USC Aiken
Spring 2016
CHEM A111 SYLLABUS
MEETING TIMES LAB/LECTURE:
Dr. C. Cobb
SBDG 302
MWF 9:00–10:50 am SBDG 301
OFFICE HOURS: M-W-F, 8:00–9:00 am or by appointment, SBDG 301/302
CONTACT: Skype cathy_cobb; text (803) 640-4653; email CathyC@usca.edu
CHEM A111 – General Chemistry I (4) Prereq: Completion of/placement into MATH A111 or
higher
This class is the first semester of a two-semester course sequence that offers a general
understanding of topics in chemistry and that provides necessary chemistry application skills and
knowledge for science, math, and engineering majors. This course begins the first year of General
College Chemistry.
ATTENDANCE: University and departmental guidelines apply. A student cannot miss more than
25% of all lectures and labs to pass the class. If a student has more than two (2) unexcused
absences, a loss of one letter grade penalty will result. Roll will be taken through a sign-up sheet,
quizzes, and lab flow charts. Excused absences must be verified with a doctor’s note, a note from a
family member that includes a telephone number, or a business note. Arrangements will be made
to deal with the material missed for excused absences only. Regardless of reason, you are
responsible for the missing course and lab content.
TEXTBOOK : Open-Stax Chemistry 2015, Content Leaders: Flowers, Theopold, and Langley,
Rice University. Available for download without cost at
https://openstaxcollege.org/textbooks/chemistry/get.
General Chemistry Lab Manual by USCA Chemistry Faculty, 2015 (lavender).
Study Manual for ACS Standardized Tests, by the American Chemical Society.
CLASS REQUIREMENTS: An inexpensive scientific calculator is needed. You will need
closed-toe shoes and long pants for lab. Safety goggles are supplied. A lab notebook with
carbonless paper is required.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The introduction of topics such as (1) general reaction stoichiometry,
(2) reaction types, (3) gases, liquids, and solids, (4) thermochemistry, (5) atomic structure and
periodicity, (6) molecular bonding and molecular geometry, and (7) solution properties.
Daily reading, suggested problems, exam dates, and labs are listed below and this syllabus
will be posted on Blackboard.
There will be a ten minute quiz given at the end of every class, based on the previous
suggested problems. Missed quizzes do not count in the average; therefore, there are no makeup
quizzes.
There will be three major exams given during the semester. Please see me if an exam is
missed due to absence. An absence must fit the criteria for an excused absence (see above under
ATTENDANCE) for a makeup exam to take place.
Pre-lab (completed before each scheduled lab), lab reports (turned in at the beginning of
next class), and lab technique (safety, focus, and efficiency) will be used to determine the lab
portion of your grade. Please see the class calendar on Blackboard for upcoming labs. The pre-lab
will be done in your notebook and specific details will be given in class. The lab report
requirements are given at the end of each lab manual experiment/procedure. The Safety Rules for
each lab will be reviewed. Any repeated safety infraction during lab may result in a dismissal for
that day’s work. Approved eye protection must be worn at all times in the lab.
A Final Exam will be given in our regular classroom. See the class calendar for the date and
time. The Final Exam is the American Chemical Society National Exam for First Semester General
Chemistry. This national exam covers ACHM A111, is timed, and is comprehensive. We will use
the required Study Guide throughout the semester in preparation for this exam.
GRADING FORMAT AND POLICIES
Lecture
Lecture quizzes (avg. scaled to 75)
75 pts
Exams (3 @ 175 pts)
525 pts
Final Exam (150 pts)
150 pts
Laboratory
Labs (19 @ 6 pts; 1 @ 14 pts)
128 pts
Technique (safety, focus, efficiency) 62 pts
Pre-Labs (20 @ 3 pts)
60 pts
Total
1000 pts
Final letter grades will be assigned based on the percent of your accumulated points from
lecture and lab combined.
90% A, 80% B, 68% C, 60% D
The ACADEMIC HONOR CODE is in place for all assignments and exams. The Honor
Code states that it is dishonest to either give or receive any unauthorized aid or assistance on an
exam or homework. A student must take the final to pass this class.
Thursday, March 31, 2015 is the last day to drop this class without receiving a WF for the
course (date subject to change by registrar).
PLEASE ask questions at any time—even during a quiz or exam. I will tell you if I cannot
answer the question.
Note: Any student who has a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might
affect your performance in this class or lab, please contact the Office of Disability Services as soon
as possible. If you are registered with that office and have an accommodations sheet, please see me
after class today or phone me as soon as possible to set up an appointment.
FINAL EXAM: Monday, May 2nd at 8:00 am in our regular room, SBDG 301. Date subject
to change by registrar. It is students’ responsibility to confirm the correct date.
CLASS CALENDAR: The class calendar will be distributed and also posted on Blackboard.
COMMUNICATIONS: Generally announcements will be made via Blackboard. However, I may
have to communicate with you personally from time to time, and this will be via email. An email
has been sent to everyone on the role. If you do not receive this email, you need to take your
computer to Computer Services in the BE (Business and Education) Building so they can set up
your email.
