\ 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

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.  Pay attention in class. If you are causing a disruption in class, you may be asked to leave. Avoid listening to personal music players, using phones/devices for things unrelated to class, and any obvious “multitasking”.

If there is any evidence of cheating on any homework, quiz, test, or final, you will receive a zero for that item and cannot replace or drop that zero.

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 - 5%, Group Project – 5%, Tests - 60%, Homework - 10%, Final Exam - 15%.  Grades are based on 90 and up = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, 59 and lower = F.  Grades will be rounded to the nearest whole number.  Final grades will not be curved.

Tests: There will be 5 regular exams; tentative test dates are listed on the calendar below.  These dates are subject to change.  The lowest exam 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 you have a conflict with the exam dates, let the instructor know in advance.  Exams will be taken in the Science Testing Center. You may not leave the room during a test. During tests, there are no cell phones, graphing calculators or other electronic devices allowed.  You must use the periodic tables, scratch paper, and calculators supplied by the department. You should bring nothing more than a pencil, your student ID, and the printout of the emailed ticket if you need it.

If you have a test grade below 70%, mandatory tutoring is required before you take the next exam.  You can get this from the SEC or a chemistry instructor.  Bring your exam with you to tutoring.  Please do this as soon as possible; chemistry is a comprehensive subject that builds on itself.  It is hard to catch up if you get behind!  After you have completed your tutoring, show the signed tutoring slip to your instructor.

 All tests except for 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.
 You will have a window of at least 3 days in which to take the exam.

Cheating will not be tolerated in any Chemistry course at Amarillo College. 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!

In addition to the test remediation that is required, you may take (optional) a 20 question post quiz after we go over the exam. This is voluntary and anyone may participate. It is recommended that you go over the previous exam with the instructor or tutors and cover any questions missed before you take the post quiz.  This quiz will be designed to reflect your knowledge of the material. You will receive 25% of the points you improved back to your original test grade. For example, if you make a 60 on an exam and score a 100 on the post quiz you scored 40 points higher on the post quiz than on the original exam, therefore you would get 10 points (25%) added back to your original score bringing it to a 70. There will not be a post quiz over chapters 8 and 9 due to time constraints.  You will have one week after the exams are returned to complete the post quiz.

There may be optional study sessions, before exams or at other times, given by the instructor or by SEC tutors. These study sessions are there to allow students to review material and practice questions with one another and to ask any follow up questions. Come prepared with questions and study material beforehand.

Reading Quizzes: The quizzes will be assigned to ensure that students are keeping up with reading the text. Quizzes will be assigned through Mastering Chemistry.  Reading quizzes may be due before the first day covering that chapter.  The schedule will be announced in class and on the Blackboard Calendar, and due dates will be visible on your Mastering page.  The lowest grade will be dropped.

In-Class Quizzes:  We will do small quizzes during lecture; these will be done either on paper or on Learning Catalytics, a software program that can be linked to Mastering Chemistry. There will be quiz questions on most lecture days.  They will be graded by chapter.  If your answers for all quiz questions over a given chapter are less than 70% correct, this is a “red flag” that you need to see the instructor or the tutors and review the chapter.  If you miss a class, you will get zeroes for all the quiz questions given that day; you will also get behind on material. Please make arrangements to cover the material you missed. If you know about an unavoidable absence in advance, let the instructor know before the class meeting time. At the instructor’s discretion, you might be allowed to make up quiz questions if this is done before the next class meeting.

Homework Problems: Problems will be assigned for each chapter.  The homework will be online through Mastering Chemistry.  Doing the homework improves the understanding of the subject matter.  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. 

Extra Credit: Occasional extra credit assignments might be given that will count toward your homework, quiz, or test grade depending on the assignment. 

Group Project: Students will give a presentation in small groups on a chemistry-related topic during the second half of the semester. These must be presented in front of the class, and each group member must have a visible role in the presentation. Students will be graded on teamwork as well as individual contributions.

Final Exam: This will be a comprehensive, multiple-choice exam.  Special rules for the final will be posted beforehand.  This will be taken during the scheduled final exam time in the CLASSROOM, not the testing center.  If you have a conflict with the time, you may take the final at another time, but you need to obtain instructor approval in advance.

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 one week of the grade being posted 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. The last day to withdraw from this course is November 17, 2015.

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:  Copies of lectures will be available on Blackboard, under “Content".  Practice problems may be posted there or in the SEC.  Exam review checklists and practice sheets will be posted on Blackboard or through Mastering Chemistry.  Please be aware of the “Study Area” as a resource within Mastering Chemistry.

Email:  Every student has an account in Blackboard.  You need to check this daily. Grades will be posted on Blackboard; if I need to contact you, I will normally use your Amarillo College email.  Please check that account daily also.

INFORMATION SHEET/SIGNATURE:  You must fill out and return the information sheet for this class.  You must also sign it to signify that you have read and understand the syllabus.  

***This syllabus is subject to change.  You will be informed of any changes to the syllabus in class and on Blackboard.***