Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Course Information

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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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

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Course

CHEM-1105-004 Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: 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

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(1 sem hrs; 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Introductory Chemistry Laboratory, Mary Graff. – Mandatory

Supplies

All students are required to purchase safety goggles (NOT glasses) with sideshields and a plastic apron. 

A non-graphing, non-programmable scientific calculator.If you have purchased one for the lecture (1305) it is not necessary to purchase another calculator for lab. 

Student Performance

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.

Course Objectives

1. To develop fundamental laboratory skills.
2. To study laboratory reactions and their relation to lecture materials.
3. To develop problem solving 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

1. No cell phone usage will be tolerated in the laboratory. 
2. No glassware is to be touched before the instructor gives students permission. Refusal to adhere to this rule will be causation for the instructor to dismiss the student from lab and the student will get a zero for that lab. 
3. Anyone acting in an unsafe manner will be warned once.  If seen without safety equipment or acting improperly a second time, they will be asked to leave the laboratory and receive a zero for that lab.
4. Use of previous semester’s work, from whatever source, is considered cheating. If a student is seen to be using any other student’s work, past or present, they will receive a zero grade for that assignment and it cannot be dropped.
5. You must clean up your area of the lab and be given permission before leaving the laboratory. Failure to do so will result in a zero of that lab and cannot be made up. 
6. 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.
7. Pants or skirts must come to at least mid-calf.
8. Your feet must be covered at all times with closed shoes.
9. Shirts that do not completely cover the back and torso are strongly discouraged.
10. Hats, including baseball caps, are not allowed in the laboratory.
11. No food, beverages, tobacco, or gum are allowed in the laboratory at any time.
12. 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 and a zero for that lab. 

Grading Criteria

1. The first day of lab, a safety quiz will be issued to students. A grade of 80% or higher must be earned in order to participate in laboratory for the rest of the semester. The safety quiz will account for 2.5% of your final grade. 
2. Students will be required to learn the anatomy and name of basic laboratory materials. There will be a handout provided to students online on Blackboard to study and students will be able to look at these materials the first day of lab. The second lab day, there will be a quiz based on the instruments we looked at in the previous lab and will account for 2.5% of your final grade. 
3. Prelabs will be online assignments and can be found in the content area of Blackboard designated for lab. Prelabs must be completed by 8:00 a.m. the day of lab. If a 70% is not achieved in the 3 attempts given by 8:00 a.m., the student will not be allowed to perform the lab as she or he will be considered a risk to the safety of other students in the lab. Prelabs will account for 10% of your final grade. 
4. Pre-lab quizzes will be online assignments and can be found in the content area of Blackboard designated for lab. Students who do not pass the pre-lab quiz with a 70% within 3 attempts before 8:30 a.m. of lab day will not be allowed to perform that day’s lab as she or he will be considered a risk to the safety of other students in the lab. Students who fail to complete or pass either or both the pre-lab or pre-lab quiz will get a zero for that lab report. Prelab quizzes will account for 5% of your final grade. 
5. Lab reports are due the same day they are performed. In rare instances and only with the instructors permission will it be allowed for students to finish the calculations at home. Lab Reports will account for 50% of your final grade. 
6. Postlabs will be online assignments and can be found in the content area of Blackboard designated for lab. Postlabs are due at 11:59 P.M. the day before the next lab. Failure to turn in post-labs will result in a zero for that grade. Postlabs will account for 10% of your grade.
7. There will be a comprehensive midterm and lab final. The midterm will account for 5% of your final grade and the comprehensive final exam will account for 15% of your final grade. 
8. The lowest prelab, prelab quiz, lab results and postlab grade will be dropped. The Lab safety quiz, equipment review, midterm and final cannot be dropped. 
9. Grade Disputes:  While I encourage you to ask questions, if you wish to dispute a grade, you must contact me within a week of the grade being posted online in the gradebook or there will be no change to the disputed grade. 

Attendance

It is important that you do not miss a lab.

There are no make-up labs, no exceptions. 

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.  (Do not miss the lab midterm or final - these grades cannot be dropped.)

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. It is especially important to show up to lab on time since there is a limited time period for the group to complete the lab. If a student fails to show to class after oral directions from the instructor have been given to the class, the student will not be allowed to perform that days lab even if they have completed the prelab and prelab quiz as they will be considered a safety risk to other students in the lab. 

Important Dates:

Monday, January 16^th  – Martin Luther King Holiday (College Closed)

Tuesday, January 17^th – Classes Begin

Tuesday, January 24^th  –  Census Day (Spring 1 –  8 week classes) 

Wednesday, February 1^st – Census Day (16 week classes) 

Tuesday, February 28^th – Last day to Withdraw (Spring 1 – 8 week classes)

Wednesday, March 1^st – Preferred deadline AC Foundation 2017-2018 Scholarship Application

Friday, March 10^th – Classes End (Spring 1 – 8 week classes)

Monday, March 13^th – Friday March 17^th – SPRING BREAK

Monday, March 20^th – Spring 2 – 8 week classes begin

Monday, March 27^th  – Census Day (Spring 2 – 8 week classes)

Monday, April 17^th – Fall and Summer Registration Begins at 6 AM. 

Friday, April 21^st – Last day to Withdraw (16 week classes)

Tuesday, May 2^nd – Last day to Withdraw (Spring 2 – 8 week classes)

Monday, May 8^th – Friday, May 12^th – Final Exams Week

Friday, May 12^th – Commencement @ 7PM, Civic Center

Scheduled LAB FINAL: TBA. BE ON TIME. Finals are taken in the regularly assigned classroom (Failure to arrive on time will forfeit the student's right to take the final).

Calendar

Additional Information

Cheating Policy: There is a no tolerance cheating policy in this course. If the instructor suspects or catches a student(s) cheating, an "F" will be issued to that student(s) for the course. The instructor also reserves the right to issue an "F" without confronting the student especially if it is finals week.

 

WITHDRAW: A grade of "W" will be given for drops or withdraws on or before the published official withdraw date.

 

FINAL GRADE CHANGES: The final grade turned into the registrar's office will not be changed unless approved by all full time chemistry faculty committee. Request must be submitted in writing.

 

BAD WEATHER: 
If classes are canceled due to inclement weather, you are responsible for reading and learning the material that would have been covered. If an exam was scheduled and classes are canceled, the exam will be given the next class meeting. (BE PREPARED). If class is canceled the last day of class and an exam was scheduled, then the exam will be added to the Final Exam and the questions will count as the exam and as the final exam. All attendance policies will be be enforced, unless Amarillo College officially cancels classes, NO EXCEPTIONS. Cancelations will be announced on the radio by 6:30 AM or by 3:00 PM for evening classes. Also check the AC website.