Principles of Chemistry I Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Instructor Information

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Course

CHEM-1311-003 Principles of Chemistry I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: CHEM 1305-minimum grade of C or high school chemistry; MATH 1314; RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills Corequisite: CHEM 1111

Course Description

Fundamental principles of chemistry for majors in the sciences, health sciences and engineering; topics include measurements, fundamental properties of matter, states of matter, chemical reactions, chemical stoichiometry, periodicity of elemental properties, atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, solutions, properties of gases, and an introduction to thermodynamics and descriptive chemistry.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Chemistry:  The Central Science, 12th Edition, by Brown, LeMay, Bursten (if you are continuing on to 1312; black/silver hard-back book)

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\ Chemistry:  The Central Science, Custom Edition for AC, by Brown, LeMay, Bursten (1311 only; soft-cover book)

Supplies

Mastering Chemistry Access (www.masteringchemistry.com; green1311spring2014)

Student Performance

\ Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

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\ 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.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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 be respectful of the other students in class.  Turn off cell phones/pagers.  Pay attention in class.  Do not be disruptive.  If you arrive late, do not try to go to your accustomed seat, but quietly take a chair close to the door.  If you are causing a disruption in class, you may be asked to leave. 

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\ If there is any evidence of cheating on any homework, quiz, test, or final, you will receive a zero for that item and cannot make it up or replace it and it cannot be dropped.

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\ Please see Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for further information.

Grading Criteria

The final average will be derived from the following weighted grades: Reading Quizzes – 5%, Daily Quizzes - 10%, Tests - 60%, Homework - 10%, Final Exam - 15%.  Grades are based on 90.00+ = A, 80.00-89.99 = B, 70.00-79.99 = C, 60.00-69.99 = D, and 59.99 and lower = F.

Tests: There will be a test approximately every two chapters covered (i.e. 4-5 tests).  The test date will be announced at least a week in advance.  The lowest grade will be dropped. If a test is missed it will automatically count as a zero, but can still be the dropped grade.  There are NO makeup exams.  Work must be legible and the final answer must be clearly indicated to receive credit.  If special accommodations become necessary, arrangements must be made BEFORE (at least 48 hours prior) the exam date and you must have written approval from the instructor in order to take the exam at a different time than your section of CHEM 1311.  You may not leave the room during a test.  No tests will be handed out once someone has left the room.  During tests, there are no cell phones, graphing calculators or other electronics devices allowed.  You must use the periodic tables, scratch paper, and calculators supplied by the department.  You should bring nothing more than a pencil and the printout of the emailed ticket.  FOR ALL STUDENTS, YOUR TICKET MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE TEST AND COMPLETED BEFORE THE TEST BEGINS or you cannot take the test.

In order to take an exam you will receive an email to your AC Connect/Gmail account. This is your ticket to taking an exam, therefore you must bring a printout of this to class. This is also how I will communicate to you on whether or not you need tutoring over a chapter or quiz (see daily quizzes below). If you do need tutoring over a chapter there will be a space provided for a signature from Mr. Green. THIS IS REQUIRED BEFORE YOU TAKE AN EXAM.   As detailed below you will not be allowed to take an exam if you have not done the mandatory tutoring for those chapters, if needed.

If you have a test grade below a 70%, you must schedule a time with me to go over the test (remediation).  You CANNOT take another test until you have picked up your previous test & shown the instructor the signed copy of your test if remediation was required.

Reading Quizzes: The quizzes will be assigned to ensure that students are keeping up with reading the text. Quizzes will be administered in class in the first few minutes of lecture time.  Quizzes over a particular chapter occur early in the discussion of that chapter, but always occur sometime in the middle of the total discussion time.  Generally quizzes on a subject will be the first full day covering that chapter.  That is, if we finish chapter X one day and begin chapter Y that same day, the next day will have a quiz over chapter Y.  Likewise, if we finish chapter Y at the end of the class period, the next period we will begin chapter Z and will have a quiz over it.  Please see schedules emailed weekly.  The lowest grade will be dropped. If a quiz is missed it will automatically count as the low grade.  There are NO makeup quizzes.  If you are not in the classroom when quizzes are passed out, you cannot take the quiz for that chapter.  Do not arrive tardy for class.  There are NO MAKEUPS for Reading Quizzes.

A "Reading Quiz 0" will be emailed to you which is over this syllabus.  It is required that you take this and get all answers completely correct or you will not be allowed to take any tests.  You must also initial each question to show you understand the corresponding portion of the syllabus.  The due date for Quiz 0 is September 11th.  If you do not have a 100% at that point, your grade will remain a zero, but you may continue to attempt to turn in quizzes until you have one completely correct.

