  • Chemical Equilibrium; Chapter 6
  • Acids & Bases; Chapter 7
  • Aqueous Equilibrium; Chapter 8

Exam #2

• THERMODYNAMICS & KINETICS
  • Thermochemistry; Chapter 9
  • Spontaneity (Entropy and Free Energy); Chapter 10
  • Electrochemistry; Chapter 11
  • Chemical Kinetics; Chapter 15

Exam #3

• QUANTUM MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION OF ATOMS & MOLECULES
  • Quantum Mechanics^*b; Chapter 12
  • Bonding^*b; Chapters 13 & 14

Exam #4

• MATERIALS CHEMISTRY & SPECIAL TOPICS
  • Liquids & Solutions; Chapters 16 & 17
  • Coordination Chemistry; Chapter 20

Final Examination

^*a, ^*b Topics a and b may be interchanged.
^** This course schedule and/or grading scheme is tentative and therefore subject to change. Please contact the course instructor for details. If you have to miss a lab or exam, notify me as soon as possible or it will be considered as an unexcused absence. Exams 1 and 2 will be scheduled outside of the regular class time, and exams 3 and 4 will be held during the regular class time.

Academic Honesty

Integrity in your academic work is a premiere consideration in this course, and therefore all homework, exams, and labs should be your own. For more information on the College's academic integrity policy, consult the Pathfinder (Student Handbook) or pg. 16-17 of the L&C; College catalogue.

You are encouraged to work together on your assignments and lab reports, but the work that you turn in must be your own which includes wording and calculations. All exams (one hour) including the final (three hours) are closed book and closed notes tests with no collaborative work. Cheating will result in possible failure of the course and disciplinary action by the student judicial board.  

Copyright © 1999 Jannice Wong, Kee Consulting Inc.