QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT
CH-101
LIVING IN A CHEMICAL WORLD
3 Hours
3 Credits
LECTURE TEXTBOOK:
The Chemistry of Everything
Kimberley Waldron
Pearson / Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0-13—008522-7
Lab Manual:
Experiments for Everyday Chemistry
Sharon Lall-Ramnarine and Irina Rutenburg
Pearson Custom Publishing, ISBN: 0-536-16799-0
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a Writing Intensive course with hands-on laboratory experiments where the role of chemistry in
everyday processes is highlighted and discussed. Topics covered include: Earth Chemistry (dirt, diamonds,
graphite, precious metals, salts, minerals); Air Chemistry (atmosphere and air pollutants, ozone and global
warming); Water Chemistry (water as a unique substance, solid water, boiling water and melting ice, water
pollutants); Light and Chemistry (photography and batteries, rainbow and colors); Nuclear Chemistry (alchemy
and radioactivity, nuclear power and nuclear weapons); Carbon and Silicon Chemistry (forensics,
nanotechnology, explosives, polymers and plastics, gasoline and alternatives, pesticides and herbicides,
medications and drugs, hormones and steroids, good food and bad food, vitamins and minerals). The
approach is non-mathematical and strives towards making chemistry stimulating and relevant to daily life. The
goal is to introduce the applied aspects of chemistry to non-science majors, explain the world we live in, and to
aid students to become more educated consumers and citizens.
CURRICULA FOR WHICH THE COURSE IS REQUIRED/RECOMMENDED:
A.A. or B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences (non-science concentration) and other non-science majors as a
laboratory science elective.
GENERAL EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
 To use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed
decisions
 To employ concepts and methods of the natural and physical sciences to make informed judgments.
 To communicate effectively through reading, writing listening and speaking.
SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES / EXPECTED STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
 Students will develop an understanding of the theoretical and descriptive concepts that form the basis of
general chemistry with an emphasis on its relevance to everyday life.
 Students will use the scientific method to explore physical and chemical properties of matter through the
development of hypotheses, observation, experimentation, measurement, analysis and presentation of
results. They will learn to evaluate evidence experienced or observed in everyday life and understand how
they support scientific theories.
 Students will collaborate in groups of two or more to perform experiments to learn and apply fundamental
concepts and techniques of chemistry as applicable to everyday life.
 Students will collect, interpret and evaluate scientific data by performing experiments, reading scientific
literature such as periodicals and newspapers, conducting research on the internet, watching
documentaries, watching or listening to news on science related topics. They will participate in class
discussions and submit written reports containing arguments based on evidence to support their
conclusions. Written reports and papers will be done both in class and as take home assignments.
 Students will learn to practice and expect unbiased gathering and presentation of scientific data in reports
and papers. Students will understand the importance of upholding ethics in investigations and be able to
identify violations of research ethics.
CH-101
LIVING IN A CHEMICAL WORLD
WRITING INTENSIVE OBJECTIVE:
The writing intensive approach will facilitate and help enhance students’ thinking abilities, encourage critical
thinking and activity with both the subject of chemistry and in general. A byproduct of the writing intensive
approach is to improve the students reading and writing skills.
OBJECTIVE OF LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS (total six experiments):
Students will work in groups and use scientific method during each lab experiment to perform observations;
data collection, analysis, and interpretation; as well as hypothesis development during post-laboratory
discussions.
METHODS BY WHICH STUDENT LEARNING WILL BE EVALUATED:
The overall course grade will be computed using the following general distribution:

Attendance, class participation in lectures, Low Stake (LS) in-class writing assignments (graded based
on participation not for content or English), and class performance in laboratory experiments.
The instructor is responsible for making assignments and providing additional hand-out with detailed
instructions / information about the requirements, format, number (how many) and grading of the
assignments.
NOTE: there will be no make-up LS writing assignments and no make-up laboratory experiments.
25%

In class examinations / quizzes.
The instructor is responsible for making and scheduling examinations / quizzes and providing additional
hand-out with detailed instructions / information about the requirements, format, number (how many)
and grading of the examinations / quizzes.
NOTE: there will be no make-up examinations / quizzes.
25%

High Stake (HS) writing assignments (total approximately twelve typed pages):
six individually written laboratory reports; each report must contain approximately two typed pages of
objective, theory, experimental procedure, findings, results and conclusion of each laboratory
experiment. The first draft of each report is due the next class meeting. The corrected draft is due the
following class meeting. These assignments may include additional mandatory revisions and
mandatory assistance from the writing center in L 118. Each draft must be submitted on time for credit.
The detailed information about the requirements, format, number of revisions, time-frame and grading
of these assignments will be provided by the instructor using the additional hand-out.
25%

