QUINCY COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING 2012
GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1: CHE 121 – ON
SEPT 7-DEC 14
Instructor: Professor James D. Gaul
Mailbox location: Saville Hall, Room 101
Email address: james.gaul@fac.quincycollege.edu
Fax number: 617-471-3989 (Science)
In an emergency, a message for me can be left at: 617-984-1647 (Science)
Class Website address: https://webassign.net/
________________________________________________________________________
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an online general chemistry course for students planning further study in
the sciences and/or planning to continue their studies at the baccalaureate level. Topics
covered include atomic and molecular structure or matter, Stoichiometry, periodicity,
chemical bonding, chemical and physical properties of matter, and changes of state.
E-learning is not for everyone. The learner must be very self-disciplined and
motivated to learn. You will not have someone explaining every concept on a board as
you probably are used to experiencing. You will not have fellow students to talk to in
class and immediately after class as in the standard on-site class. We have made a means
for you to communicate asynchronously with fellow students via e-mail and discussion
boards, however such requires an effort on your part to post something and then wait for
someone to answer your post. You can ask questions of me via e-mail, or the discussion
board. Remember that you will be accountable for learning the material to the same level
as the students taking the class on-site.
On-line learning is excellent preparation for the rest of your life, for the better you
can learn on your own, the better you will be able to maintain a level of competency in
your field for the rest of your life -- or the better able you will be to change to another
field by self study. Usually people retain information better when they obtain the
knowledge in the manner of on-line courses which is also of great benefit to you. So just
as in the rest of life, the more you put into something the more you will get out of it.
PREREQUISITE:
Successful completion of Introduction to Chemistry or high school chemistry and
Algebra 1. Students must have Internet access, familiarity with Microsoft word and
navigating websites.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK(s)
Chemistry by Chang; 11th Edition, McGraw-Hill Publishers
The text can be purchased new or used at the College Bookstore on Hancock Street or
online through the publisher or even Amazon.com. It can be rented as well which is a lot
cheaper.
THE COLLEGE BOOKSTORE
The contact information for the main bookstore is:
The College Book Store, 1357 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169-5103
Phone: 617.773.4849 Fax: 617.770.3372
Website: www.gc.bkstr.com
RECOMMENDED LEARNING MATERIALS
The Study Guide and Student Solutions Manual for the text may be purchased separately
online.
Webassign access code: The website you will be using is called Webassign. Go to
https://webassign.net. On the right side of the page, under “Login”, you will see a key
followed by “I Have a Class Key”. Click on this and enter our class key:
quincycollege.ma 2284 7491. Follow the directions to enroll in the class. I suggest you
use your last name as your user id and password if possible. After enrolling you will be
prompted to purchase an access code.
HOW THIS COURSE WORKS:
Our weeks begin on Mondays. You can download directions for each week by
going to Webassign. The directions for the week contain section by section explanations
of what to concentrate on and what to ignore. Go over a section at a time in the text
Each week you will go to Webassign and complete the exercises listed for the
week by Sunday at 11:59PM Scores for each assignment are kept in the Webassign
Gradebook and will be used to calculate a homework average. Webassign also contains
many streaming videos and an ebook explaining many of the key concepts in the text.
There are NO extensions for the assignments or exams.
Webassign has a forum where you can post questions and answers to help fellow
students. You can also email me from Webassign instead of posting a question but I
prefer you post questions so other students can benefit.
GRADING POLICY
Webassign Homework average = 15%
Exam average = 60%
Final exam = 25%.
The 4 hourly exams will be based on approximately 1-2 chapters each and taken online
at Webassign. The final exam is cumulative and will be taken at Quincy College.
MAKE-UP POLICY:
Since this is an online course, there are no makeups or extensions.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY:
Students are allowed to withdraw from a course during the first twelve weeks of classes
(see academic calendar for last date to withdraw). In order to receive a grade of “W”,
students must officially withdraw from a course by completing a withdrawal form. These
withdrawal forms, also called drop/add forms, are available in the Enrollment Services
Office. Failure to attend classes does not constitute a course withdrawal. Students who
stop attending class, without officially withdrawing, will receive an earned final grade,
which may be a failure, if requirements have not been met.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the completion of this course students will be able to:
 Classify matter as an element, compound, or mixture.
