Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory Syllabus for 2011-2012
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

CHEM-1105-001 Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory

Prerequisites

CHEM 1305 or concurrent enrollment

Course Description

Experiments to complement lecture material. Experience in use of standard laboratory equipment and techniques, such as filtration, density measurements, qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(1 sem hrs; 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Introductory Chemistry Laboratory Manual, by Mary E. Graff

Supplies

\ All students are required to purchase safety goggles, NOT glasses, and a plastic apron. A non graphing calculator is also needed. You will need a pencil and a blue or black pen.

Student Performance

\  

\ Objectives and Goals of Course

\ 1. To develop fundamental laboratory skills.

\ 2. To study laboratory reactions and their relation to lecture materials.

\ 3. To develop problem solving skills.

\  

\ Performance/Learning Objectives

\ 1. Make and perform basic calculations using the metric system of measurements.

\ 2. Demonstrate good laboratory practices.

\ 3. Perform laboratory operations using safe procedures.

\ 4. Explain basic reactions from an experimental basis.

\   

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Please set cell phones to silent mode during lab and do not send text messages during the prelab lecture.  If it is a necessity to have a phone on, please notify the instructor during the first week of class, and go outside the lab to take or make any calls.

All students are required to wear goggles at all times in the laboratory. There are absolutely NO EXCEPTIONS!!     Plastic aprons are also required to be worn in the laboratory. No shorts, no sandals or other open type shoes. Pants or skirts must cover the knees. Your feet must be covered at all times with closed shoes. Shirts that do not completely cover the back and torso are strongly discouraged. Hats, including baseball caps, are not allowed in the laboratory. No food, beverages, tobacco, or gum are allowed in the laboratory at any time. These rules are for your safety as you learn to work in the laboratory. Failure to comply with safety regulations will result in dismissal from class.

Grading Criteria

The safety quiz will be taken during the first lab period. A grade of 80% or higher must be obtained in order to attend the rest of the laboratories. Failure to take the safety quiz and pass it stops you from completing lab. There will be a comprehensive laboratory exam. During the term, there will be short prelab quizzes over most experiments, and a mid-term exercise. The final grade will be determined by the grades on your laboratory reports, your quizzes and mid-term exercise, post-labs, and the final exam. Prelabs must be turned in at the very beginning of the lab period to receive credit, and will have to be completed before you can begin the experiment.  Postlabs are due at the beginning of the next week's lab period.  Lab reports are normally due before leaving the laboratory; however, in the case of some longer labs another week may be allowed to finish calculations.

Attendance

It is important that you do not miss a lab.  There are no make-up labs.  Your lowest lab report grade will be dropped when calculating the final grades.  If you miss a lab, that will count as your drop grade.  If you know ahead of time that you will be missing a lab, you may make arrangements to come to another lab section.  If you are making arrangements to come to another lab, be sure to do that before the day of the lab.  Please arrive on time in order to receive laboratory instructions; students arriving more than 30 minutes late may be asked to leave.  In order to receive credit for an experiment, the student must be present when the experiment is being done. 

Calendar

Additional Information

April 19 is the last day to withdraw from this course and obtain a "W". Please note that if you entered college for the first time in the Fall 2007 or after, you are only allowed 6 drops within your college career.

Laboratory reports will be turned in at the end of each lab period. Homework consists of preparing for the following lab period, reading the experiment and preparing the pre-lab exercise, and doing the postlab for the previous experiment.  Post lab exercises will be turned in at the beginning of the following lab period. The pre-lab exercise must be prepared BEFORE coming to lab and turned in during the first five minutes of lab.  The prelab exercise is your “ticket”to lab; without completing it, you will not be allowed to start lab.  Prelabs turned in late will not receive credit.  Lab reports or postlabs turned in late will not receive full credit.

TEACHING METHODS:

In the lab environment, I will often not answer your questions directly. It may be frustrating to you, but the process of my asking questions back to you will help you develop the critical thinking skills that are important in all aspects of our lives. This is called the Socratic Method of instruction. Often, in the lab, the first thing I will ask you, is whether you have read the experimental procedure carefully. I may direct you to a portion of the lab manual first, and then have to come back to me if your questions aren’t answered. We will be doing some group work in the lab, and I may have you discuss a question with your group before guiding you toward an answer. Please don’t be frustrated, because I won’t let you flounder. Please ask questions if you don’t understand something – AND – remember, if you think something might be a safety issue, then it probably is. The lab should be an enjoyable experience and should enhance the topics we study in the lecture.