Introductory Chemistry I Laboratory Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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

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Course

CHEM-1105-001 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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(1 sem hrs; 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Introductory Chemistry Laboratory, by Mary Graff (paperback)

Supplies

1. Introductory Chemistry Laboratory, by Mary Graff (paperback)
2. All students are required to purchase safety goggles (NOT glasses) with side-shields and a plastic apron or lab coat (If you are going on to other chemistry courses, I recommend buying a lab coat as opposed to the plastic apron.  If you want to know of local and/or online sources for lab coats, let me know and I will help you find one at a relatively decent cost). If you believe you have safety gear that will work as a substitute to the items listed above, bring the item to show me and I will decide if it is a proper substitute or not.
3. A non-graphing, non-programmable scientific calculator (I used a Texas Instruments TI-30XIIS as a student, but other acceptable types/brands are available. If you have questions on whether your device meets requirements, I will look at it and decide whether you may use it for midterm/final exams)
4. Pen (blue or black ink), non erasable
5. Pencil/eraser

Student Performance

1. Perform basic calculations and conversions using the proper use of significant figures
2. Demonstration of safe and effective use of laboratory equipment and chemical reagents
3. Perform laboratory techniques using safe procedures (safety for yourself and others in the lab is the most important student performance here)
4. Explanation of basic chemical reactions and physical changes from an experimental basis
5. Development of “laboratory etiquette” (leaving the lab space clean after use for the other people who use the lab, proper labeling of stored solutions, etc.)

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

• No glassware/equipment/chemical is to be touched before the instructor gives students permission. Refusal to adhere to this rule grants the right for the instructor to dismiss the student from the lab and the student will receive a zero for that lab.
• Unsafe behavior will not be tolerated. Always wear proper safety equipment, otherwise the student will be asked to leave the lab. This includes: goggles, aprons, close-toed shoes.
• Pants and sleeves must be of reasonable length to protect your skin.
• Use of previous semester’s work is considered cheating. If the student is caught using other students’ work (past or present), you will receive a zero for the assignment grade.
• Before you leave any lab, it is imperative that your work station be left clean. Failure to properly clean your work space may result in points docked from your grade or possibly a zero for the lab, at my discretion.
• Food, beverages, tobacco, or gum are not allowed in the laboratory at any time.  Closed containers, left in your backpack/bag, are okay as long as you do not open the container in the lab and the bag is placed in designated shelves at the front of the lab room.
• Use of ANY electronic communication devices is strictly prohibited during testing (this includes cell phones, laptops, desktops, etc.). You will be required to turn off and put your cell phones away prior to exams. Noncompliance with these rules may result in an automatic zero for the exam.

If an emergency situation arises to where use of your phone during an exam is necessary, you must notify the instructor for the course. Furthermore, if the instructor feels the electronic device (tablet, phone, laptop, etc.) is disruptive, the instructor has the right to ask you to turn it off or excuse you from the lab.

Use of excessive profanity is unacceptable. This is a professional setting and we should conduct ourselves accordingly. If the instructor feels the student is being disruptive, he has the right to dismiss the student from lab. Depending on the severity of the disruption, the student may be required to forfeit their grade. Appropriate conduct applies to the Science Enrichment Center and/or Science Testing Center as well.

Grading Criteria

• On the first day of lab, a safety quiz will be administered to the students. A grade of 80% or higher must be earned to participate in laboratory for the rest of the semester. The safety quiz will account for 5% of your final lab grade.  If you make below an 80%, you will be required to retake the safety quiz after discussion/review with your instructor until you make above 80%.  However, the first attempt’s score will be the grade you receive in the gradebook.

• A pre-lab exercise will need to be turned in prior to the experiment designed for that day.  If you do not complete the prelab prior to entering the lab scheduled for that day, you may not participate in the lab exercise. Pre-labs will account for 5% of your final grade.

• Pre-lab quizzes will be administered at the beginning of each lab period. Pre-lab quizzes will account for 5% of the final grade.

• Lab reports are due either the day of the experiment or the following lab period, depending on the lab performed (I will let you know at the beginning of each lab period). Lab reports will account for 60% of the final lab grade.

• Post-lab assignments can be turned in with the lab report for the conducted experiment or turned in before the next scheduled lab and will account for 5% of your final grade.

• There will be a comprehensive midterm and lab final exams. The midterm will account for 5% of the final lab grade, while the final will account for 15% of the final grade.

Safety Quiz - 5%

Pre-lab - 5%

Pre-lab Quiz - 5%

Lab Reports - 60%

Post-labs - 5%

Midterm - 5%

Final - 15%

Attendance

It is important to attend every lab session as there will be NO makeup for missed labs. The lowest lab report grade will be dropped when calculating final grades. The lab midterm and final cannot be dropped and is therefore exempt from the drop policy.  

Calendar

Additional Information

Cheating or academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. If the instructor suspects cheating, an “F” will be issued to the student(s) involved. The instructor also reserves the right to issuance of an “F” without confronting the student.

For withdrawal from the course a grade of “W” will be given for drops on or before the published official withdrawal date (Nov. 20^th for 16-week course).

The final grade submitted to the registrar’s office will not be changed unless approval by a full-time chemistry faculty committee is granted. All requests must be submitted in writing.

If the campus is closed due to bad weather, it is your responsibility to study the assigned material. If an exam is scheduled and classes are canceled, you will be notified of the new exam dates. Cancellations will be announced by 6:30 AM or by 3:00 PM for evening courses. Please refer to the AC website for more details.

If the office hours posted conflict with another course, work, or family obligations feel free to contact me via e-mail to schedule an appointment. 

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