General Chemistry I Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

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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.

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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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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.

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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-1411-004 General Chemistry I

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: CHEM 1405, 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

Lecture

ALEKS Homework online access (can buy code from bookstore or purchase through ALEKS website for discount). (required)

ACS General Chemistry Study Guide (optional)

Lab

AC General Chemistry 1 & 2 Lab Manual (Foster, found in book store) (required)

Supplies

Lecture

Pen

Pencil

Paper for notes

Graphing or Scientific Calculator

Lab

1. AC General Chemistry 1 & 2 Lab Manual, by Foster (bookstore)
2. All students are required to purchase safety goggles/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. Calculator (scientific or graphing) 
4. Pen (blue or black ink), non erasable
5. Pencil/eraser

Student Performance

Lecture

• Perform common chemistry calculations including density, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, gas laws, conversions, dimensional analysis, plus more
• Learn to name binary molecular and ionic compounds
• Learn aqueous solution chemistry/stoichiometry/reactions
• Basic thermodynamic laws
• Ideal gases and deviation from ideal behavior
• Quantum chemistry and the structure of an atom through experiments in histroy
• Periodic table and the information it contains
• Chemical bonding theories/geometry

Lab

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

Class Conduct (Lecture):  Please be respectful of the other students in class.  Set cell phones to silent mode and do not send text messages during lecture.  Any use of electronic devices should be related to the course material currently being discussed.  If you need to be "on call" for family or other reasons, please notify the instructor; in that case, set phone to vibrate and quietly step outside if you need to take a call.  Pay attention in class.  Do not be disruptive.  If you are causing a disruption in class, you may be asked to leave.  Avoid listening to personal music players or other obvious "multitasking" behaviors.

If there is any evidence of cheating on any examination or assignment, 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.

Lab

• 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.

Grading Criteria

REQUIRED EXAMS/GRADING CRITERIA (LECTURE): There will be five regular exams (45% of final grade); tentative test dates are given on the student course calendar below.  Any changes to this schedule will be announced in advance in class.  If you need special accommodations, please notify the instructor in advance.   There will be a comprehensive final exam (15% of final grade) which is required for everyone.

Homework assignments (7.5% of final grade) and quizzes (given online via Blackboard, 7.5% of final grade) will also be part of your grade.  The lowest exam score (NOT the final) will be dropped when the test average is calculated.  The lowest quiz score and the lowest homework score will also be dropped. If a test is missed, that test is the drop grade.  If you know in advance that you have a time conflict with an exam, notify the instructor BEFORE the exam is given.  Any rescheduled tests must normally be completed before the next class meeting. 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.

Recommended TUTORING:  Science Tutoring and Success Center (STSC)

    In an effort to increase retention, any student who maintains an average below 75% is required to set up a 30 minute mandatory tutoring session in the Science Enrichment Center or with his/her instructor before taking the next exam. An appointment must be made with the STSC for this tutoring session; do not wait until the last minute, as time slots fill up.

STSC hours: 8am-8pm Mon-Thurs, 8am-3pm Fri, 9am-4pm Sat

Warren Hall 110

345-5536

The final exam is comprehensive, and there are no exemptions from taking the final.  The final exam will be given according to the AC Final Exam Schedule.

HOMEWORK GUIDELINES: Homework assignments will normally be given online using the ALEKS online program (I will show you how to log on first day of class).  This is required for all students, and will be integrated with Blackboard.  No late work will be accepted.  If any written assignments are given, all calculations should be shown and answers circled. 

Lab

• 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 1.25% 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 1.25% of your final grade. One lowest prelab is dropped.

• Attendance is required in the in-person labs.  You receive a grade of 100 if you are present for entire experiment, a 0 if you miss the lab - 1.25% of grade. One lowest attendance grade is dropped.

• 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 15% of the final lab grade.  On off weeks, you may be assigned a worksheet or online quiz; these will count as report grades. One lowest report grade is dropped.

• 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 1.25% of your final grade. One lowest postlab is dropped.

Overall Grade Distribution:

Lecture Exams - 45% (1 drop)

Lecture Quiz - 7.5% (1 drop)

Lecture Homework - 7.5% (1 drop)

Final Exam - 15% (no drops)

Lab Safety Quiz - 1.25% (no drops)

Prelabs - 1.25% (1 drop)

Lab Reports - 20% (1 drop)

Postlabs - 1.25% (1 drop)

Lab Attendance - 1.25% (1 drop)

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY (LECTURE): Lecture attendance is not part of your final grade.  However, missing lecture is extremely discouraged as this is a relatively difficult course.

ATTENDANCE POLICY (LAB): Attendance is mandatory for labs and will be 1.25% of overall grade.  You must come to lab on the scheduled lab days.  No make-up labs will be allowed.

Students who attend class regularly tend to have much higher grades and are much more likely to pass the course. When a student has more than one unexplained absence, a retention alert may be sent. If a student finds it necessary to drop this class, it is his/her responsibility to contact the instructor and initiate the drop process.  The last day to drop this class is April 16th, 2024.

According to Amarillo College policy, any student who has not attended class by the 12th class day (census date: January 31st, 2024) will be automatically dropped and will not be allowed to re-enroll.

Calendar

Additional Information

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 paper returned or there will be no change to the grade.

EMAIL:  Every student has an account in Blackboard.  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 Blackboard***