Chemistry 120 Syllabus

Fall 2004

Chemistry 120 Syllabus

Course Purpose and Objectives

Chemistry 120 is designed specifically to prepare you for the one-year general chemistry course, Chem 140-141.  It involves three hours of lecture and a three-hour laboratory per week.

You will be expected to develop an understanding for the basic principles of modern chemistry in the areas of atomic theory, chemical formulas, chemical equations, bonding, periodicity, and the states of matter.  You will also gain a knowledge of how to approach real and theoretical problems scientifically.  You will become familiar with the use of chemical language, symbols, formulas, and equations.  You will also learn how to carry out basic laboratory procedures such as observation, data record keeping, and the interpretation of experimental results.  It is hoped that as a result you will be better able to comprehend today’s technological society and to appreciate the scientific enterprise as a whole.

The prerequisite for this course is a working knowledge of algebra. (Math 110 at Grossmont College)

Required Text and Supplies

1)   Lecture Textbook:  Tro, “Introductory Chemistry”, Prentice Hall, 2003.

2)   Calculator, capable of scientific notation.  This must be brought to every lecture and laboratory period.  (Note: Calculators may not be shared during exams and the instructor may clear the memory of your calculator at the beginning of a quiz or examination.)

3)  Safety goggles, type Z-87 (available in the bookstore).

4)  Ink pen (for laboratory write-up).

5)  Combination lock (available in the bookstore).

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory.  Any student who misses more than six hours of class can be dropped from the roster.  Showing up more than ten minutes late or leaving class early will be counted as an absence.

Inform me if you have to miss a class meeting for any reason (illness, auto accident, childbirth, etc), or as soon as possible afterwards.  You are responsible for all material covered in any missed class and any assignments due that day, and you should check for schedule changes or class announcements. 

In the event you wish to drop the course, you are responsible for doing so.  Don’t depend on me to submit a drop notice for you. 

Grading

Grades will be determined on the basis of exams, quizzes, laboratory reports, WebCT assignments and the final exam, as follows:

The following table gives an approximate grading scale:

It is department policy that anyone receiving less than a passing grade on either the lecture part or the laboratory part of the course will be given an F.  Evidence of improvement during the semester will be considered when assigning the final letter grade for the course. 

Those enrolled at the end of the semester will receive a letter grade unless they have chosen a CR/NCR option.  CR represents credit for a grade of C or higher.
 

Examinations

There will be four exams this semester (each worth approximately 9% of your final grade) in addition to the cumulative final exam.  These exams are not optional and their dates are given in the schedule.  All exams will be closed book and in general there will be no makeup exams.  If you miss an exam for just cause (illness, auto accident, childbirth, etc.), inform me as soon as possible and I will evaluate the circumstances and decide the appropriate method for a makeup exam.  Anyone making up an exam may be required to submit a term paper (minimum ten typed pages) within one week.  Incidentally, the scores for makeup exams are usually well below the average. 

Exams take from one to one-and-a-half hours and are scheduled during the  lecture periods.

Quizzes

Quizzes will be given once a week.  They may be given in either the lecture or the lab and will cover current material.  Quizzes cannot be made up if missed.  The lowest quiz score will be dropped.

Laboratory

The skills and knowledge gained in the laboratory part of this course are essential.  There are several aspects to the laboratory.

1)  The pre-laboratory assignment.

2)  The actual work done in the laboratory period.

3)  The lab report

4)  Post-laboratory questions and write-up    ?????

In general, there will be no makeup periods for laboratory work.  If you have a valid reason for missing a laboratory period you must see me to see about the possibility of re-scheduling.   The guidelines for makeup given in the section on examinations apply here as well.  Laboratory sessions will be fully utilized and you should plan to stay for the whole period.

Pre-laboratory assignments are due at the beginning of each laboratory period.  The laboratory work itself must be done and completed during your regularly scheduled time.  All data and observations should be recorded on your laboratory sheets in non-erasable ink.  Data must never be recorded on other sheets of paper.  Any loose pieces of paper found to contain data will be confiscated.

The reports should be turned in before leaving.  Please don’t fold them.  Lab reports must include:

(1)   Data recorded during the progress of the experiment in ink.

(2)   Recorded data initialed by the instructor.

(3)   Calculations and calculation set-ups as indicated on the laboratory report sheets

(4)   All of the problems and questions given at the end of the report sheet are to be completed except for those specifically excluded in pre-lab instructions.

Post-laboratory questions, laboratory write-ups and any other related materials associated with a lab experiment are due at the beginning of the next laboratory session. 

Study Habits

You should be prepared to spend at least seven hours per week in additional study time.  (This is derived from the usual formula of two hour per lecture hour and one hour per lab meeting.)  You should stay current and not neglect the course work and must develop a habit of working as many of the unit exercises as possible.  Be sure to seek assistance when you need it.

I think it is an excellent practice to form a study group.  If you and a group of two or three others get together regularly you can discuss concepts, work on homework together, and make up test questions for each other.  During the first lab period I will ask you to take time to get acquainted and share phone numbers.

Homework & WebCT Assignments

Chapter Homework:  Every week you will be required to turn in homework sheets that will be graded.  You are encouraged to do all of the odd exercises at the back of the chapters.  (In order to earn a good grade you have to do lots of problems!)  We recommend keeping these assignments in a homework notebook.  This homework notebook may be worth a few extra-credit points at the end of the semester if it is complete and all solutions are shown, not just the answers. 

WebCT:  Computer assignments must be completed on or before the due date for full credit.

Honesty

I have very strong feelings about cheating.  I think it is inimical to the academic condition, unfair to other students, and destructive of proper learning.  I deal harshly with any cheating of which I become aware.  Copying, cribbing, trading papers, etc. during tests are all obvious examples of cheating.  Working together on homework is not.  Copying homework is.  (As if you needed to be told.)  Anyone involved in cheating will fail the class and will be reported to campus authorities. 

 Important Phone Numbers

There is a phone for emergency use in each classroom.

Special Services

If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your attendance or success in this class please let me know.  I would even like to know if you have a hearing or vision problem that might dictate sitting is a certain part of the room.  You are also encouraged to contact Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible.  Students may contact DSP&S in person in Room 110 or by telephone at (619) 644-7112 or (619) 644-7119 (TTY for deaf).