Daily Quizzes:  During lecture, marked questions will appear on slides that you must answer and turn in at the end of class.  These will be graded and your quiz grade for that day will be based on the number correct.  If the number of questions is not evenly divisible into 100, the remainder of points will be for the date and quiz number, so make sure to fill out those on every quiz.  Due to the nature of the lecture course, the number of questions will vary from day to day, but if there is lecture (not a test or a problems day) there will be a quiz grade. 

Be aware that missing a class day is very likely to cause your chapter average to drop below a 70%.

Homework Problems: Problems will be assigned for each chapter.  Doing the homework improves the understanding of the subject matter.  Assignments will generally consist of 15-20 questions and due dates will be posted on the Mastering Chemistry website.  Assignments are due at 11:59 pm and NO late homework will be accepted.  Do not leave homework until the last minute as you may have trouble connecting to the internet.  Homework assignments cannot be made up, but two assignments can be dropped.  The homework (except below) will be online through www.masteringchemistry.com.  The course ID is green1311spring2014.

There will be a "Homework 0" that is due by February 5th.  In order to do this assignment, you must schedule 2 hours (it may not take you the whole time) with the Testing Center to go in and take an old version of the ACS final.  All you need to bring is a pencil for filling out a provided scantron.  This will be a completion grade--either a 100% or a 0% for not doing it.  However, you cannot simply sign in and get 100%.  Your start and finish times will be recorded.  It is to your advantage to do the best you can and fully attempt all questions as this is an old version of the final exam for this course.  Become familiar with it now, rather than later.

Extra Credit: Rare extra credit assignments might be given in class that will count toward either your final homework grade or test grade depending on the assignment.  There is always the option to submit questions for any quiz or test with the correct answers.  Please label papers with the assignment for which you are turning in questions. These must be submitted by 5 pm the evening before the quiz or test to receive any credit.  In addition to the EC, the question may well appear on the assignment.  The “better” the question and the sooner I receive it, the more likely it is to be included.

Final Exam: The final exam will be given on Wednesday, May 14, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in MCC 146. This will be a comprehensive, multiple-choice exam produced by the American Chemical Society.  Special rules for the final will be posted beforehand.   As with normal tests, you may, if necessary, take the final at another time, but you must inform me at least 48 hours before your section’s scheduled time, have a valid reason, and have written approval from me in order to switch when you will take the final.

Overall Grade:  It is the students’ responsibility to keep track of their overall grade based on Reading Quizzes – 5%, In-Class Quizzes - 10%, Tests - 60%, Homework - 10%, Final Exam - 15%.  The lowest reading quiz, test, and homework grade and the lowest 2 in-class quizzes will all be dropped and the average for that type of assignment will be based on one (or 2) less than the total.  If you have trouble calculating your grade, you may come to my office to see your overall grade.

Grade Disputes:  While I encourage you to come to me with questions about answers on assignments anytime, if you wish to dispute a grade or have a grade changed, you must contact me about it within two weeks of the grade being posted in AC Online or there will be no change to the grade.

Attendance

Attendance in class is expected.  Dropping the course is the sole responsibility of the student.  Failure to officially withdraw will result in a grade of F. 

Last day to withdraw from courses is April 24.

Calendar

Additional Information

Reading the Text:  It is vital that you read the text BEFORE the lecture on that chapter.  This will greatly improve your understanding of the topic and therefore your grade.  As there is a large amount of information to cover in this class, not all of it can be covered in the time allotted for class.  You are responsible for the information presented in the text even if it is not covered in lecture.

Resources Available:  In addition to copies of lecture slides available on both CD and print-outs on the 4^th floor of the library, there are numerous additional resources available to you.  Additional helpful books and practice tests are available on reserve on the 4^th floor of the library.  Should you desire supplemental or additioanl problems over a particular topic, please let me know.  Mastering Chemsitry:  Please be aware of the Study Area as a resource within Mastering Chemistry.  The Science Enrichment Center is a further resource for you.  Please see above on in-class quizzes for further information on mandatory tutoring at the SEC.

Web Portal:  Every student has an account in AC Connect.  You need to check this daily.  Handouts, extra credit assignments, grades, schedules and email contact will all be made or posted on AC Connect.  This is where you should me as your instructor (since it labels the email with the class, it is much easier to keep track of emails that way).

Class Evaluation:  At the end of each class period, you may be asked to fill out a short form including any questions you might have about the subject, whether that day’s lecture or a previous topic.  In addition to keeping roll, these questionnaires are intended to assist both you and me in addressing problem areas and WILL NOT affect your grade.

INFORMATION SHEET/SIGNATURE:  You must fill out and return the information sheet for this class (handed out and posted in AC Connect).  You must also sign it to signify that you have read and understand the syllabus.  You will receive grades of zero in AC Connect for all assignments and no graded assignments will be returned to you until the signed information sheet is turned in.

***This syllabus is subject to change.  You will be informed of any changes to the syllabus in class, email, and posting in AC Online.***