Heartland Community College
Math and Science Division
Course Syllabus and Policies
Spring 2013 Semester
Fundamentals of Chemistry (Lab) CHEM 120-L1
Contact Hours
Lab hours: 2 hr/week
Instructor Information
Instructor: David Phillis
Phone number: (309) 242-0999
Email address: David.Phillis@heartland.edu
Office hours: Mon 11am – 12:00 p.m. or my appt.
Required Lab Materials
CHEM 120 Laboratory Manual, Muench, R. John (2011)
Safety Glasses (HCC will provide safety glasses, although you may bring your own)
Scientific Calculator
Laboratory Information
The lab portion of this course will consist of fourteen (14) traditional lab experiments and a series of
computer-based exercises. Each lab experiment will have an associated Pre-Lab assignment and post-lab
data pages and questions. One typed report, associated with the Water Quality experiment, is required.
The lab experiments are designed both to be enjoyable and to reinforce the content presented in the
lecture portion of the class. The focus of the computer exercises is to reinforce basic skills that are
presented in the lecture portion of the class and are required to be proficient in chemistry.
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
Attendance for the lab portion of the course is required. Any student missing more than three labs can
fail the course. It is important to arrive in the lab room a few minutes before the scheduled start time.
Anyone who arrives during or after the completion of the instructor's Pre-Lab discussion or who leaves
early (without instructor permission or without having completed the assigned lab activity for the day)
will be penalized half of the associated points for that day's lab experiment. Lab data and reports that are
not turned in prior to leaving the lab for the day will not be accepted.
Please remember to either turn off or put your phone into silent mode before the start of each lecture and
lab, in order to minimize disruptions. The course instructor reserves the right to dismiss repeat offenders
from a class period after an interruption.
Method of Evaluation (Grading System)
Lab grades will be determined by a combination of lab reports and computer exercises. The point values
of each lab report and set of computer exercises are found in parentheses on the lab schedule. These
exercises will be worth a possible 200 points.
Lab Format
Before Lab
Completely and thoroughly read through the materials pertaining to the day’s topic and complete the
“Pre-Lab” questions associated with each experiment. (Note: The Pre-Lab questions can generally be
found after each experiment in the CHEM120 Lab Manual.)
During Lab
Upon arrival in the lab room, the Pre-Lab questions must be shown to the course instructor, who will
initial this section for completion. Any student who does not have their Pre-Lab initialed by the course
instructor prior to beginning the experiment for the day will have two points deducted from the associated
points for that day's lab experiment.
The instructor will give a brief pre-lab discussion, which will detail the procedures and any safety
information for the experiment to be performed. Be sure to ask for clarification on any points of the
experiment that seem unclear, including usage of laboratory equipment or chemicals, safety information,
the data that should be collected, or data analysis.
Upon completion of the pre-lab, the experiment should be performed, to completion, as detailed in the lab
manual. Most experiments will be done in pairs. Be sure to record data, as detailed within the
experiment and listed on the data sheets following each experiment. Use either blue or black ink when
recording your laboratory data. Use a single strikethrough to cross things out – don’t scribble! It is very
important to be neat and legible. If I cannot read your handwriting, I cannot grade you effectively.
When the experiment is completed, return any laboratory equipment and clean off the lab bench, as
needed. Then, complete any calculations and post-lab questions associated with the experiment.
Calculations and post-lab questions should be done individually. Be sure to show work to receive partial
credit, in case your data was incorrect. Write out all of the steps for a calculation that needs to be done,
using the blank space on the data and questions pages of the lab manual. Label the calculations for what
they are (density, percent error, etc.) and be neat. If the course instructor cannot determine what all
numbers pertain to, credit will not be given. Use the perforations in the lab manual to carefully tear out
the pages containing your pre-lab questions, data sheets, and post-lab questions. Staple these pages in this
order, and turn them in to the lab instructor, prior to leaving for the day.
Finally, use any remaining time to work on the assigned computer exercises. All computer exercises must
be completed with your lab partner. The computer exercises can be repeated an unlimited number of
times, throughout the semester, to improve earned scores. Grades for computer exercises will be assigned
based on the percentage of correct answers given.
Note that, while actual lab experiments and the assigned computer exercises will be done in pairs, each
partner is expected to contribute equally to the activities done in class. Grades assigned to the computer
exercises will be partner scores. However, if one partner is not contributing to the activity, a warning will
be issued. For each additional occurrence, a score of 0 points will be recorded for that set of computer
exercises. Grades for pre-lab questions, data, and post-lab questions will be assigned on an individual
basis.
If a conflict between partners occurs and you would like to be reassigned, please alert the instructor to the
problem and groups may be reassigned, at the instructor's discretion.
Lab Schedule: Chem120 Spring 2012
L = Lab Activity
C = Computer Exercises
Day
Activities
Jan 14
No Labs
Jan 22*
Jan 29*
Feb 5*
Feb 12*
Feb 19*
Feb 26*
Mar 5*
Mar 11
Mar 19*
Mar 26*
Apr 2*
Apr 9*
Apr 16*
Apr 23*
Apr 30*
May 7**
Points
0
L: Taking Measurements
C1: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3
L: The Density of Solids and Liquids
C2: 2.4, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4
L: A Physical or Chemical Change?
C3: 2.5, 4.2, 1.5
L: Testing Drinks for Electrolytes
C5: 4.3, 4.5, 8.5
L: A Chemical Reaction
C6: 9.1, 9.2, 9.3
L: Water Quality: Week #1
Prelab / Water Video Questions due
L: Water Quality: Week #2
Testing Your Sample
Spring Break – No Labs
8
6
10
8
10
6
10
6
10
6
8
L: The Empirical Gas Laws
Discussion of Water Quality Data
L: Solubility Limit versus Temperature
12
L: Titration of an Antacid Product
Water Report, Data Due#
L: Radioactivity (Demo by Instructor)
C7: 16.2
L: Introduction to Organic Structures
10
30
10
2
12
L: The Biodiesel Project: Week 1
Prelab and Week 1 Data
L: The Biodiesel Project: Week 2
6
#
10
20
Snow Day / Make-Up
(Will be used in case of winter weather cancellation)
Total Points = 200
*Lab “week” runs from Tuesday to the following Monday each week due to MLK Holiday.
**Tuesday – Thursday labs can be made up the last week if winter weather cancellation occurs.
Monday labs have no opportunity for make-up and scores would be prorated if necessary.
Remove the above before handing out!