Cumulative final examination. The instructor is responsible for making this examination but it is
scheduled by the Registrar during the week of final examinations.
25%
Students need to achieve a passing grade in each of the above categories in order to pass the course.
This grade distribution may be changed at the discretion of the individual instructor.
The following may result in failure of the course: Excessive absences or lateness for lectures; Missing inclass examinations / quizzes (no make-up examinations / quizzes are provided); Missing low stake
assignments as a result of missing classes; Missing the laboratory experiments (no make-up experiments are
provided); Delay in the submission of the drafts of high stake assignments (laboratory reports); Missing final
examination.
CH-101
LIVING IN A CHEMICAL WORLD
ATTENDANCE/ABSENCE POLICY:
Attendance will be taken at every class. The Student Handbook states that a student will be considered
excessively absent from a course and will receive a WU grade if the student has been absent for 15% or more
of the total number of contact hours for the course. A WU is computed as an F in the student’s GPA. Students
who have valid excuses for missed classes should speak with their instructor and present documentation
explaining the reason for the absence. Absences that have been excused by the instructor will not be counted
toward a WU grade. If a class meets twice per week: students will receive a grade of WU if they have 7 or
more excused/unexcused absences. For any lecture or laboratory that meets only once per week, students will
receive a grade of WU if they have 3 or more excused/unexcused absences.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Academic honesty is taken extremely seriously and is expected of all students. All assignments must be the
original work of the student (and partners or group, if applicable). All questions or concerns regarding ethical
conduct should be brought to the course instructor. “It is the official policy of the College that all acts or
attempted acts that are violations of academic integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). At
the faculty member’s discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases,
though reported to the OSA, may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor
has the authority to adjust the offender’s grades as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the
assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course” (Adopted from the
QCC Academic Integrity Policy, 2/14/2005).
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
As stated in the current college catalog, any student who needs specific accommodations based upon the
impact of a disability should register with the office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) to be
eligible for accommodations which are determined on an individual basis. The SSD office is located in the
Science Building, room S132 (718-631-6257). Students should also contact their instructor privately to discuss
their specific needs.
CH-101: LIVING IN A CHEMICAL WORLD
COURSE SYLABUS
LECTURE TEXBOOK:
(Chapters)
The Chemistry of Everything
Kimberley Waldron, Pearson / Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0-13—008522-7
LAB MANUAL:
Experiments for Everyday Chemistry
(Lab exps)
Sharon Lall-Ramnarine and Irina Rutenburg
Pearson Custom Publishing, ISBN: 0-536-16799-0
ACTIVITY
TOPIC
WI
“Chemistry and I - one” in-class assignment
Chapter 1
Overview of theoretical and descriptive concepts of chemistry.
Physical and chemical properties of substances.
Classification of substances into pure and mixtures.
HOURS
3
Lab exp
(hands-on)
Safety training: safety film, safety quiz, safety discussion, etc.
Check-in: introduction to laboratory equipment.
WI
“Chemistry and I - two” in-class assignment.
Lab exp 1
(hands-on)
“Mixtures: homogeneous and heterogeneous.
Physical property of substances: solubility and density”.
WI
written laboratory report as a HS assignment.
Chapter 2
Applying theoretical and descriptive concepts of chemistry
to understand classification of substances into elements and compounds;
Chemical Bonding and Chemical Properties of Substances, i.e.
Chemical Reactions.
4
WI
Each subtopic will be followed by an in-class assignment:
classification of substances into elements and compounds,
classification of elements into metals and non-metals;
classification of compounds into molecular and ionic.
Lab exp 3
(hands-on)
“Chemical properties of substances:
Chemical reactions”.
WI
written laboratory report as a HS assignment.
Chapter 3
Applying theoretical and descriptive concepts of chemistry
to understand the classification of compounds into organic vs
inorganic.
WI
Classification of compounds into organic vs inorganic –
in-class assignment.
Chapter 7
WATER: a Unique Substance
2
2
2
2
CH-101: LIVING IN A CHEMICAL WORLD
COURSE SYLABUS
ACTIVITY
TOPIC
HOURS
WI
in-class assignment: unique properties of water
2
Lab exp 5
(hands-on)
“Electrical conductivity of some aqueous solutions:
Electrolytes and nonelectrolytes.
2
WI
written laboratory report as a HS assignment.
Chapter 4
Applying theoretical and descriptive concepts of chemistry
to study inorganic compounds (acids, bases, salts)
4
Lab exp 4
(hands-on)
“Chemical Equilibrium”.
2
WI
written laboratory report as a HS assignment.
Chapters:
9, 10, 11
Applying theoretical and descriptive concepts of chemistry
to study organic compounds.
5
Lab exp 11
(hands-on)
“pH determination of some aqueous solutions”.
2
WI
written laboratory report as a HS assignment.
Chapters:
12, 13, 14
Applying theoretical and descriptive concepts of chemistry
to study Chemistry of Food and Medicinal Chemistry
5
Lab exp 17
(hands-on)
“Properties of soaps”.
2
WI
written laboratory report as a HS assignment.
Chapter 5
Applying theoretical and descriptive concepts of chemistry
to study interaction of light and matter
2
Atmosphere: green house effect and global warming;
other environmental changes in atmosphere
2
Applying theoretical and descriptive concepts of chemistry
to study nuclear phenomena
2
Chapter 8
Chapter 6
WI
“Chemistry and I – Farewell Notes:
summary and impressions of the course”
– in-class assignment
The approximate hours per chapter are guidelines and are at the discretion of the instructor.