 Describe atoms, molecules, and ions in terms of their subatomic particles.
 Balance the stoichiometry of chemical reactions
 Calculate the amount of products that will be produced in a chemical reaction.
 Apply the various gas laws in determining new gas volumes.
 Diagram the ground state electron configuration of any element.
 Explain the periodic relationships between elements.
 Differentiate the types of chemical bonding formed between elements.
 Write the Lewis structures and find shapes of molecules.
 Explain how intermolecular forces hold molecules together in liquid and solid
states.
LIFE BALANCE COUNSELOR
Life Balance Counseling supports students, in confidence and with appropriate referrals,
as needed, in developing plans to overcome obstacles and achieve their academic goals.
Contact Susan Bossa at 617-984-1656, email: sbossa@quincycollege.edu, or fax 617984-1792
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY
If you are a student with a documented disability and would like to request an academic
or other accommodation, you first must register in the Disability Services Office. Please
allow a reasonable amount of time to process your request. Contact Ruth Bork,
Disability Services Officer by phone: 617-405-5915, email: rbork@quincycollege.edu or
fax: 617-984-1792.
VETERANS BENEFITS
Students may contact the Director of Admissions and Advising, Lauren Folloni at 617984-1773 or lfolloni@quincycollege.edu for assistance with their GI Bill benefits. Those
who are using the Post-9/11 GI Bill may have their tuition and fees covered at their
appropriate eligibility percentage. However, any educational costs not charged as tuition
or a fee at the time of registration cannot be certified to the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. The book stipend is additional funding intended to cover other educational costs
including, but not limited to, books, uniforms, supplies, and lab equipment. The Director
of Admissions and Advising requires a copy of the student’s Certificate of Eligibility to
process education claims. Students can apply for eligibility at www.gibill.va.gov.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT:
In keeping with our mission, Quincy College will foster a high standard of academic
honesty for students, faculty, and staff and will seek to preserve the rights of our entire
College community. As part of our academic integrity policy, all members of the college
community will adhere to the basic values of mutual respect and responsibility as well as
individual and institutional integrity. Students will be informed about those actions that
constitute a breach of integrity and about those sanctions that may result from academic
dishonesty. In the interests of promoting the best environment for learning, we, the
community of Quincy College, pledge to advance the principles of honor and integrity in
all of our actions.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STUDENT GUIDELINES:
Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the coursework they
submit. Therefore, to assist students in observing academic integrity, the following
guidelines have been developed.
1. Students must do their own work and submit only their own work, unless otherwise
permitted by their instructor. If appropriate citation guidelines are not stated on the
syllabus, students are encouraged to contact their instructor for guidance.
2. Students may collaborate or cooperate with other students on assignments or
examinations only as directed by the instructor.
3. Students must follow all written and/or oral instructions given by instructors or
designated college representatives for taking exams, placement assessments, tests,
quizzes, and other evaluative instruments.
General Chemistry 1 Schedule
Week
Date
Chapter (sections)
Topic
1
Sept 10
Ch1 (1-4)
2
Sept 17
Ch1 (5-7)
3
Sept 24
Ch1 (8-9)
4
Oct 1
Ch2 (1-8) Exam-1
Atoms, Molecules, Ions
5
Oct 8
Ch3 (1-6)
Mass Relationships
6
Oct 15
Ch3 (7-8)
7
Oct 22
Ch3 (9-10) Exam -2
8
Oct 29
Ch4 (1-4)
9
Nov 5
Ch4 (5-7)
10
Nov 12
Ch5 (1-3)
11
Nov 19
Ch5 (4-6) Exam -3
12
Nov 26
Ch7 (1-9,11)
13
Dec 3
Ch9 (1,2,4,5)
14
Dec 10
Ch9 (6-13,3), Ch10(1,2) Exam -4
15
Dec 14
Review for final exam
This schedule is subject to change at any time.
Measurement
Types of Reactions
Gases
Atomic Structure
Bonding