CHEM A111 GENERAL CHEMISTRY LECTURE/LAB SCHEDULE SPRING 2016
Date
1/11 M
Lab
1/13 W
Conductivity (p 12)
1/15 F
1/18 M
1/20 W
NO CLASS
MLK BDay
Density (p 16)
2.4-2.6
2.7
1/22 F
1/25 M
Before Class
Reading
Measurement
1.2-1.4
Atomic
Structure
1.5-1.6
2.3
Weighed Averages
(p 19)
3.1
3.2
1/27 W
Elements &
Compounds (p 22)
3.3
2/3 W
Electrolytes (p 34)
2/5 F
EXAM I
Catch up and
Review
4.1
1/29 F
2/1 M
4.2
2/8 M
2/10 W
Solutions &
Dilutions (p 41)
4.4
2/12 F
2/15 M
Solubility (p 37)
Precip/Redox Rxns
(p 28, p 29) counts 2 labs
Rxn Stoichiometry
(p 31)
6.5
7.1-7.2
2/26 F
2/29 M
6.1-6,3
6.4
2/22 M
2/24 W
5.1-5.2
5.3
2/17 W
2/19 F
4.3
Titration (p 43)
7.3
All problem ranges imply ODD problems, only, e.g. 5-9 => 5, 7,
9
Answers to odd problems are at the end of the book (search
Answer Key)
After Class Suggested Prob.
Chap 1 (exercises start on p. 55)
17, 19
Chap 1
27, 29, 35, 37, 41
Chap 1
45, 49-55, 57, 71, 89, 91, 93 just Kelvin
Unit Conversion Worksheet posted on Blackboard
Chap 2 (exercises start on p. 118)
11, 17, 19, 23
Chap 2
29, just molecular formula, not empirical formula, 37-49
Chap 2
51-59
Chap 3 (exercises start on p. 164)
1, 3, 5, 13-17, 18 a, b, d, 19-25
18 a = 0.0178 mol KBr, 0.0178 mol K, 0.0178 mol Br
18 b = 1.158 x 10-3 mol H3PO4, 4.555 x 10-3mol H, 1.158 x 10-3
mol P, 6.074 x 10-3mol O
18 c = 0.22909 mol Al2(SO4)3, .45818 mol Al, 0.68728 mol S,
2.7491 mol O
Chap 3
33, 37-43
Chap 3
47, 51-53, 57, 63, 67
Exam I
Practice
Nomenclature Worksheet posted on Blackboard
Chap 4 (exercises start on p. 217)
3-7, 11, 13
Chap 4
17-21, 37, 39
Chap 4
43, 47, 51, 53
Chap 4
57, 61, 63, 71, 79, 81
Chap 5 (exercises start on p. 273)
7-11, 23-25, 26, 27
Chap 5
45-49, 59-69
Chap 6 (exercises start on p. 338)
3-11, 19-23, 27, 37, 41
Chap 6 (exercises start on p. 338)
49, 53, 54, 55, 57, 59, 61
Chap 6
67-79, 85
Chap 7 (exercises start on p. 395)
1-9, 13-17, 21
3/2 W
Specific Heat of
Metal (p 56)
7.4-7.5
3/4 F
3/7-3/11
SPRING BREAK
3/14 M
Hess’s Law (p 59)
7.6
Catch up and
Review
3/16 W
3/18 F
7.3
EXAM II
8.1-8.3
3/21 M
3/23 W
Periodic Props Demo
(p 24)
8.4
9.1-9.2
3/25 F
3/28 M
Molec. Models (p
23)
9.2
3/30 W
Last Drop Date
Tomorrow
9.3
4/1 F
Gas Labs (p 62 & p
65)
9.3
4/6 W
Gas Rxn Stoich. (p
77)
4/11 M
Evap. Forces (p 81)
Fusion Heat Ice (p
85)
4/18 M
4/20 W
Freezing. Pt.
Depress. (p 47)
4/22 F
4/25 M
EXAM III
5/2 M
ACS EXAM
Page 21-30 of Preparing for Your ACS Examination
Chap 7 91, 93, Chap 8 (exercises start on p. 453)
5, 7, 10, 14, 15-17, 27
Chap 9 (exercises start on p. 513)
5, 13-15
Chap 9
25-37
Chap 9
39-57
Chap 9
59-67, 71-75
11.1-11.3
11.4
Page 31-53, 91-112 of Preparing for Your ACS Examination
Catch up and
Review
11.5
Exam III
practice
Chap 11
71-75
10.2-10.3
10.4
4/13 W
4/15 F
9.5-9.6
10.1
4/8 F
Chap 7
45-55, 64, 65, 81
Exam II practice
Chap 9
81-85
Chap 9
91, 95, 101, 103
Chap 10 (exercises start on p. 592)
5, 11-15, 21
Chap 10
27, 31, 37-43, 51, 53
Chap 10
55-57
Chap 10
65, 69-73, 77-81
Chap 11 (exercises start on p. 653)
19, 25, 31, 33, 37, 39, 43-55
Page 11-20 of Preparing for Your ACS Examination
9.4
4/4 M
Chap 7
23-25, 29-31
Chap 7
35-37, 41
Page 1-9 of Preparing for Your ACS Examination
10.5-10.6