Introductory Chemistry I Syllabus for 2019-2020
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

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:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

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 course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are 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. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

CHEM-1305-001 Introductory Chemistry I

Prerequisites

Corequisite: CHEM 1105

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 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

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

REQUIRED: Online Homework system, Knewton alta. Need an access code. Follow link from your Blackboard to set up. 

An open source electronic textbook will be linked to your Blackboard. 

Supplies

Pen, Pencil, Paper, Scientific Calculator

 

Student Performance

Objectives and Goals of Course

The primary objectives of this class are:

1. To gain a basic understanding of general inorganic chemistry and its application.

2. To learn fundamental theories, concepts, terms and skills to master basic inorganic chemistry.

3. To develop an understanding of basic applications of chemistry in everyday living.

4. To develop a healthy understanding and respect for general chemistry.

5. To provide a physical science elective for students not majoring in science, engineering, or related fields that would require CHEM 1311.

 

Performance/Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student should be able to do the following:

1. Have a basic understanding of chemistry and its everyday applications.

2. Explain the relation between atoms and molecules.

3. Gain fundamental knowledge of chemical nomenclature.

4. Understand simple atomic structure and the periodic table.

5. Have a basic understanding of the different types of chemical reactions.

6. Perform simple calculations related to the topics covered in the class, such as density, heat, stoichiometry, solutions, and gases.

7. Write and balance chemical equations and use the equations for basic calculations of chemical quantities. 

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:  Class meetings will be held on Zoom as announced. Please attend these meetings if at all possible; there will be a break in the meeting to complete the daily activity. If you are not able to attend the meeting, you will still need to complete this on your own for participation credit. Anyone acting disruptive in these meetings may be removed.

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

Please see Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook for further information.

 

Grading Criteria

REQUIRED EXAMS/GRADING CRITERIA: There will be four regular exams; tentative test dates are given on the student course calendar.  Any changes to this schedule will be announced in advance. Work must be legible and the final answer must be clearly indicated to receive credit; students may be required to show work on problem solving questions to obtain full credit.  If you need special accommodations, please notify the instructor in advance. Because it is a quick summer session, it will often be requested that students take the test on the same day if at all possible.

Testing Rules:  While use of books and online resources are permitted on tests, the work should be the student's own. If an essay question is given, answers should not be identical to those of a classmate. Tests will be given through Blackboard and/or Knewton. Test item order, and the order of answer choices, may vary from student to student. There will be a comprehensive final exam which is required for everyone. 

Grading: The lowest exam score (NOT the final) will be dropped when the test average is calculated; if one test is missed, that is a zero which can be used as the drop grade.  Homework assignments from the Knewton online system will be part of your grade as well; these are a percentage of the material in each topic that has been mastered by the due date. Because there are numerous small assignments, the lowest five will be dropped. There is also a daily assignment grade, based on participation; these assignments will be graded for completion, but will be required each day. The lowest three of these will be dropped. The final grade in this class will be determined from the average of test grades (60%), daily assignments (10%), homework (10%), and final exam (20%). The final grades are based on 90 = A, 80 = B, 70 = C, 60 = D, and less than 60 is failing.  Final averages will be rounded to the nearest whole number to determine grades.  There will be no exceptions; e.g. a 79.4 is still a C.

Tutoring is available through online appointments with the STSC. This is highly encouraged for anyone having trouble or questions, especially if you score below a 70 on an exam. 

The final exam is comprehensive, and there are no exemptions from taking the final.  The final exam must be completed by Thursday, July 2, 2020 at noon.  See the course calendar for other due dates; any changes will be announced in class. 

HOMEWORK GUIDELINES: Homework is done online through the Knewton alta system. This is required of all students. No late work will be accepted. (If an emergency situation arises, please contact the instructor as soon as possible; do not wait until the next class meeting.)  Assignments are due at 11:59 p.m. 

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are expected to attend class Zoom meetings if at all possible. There will be a daily participation activity for a grade; time will be allotted to work on this in the mornings. Students who are unable to attend the Zoom meetings are still responsible for learning the material and doing the daily activity.

Students who attend class regularly and participate in all assignments tend to have much higher grades and are much more likely to pass the course.  It is important not to get behind. Students who are struggling are encouraged to contact the instructor or the STSC as soon as possible. If a student finds it necessary to drop this class, it is that student's responsibility to contact the instructor and initiate the drop process. The last day to drop this class is June 25, 2020.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

OTHER INFORMATION (GENERAL NOTES): Assignments will be given for reading material and videos to watch. It is important that you do these on schedule.  This will greatly improve your understanding of the topic and therefore your grade.  You are responsible for the information presented.

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 a week of having the grade posted.

EMAIL:  Every student has an account in Blackboard (AC Connect).  You need to check this several times a week. Announcements, course notes, and grades will be posted this way. 

***This syllabus is subject to change. You will be informed of any changes to the syllabus in class or through AC Connect, Blackboard, or AC email.***