HCCS, Central
CHEMISTRY 1411 COURSE SYLLABUS
Class# 40030, Spring 2015
Saturdays: Lecture
9.00 AM – 12.00 PM (LHSB 416)
Saturdays: Lab
12.00 PM – 3.00 PM (LHSB 414)
Instructor: Vishakha Shembekar, Ph.D.
Phone: 713-963-0141
Email: vishakha.shembekar@hccs.edu
Office Location: LHSB 402
Prerequisite: One year of high school chemistry and MATH 1314
Credit: 4
Course Description: Science and engineering majors study atomic structure, chemical
reactions, thermo chemistry, electronic configuration, chemical bonding, molecular
structure, gases, states of matter, and properties of solutions. The laboratory includes
appropriate experiments.
Textbook: Chemistry Volume I by Steven S. Zumdahl, 9th Edition
Lab-book: Chemistry Lab Manual by HCC Central College
Safety Goggles: Provided at lab (BUY ONLY IF YOU WANT YOUR OWN from Central
Bookstore or elsewhere - safety glasses are not OK)
Calculator: with Exp and Log functions
Periodic Table: Copy will be provided, must carry it for all lectures
Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical,
learning, psychiatric, developmental, vision, hearing, etc) who needs to arrange
reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services (DSS)
Counselor at the beginning of each semester. Faculty members are authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by the DSS office. 713-718-7218.
Discipline in the Class: I and all the students in this class, we together share a
responsibility to maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. Please respect
the learning needs of your classmates and assist me achieve this critical goal.
Electronics in the Classroom: Please turn off your phone and other electronic devices
while in the classroom. Strictly NO texting.
Academic Honesty: Zero tolerance for any type of academic dishonesty.
Attendance and Withdrawal Policy: Regular attendance is a key to academic
success. In order to help you succeed, 100% attendance has been advised. Please
understand that your in-class grade will suffer as a result of unexcused absences.
Students are responsible for making up the course work missed due to absence.
Excessive absence may result in student being dropped from course.
Last day for withdrawal: March 24, Tuesday, 4.30 PM.
For performance or any other reason if you want to drop the course, please do so
before the final withdrawal date. You are welcome to discuss any difficulties you have
before you drop the course. I may be able to help you complete the course.
Tests: 3 tests will be given during the semester. These tests will take 45% of the total
grade. Each test will be focused on specific chapters. The test date and the exact
content is given in the course calendar. Every exam will last for 2 hours, NO EXTRA
TIME.
Lab: The lab takes 20% of the total grade. Each lab will be graded based on your prelab, post-lab submissions and attendance, participation and performance. Safety is
very important in the lab. You must follow safety procedures at all the times.
Final: A system wide final exam will be given. It is comprehensive. The final exam will
take 20% of the total grade.
Homework: Home work for all chapters is available on learning web. You are required
to complete it and submit from time to time. It takes 15% of the total grade. It is very
important to do the homework assignments. You are also encouraged to do as many
problems as possible even though you don’t have to turn them in.
Make—up Policy: No make-up allowed for any test, any lab, homework and the final.
Discuss your case with instructor.
Grading Policy:
3 Tests: 45%
Final Exam: 20%
Home work: 15%
Lab: 20%
Grading Scale:
90 -- 100 A
80 -- 89 B
70 -- 79 C
60 -- 69 D
Below 60 F
Some useful tips for success in this class
 Attend class regularly
 Study approximately two hours for each hour of lecture
 Read new chapter at home before we start in class
 Practice problems at the end of the chapter
 Review basic math operations and get familiarized with scientific calculator
 Feel free to contact me with any problems you may have
Course Calendar
Day
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Date (M/D)
01/24
01/24
01/31
01/31
02/07
02/07
02/14
02/14
02/21
02/28
02/28
03/07
03/07
03/14
03/14
03/21
03/28
03/28
04/04
04/04
04/11
04/11
04/18
04/18
04/25
04/25
05/02
05/09
Introduction & Chapter 1
Lab Safety / Experiment 1
Chapter 2
Experiment 2
Chapter 3
Experiment 7
Chapter 4
Review 1
Exam 1 (Chapter 1-4)
Chapter 5
Experiment 6
Chapter 6
Experiment 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Cntd.
Spring Break
Review 2
Exam 2 (Chapters 5-7)
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 Contd.
Chapter 9
Experiment 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 10 Cntd.
Review 3
Exam 3 (Chapters 8-10)
Review for final exam
Final Exam (System wide, comprehensive, Ch. 1-11)
EGLS3–Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System At Houston
Community College, feedback is necessary professors believe that thoughtful
student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a
designated time, you will be asked to
3answer a short survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The
anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and
division chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part
of the Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term