Introductory Chemistry I Syllabus for 2014-2015
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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.

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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

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Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

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Course

CHEM-1305-005 Introductory Chemistry I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: MATH 0303-minimum grade of C, Accuplacer score of 75, THEA score of 270 or an equivalent score on a state-approved test; RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills Corequisite:

Course Description

Survey of introductory chemistry principles including measurement, quantitative problem solving, energy, atoms, elements and atomic structure, reactions and equations. This course is a preparatory course for CHEM 1311.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Introductory Chemistry, Nivaldo Tro, 5th Edition.

Pearson Modified Mastering Chemistry system for homework (comes bundled with new text; can also be purchased separately).

Supplies

\ Pen, Pencil, Scratch Paper, Notebook, Homework folder

Student Performance

\ OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF COURSE:

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\ The primary objectives of this class are:

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1. \ To gain a basic understanding of general inorganic chemistry and its application.
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2. \ To learn fundamental theories, concepts, terms and skills to master basic inorganic chemistry.
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3. \ To develop an understanding of basic applications of chemistry in everyday living.
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4. \ To develop a healthy understanding and respect for general chemistry.
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5. \ To provide a physical science elective for students not majoring in science, engineering, or related fields that would require CHEM 1311.
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\ PERFORMANCE/LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

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\ Upon completion of this course the student should be able to do the following with a competency level of at least 70%.

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1. \ Have a basic understanding of chemistry and its everyday applications.
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2. \ Explain the relation between atoms and molecules.
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3. \ Understand simple atomic structure and the periodic table.
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4. \ Have a basic understanding of the different types of chemical reactions.
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5. \ Perform simple calculations related to the topics covered in the class, such as density, heat, stoichiometry, solutions, and gases.
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6. \ Write and balance chemical equations and use the equations for basic calculations of chemical quantities.
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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

\ Class Conduct:  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, replace it, and cannot be dropped.

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\ Please turn off your cell phones and pagers during class.  It is disruptive and disrespectful to your classmates to have a phone ringing during class.  If it is a necessity to have a phone or pager on, please see me about it during the first week of class.

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

Grading Criteria

REQUIRED EXAMS/GRADING CRITERIA: There will be an exam at the completion of each unit of study (i.e. 4-5 tests). The test date will be announced at least a week in advance. 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 24 hours prior) the exam date.  You may not leave the room during a test. During tests, there are no cell phones, pagers, or graphing calculators allowed.  You must use the periodic tables, scratch paper, and calculators supplied by the department. There will be a comprehensive final exam.  The lowest exam score will be dropped when the test average is calculatedIf a test is missed, that test is the drop grade.  There are no make-up tests. 

The final grade in this class will be determined from the average of test grades (65%), homework (15%), and final exam (20%). The final grades are based on 90.00 = A, 80.00 = B, 70.00 = C, 60.00 = D, and less than 60.00 is failing. Grades will not be rounded. An 89.99 is considered a B , an 79.99 is considered a C, an 69.99 is considered a D, and a 59.99 is considered a F.

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.

 All tests, excluding the Final Exam, will be taken in the Science Testing Center and may be taken during normal Science Testing Center hours, day or evening.  Tests are to be taken outside of class lecture time.  Please note:  No tests will be given out less than one and a half hours before the Science Testing Center closes. You must present an Amarillo College student ID every time you take a test. The Science Testing Center staff will retain your ID while you take your test and it will be returned to you when you turn in your test.
When using the Science Testing Center students should scan in and out with their Amarillo College student I.D.

You will be given at minimum 3 days to take the exam. I.E. if the exam opens on Monday I will pick them up Wednesday evening, and if the exam opens on Wednesday I will pick them up Friday evening.

Cheating will not be tolerated in any Chemistry course at Amarillo College. On the first day of class, you will be required to sign and date a Course Contract. Included in the contract is the following statement: "I fully understand that if I cheat, or attempt to cheat, on any test I will receive an automatic “F” in the course. This grade will go on my permanent transcript and cannot be removed. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: the illegal use of books, notes, cell phones*, copying or leaving the Science Testing Center with a test or questions from a test. Cheating also includes helping, or attempting to help, other students to cheat on a test."
You will not be allowed to take your tests until this contract is signed and on file in the Science Testing Center.
*Please Note: NO CELL PHONES in the Testing Room. If we see your cell phone out AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, while in the testing room, YOU WILL RECEIVE an "F" for the course!

You must use the periodic tables, work paper, and calculators supplied by the Testing Center.  You should bring nothing more than a pencil and the test ticket.  FOR ALL STUDENTS, YOUR TICKET MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE TEST AND COMPLETED BEFORE THE TEST BEGINS or you cannot start the test.  The test ticket will be a record of what tutoring is mandatory for you as a student with a place for the SEC tutors to show that you have completed it.  If this is not completed, the testing center will not hand out your exam.  You may then go to the SEC and complete it before the exam is due, given sufficient time.  DO NOT LEAVE this until the last minute as you may not be allowed to take an exam if you do.  Again, the Testing Center will not hand out tests when less than an hour and a half remains before closing.  MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE TESTING CENTER HOURS.

All tests will be comprehensive and may contain true/false, multiple choice, matching, completion, and short answer questions, as well as problem solving when applicable.  No graphing calculators will be allowed on exams.  The department will provide basic scientific calculators if you need one for the test.  Class time will be used to be sure everyone knows how to use this calculator.  There will be no mid-term exam.  The final exam is comprehensive, and there are no exemptions from taking the final. Homework assignments will be due as assigned.

Test remediation is required for any student that scores 69 or below on an exam. You will be required to bring your exam to the Science Enrichment Center (SEC) and correct the questions that you missed. Once you have done this, a tutor in the SEC must sign the front page of your exam. This is to be done before the exam following it. Please let me know as soon as possible if there is a scheduling issue and you cannot make it to the SEC in the hours they are open. Other accommodations can be made if I am given notice far enough ahead of time. If remediation is not completed before the test following it is administered, you will not be able to take the exam.

 

HOMEWORK GUIDELINES: Problems will be assigned for each chapter.  Doing the homework improves the understanding of the subject matter.  Assignments will generally consist of 10 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 one assignment can be dropped.  The homework will be online through www.masteringchemistry.com.

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY: All students are expected to attend class regularly It has been shown that students who attend class regularly have a higher success rate (read that as PASSING) than those who chose not to attend class.  There will be no make-ups for missed homework, quizzes, or test unless prior arrangements have been made. If a student finds it necessary to drop this class, it is his/her responsibility to complete and submit the necessary paperwork. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE INSTRUCTOR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DROPPING A STUDENT FROM THE CLASS!   

Calendar

Additional Information

\ OTHER INFORMATION (GENERAL NOTES): Assignments will be given for reading material in preparation for lecture and for homework assignments.  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.  You are responsible for the information presented in the text even if it is not covered in lecture.

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\ 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 assignment due date or there will be no change to the grade.

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\ EMAIL:  Every student has an account in AC Online.  You need to check this several times a week. Announcements, extra credit assignments, grades, and contact will all be made through email on AC Online.

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\ INFORMATION SHEET/SIGNATURE:  You must fill out and return the attached information sheet.  You must also sign it to signify that you have read and understand the syllabus.  No graded assignments will be returned to you and you will not be shown your overall grades until the signed information sheet is turned in.

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\ ***This syllabus is subject to change. You will be informed of any changes to the syllabus in class or AC Online***