General Chemistry I Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Office Location

<p><strong>Warren Hall 101B</strong></p>

Office Hours

M, T, W, R, 8.30-9.30am and by appointment

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-1411-001 General Chemistry I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: CHEM 1305, Introductory Chemistry I, minimum grade of C or high school chemistry; MATH 1314, College Algebra or MATH 1414, College Algebra/STEM-minimum grade of C

Course Description

Fundamental principles of chemistry for majors in the sciences, health sciences, and engineering; topics include measurements, fundamental properties of matter, states of matter, chemical reactions, chemical stoichiometry, periodicity of elemental properties, atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, solutions, properties of gases, and an introduction to themodynamics and descriptive chemistry.  Basic laboratory experiments supporting theoretical principles presented in CHEM 1411 Lecture; introduction of the scientific method, experimental design, data collection and analysis, and preparation of laboratory reports. 

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

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbooks

OpenStax Chemistry 2e,

A free online resource. https://openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e

You are required to purchae the access code to KnewtonAlta from AC bookstore or from KewntonAlta.com

Access to Knewton online quiz system-through the Knewton link on your blackboard course homepage to active it using the activation code.

Laboratory Manual:  Principles of General Chemistry, A. G. Foster, 2003 Revision

Preparing for your ACS examination in General Chemistry:  highly recommended book

Supplies

Modified Mastering Chemistry Access 

The course will be linked to Mastering Chemistry through Blackboard.

Bring a scientific calculator (non-graphing)

 

Student Performance

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

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

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

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

Lecture:

Due to the present remote learning set up this class contains already uploaded pre-recorded lectures under the class contents and they are listed in the order of the path that has planned for this course. You can access these lectures (you are not required to be present during the class times) anytime and please make sure to complete the lectures according to the flow of the syllabus to be in the same pace as the rest of the class.

There will be a link for virtual classroom on top of the course contents-you can use that link to connet with me for office hours in case if you cannot make it in person and we plan to use the same link to go over virtual labs and problem solving.

 

The final average will be derived from the following weighted grades: Quizzes - 20%, Tests - 45%, Labs-15%, Final Exam - 20%.  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 4 regular exams, 4 midterms will be conducted via online KnewtonAlta and the final exam (standardized American Chemical Society exam) will be held in class during the week of May 9'th; tentative test dates are listed on the calendar below.  These dates are subject to change.  The lowest midterm 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 departmentYou need to bring a pencil and your student ID. Please note:  No tests will be given out less than one and a half hours before the Science Testing Center closes. 

If you have a test grade below 70%, mandatory tutoring is required before you take the next exam.  You can get this from the STSC or a chemistry instructor.   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! 

 

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 as well as in the classroom. If they see your cell phone out AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, while in the testing room, YOU WILL RECEIVE an "F" for the course!

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 online through Mastering Chemistry.  Reading quizzes may be due before the first day covering that chapter.  Due dates will be visible on your Mastering page.  The lowest grade will be dropped.

In-Class Quizzes:  We will do small quizzes on most lecture days. If you find yourself scoring 60% or lower on these quizzes, this is a “red flag” that you need to see the instructor or the tutors and review the material.  If you miss a class, you will get a zero on any quiz 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 quizzes if this is done before the next class meeting. The lowest three quiz grades will 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. 

Final Exam: This will be a comprehensive, multiple-choice exam.  Special rules for the final will be discussed in class.  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.  Any student wishing to withdraw from the course needs to contact the instructor to initiate the process.  Failure to officially withdraw will result in a grade of F.

 

Calendar

 

       This schedule is subject to change.

 

Date

Topic

Special notes

Week 1

 Please check the order of subtopics under the course contents. Connect to the course using KnewtonAlta before next class period
     

 

Chapter 1 Significant figures; using conversion factors

 

Week 2

Chapter 2 The periodic table; chemical formulas. (Lab preview:The electrons in an atom, and how we represent them.)  Lab - measurements

 

Chapter 6 Electronic structure of the atom. Light calculations; atomic spectra

 

 Week 3

Chapters 2-3 The mole; formulas and bonding; molecules. Review and catch up  Lab - dry lab (nomelclature drill)

 

Chapter 3 Bonding; ionic nomenclature

 

 

Chapter 3  Covalent and acid nomenclature   Exam 1; 02/09-02/15

Week 4

Chapter Quantum numbers and orbitals (Lab review: conductivity and ionic equations.)

Lab- Dry lab- Light lab

 

   

 Week 5

Chapters 4  Mass percentages; empirical and molecular formulas. Introduction to reactions and balancing. (Lab preview: some reactions with oxides and hydroxides.)

Lab- Dry lab- molecular models

 

   

 Week 6

Chapter 4 Stoichiometry and reaction yield

Lab- Precipitation reactions

 

   

Week 7

Chapter 4  Precipitation reactions. (Lab preview: building a covalent molecule.)

 Exam 2; 3/02-3/08

Lab- Acid and base oxides

 

   

 Week 8

Chapter 8 Trends in the periodic table; properties of ions (Lab review: precipitation.)

No lab

 

Chapter 8 Groups of the periodic table  

 Week 9

Chapter 8 Lewis dot structures; electronegativity. (:Lab information: titration.)

Exam 3; 3/30/-4/05

Reserve day for completions of dy labs

 

   

 Week 10

Chapter 8 Structures of molecules; bond energies

 

 

Lab- stoichiometry

Week 11

Chapter 9 VSEPR theory; shapes of molecules

Lab-conductivity (virtual/optional)

 

Chapter 9  Hybridization and Molecular Orbital Theory  

 Week 12

Chapter 10 Gas laws

Lab - Molar Volume lab

 

 

 

 Week 13

Chapter 5 Thermodynamics

 Exam 4; 4/20-4/26

Lab - Titrations lab

 Week 14/15

   

 

   

Week 16

 

 Final Exam 05/10

 

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.  There is a lot of information covered in this class, and it will move quickly.  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.  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.***  

 

Syllabus Created on:

01/16/22 11:49 AM

Last Edited on:

02/07/22 9:17 AM