1C 2014W Lecture Syllabus.pages Dr. Larson
CHEMISTRY 1C LECTURE SYLLABUS WINTER 2014
Foothill CRN for Sec0on 01 (MW Lab) 30427
Foothill CRN for Sec0on 02 (TTh Lab) 30428
Dr. Larson-­‐ Office: 4419 Contact InformaEon Dr. Larson’s Website: Phone: (650) 949-­‐7385 Email: larsonlonda@foothill.edu
www.foothill.edu/psme/larson
Office Hours: MW 10-­‐10:50 AM and TTh 12:30-­‐1:20 PM
Mastering Chemistry Course ID: CHEM1CLARSONW2014 Mastering Chemistry Website: hTp://www.masteringchemistry.com/site
A note about email: I have found that answering content ques0ons online is ineffec0ve. Ques0ons regarding course content should be addressed during normal office hours. Email is reserved for contac0ng me regarding maTers such as absences, errors in the online homework system, etc. I usually respond to emails during the week within about a day, but some0mes it takes longer. If you are absent, check my website blog announcements and/or with fellow classmates regarding what you miss before asking in an email.
THIS COURSE SYLLABUS OR “GREEN SHEET” IS A CONTRACT
One purpose of this "green sheet" is to provide you with the guiding principles upon which the class runs, and another is to make sure that you have at your finger0ps, answers to any ques0ons which might arise. Please have this document available to refer to, either in hardcopy or online.. Please read it in its en0rety before you ask me any ques0ons about the course. It is also a contract between you ,the student, and I, the instructor of record. Make sure that you understand its contents fully, especially the parts that pertain to tes0ng and the computa0on of your grade, because so long as you remain enrolled in the course, you are implicitly agreeing to abide by these terms.
PREREQUISITES: Chemistry 1B
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Topic include: Buffers, aqueous ionic equilibrium, proper0es of solu0ons, oxida0on-­‐reduc0on chemistry, electrochemistry including the thermodynamics of voltaic cells, coordina0on chemistry, and nuclear chemistry with emphasis on applica0ons. Laboratory parallels lecture topics with an emphasis on qualita0ve inorganic analysis.
Expected Student Outcomes:
“Student Learning Outcomes” for Chemistry 1C are iden0fied from “Expected Outcomes” given in Foothill College’s course outline of record. In addi0on “Global Outcomes” have been iden0fied for the course. To view the Expected Student and Global Outcomes refer to my website at www.foothill.edu/psme/larson.
REQUIRED LECTURE MATERIALS: (See Dr. Larson’s Website for Textbook OpEons and Mastering Chemistry Access instrucEons.)
•Text: Brown, LeMay, and Bursten, Chemistry: The Central Science, 12th ed by Pearson.
•Mastering Chemistry Online Access. An access code comes packaged with NEW textbooks purchased at the bookstore; otherwise you must purchase access separately online.
•Lecture and Lab Materials: The same chapter slides that will be projected during lecture will be available ONLINE ONLY through my Website.
•Supplies: a scien0fic or graphing calculator; TI–83, –84 or –89 recommended.
REQUIRED LAB MATERIALS: See Lab Syllabus
ATTENDANCE
This is a fast-­‐paced and challenging course, aZending the class regularly will help you to understand the material and pass the class. You are responsible for all the material covered in this course, and it is expected that you aTend and par0cipate in all of the lecture and laboratory sessions. If you must be absent, then it is in your best interest to contact the instructor. You should also exchange phone numbers and/or email addresses with a few classmates who you can contact regarding material missed if you must be absent. Since this is an experimental course, your presence in the laboratory is essen0al for the understanding of the materials covered. Excessive, unexcused lab absences are cause for dismissal from the course. Allowances may be made, at the instructor’s discre0on, for emergencies and other complica0ons in life.
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Chemistry 1A Lecture Syllabus Dr.Larson
EXAMS
There will be two midterm exams and one comprehensive final exam. (See the course grade sec0on for how each will count towards your grade.) The mid-­‐term exams will consist of two parts: (1) closed book and (2) open lab notebook. The final exam is closed book. The closed book por0on of each midterm and the final exam will focus on topics covered during lecture and in the homework: (1) key course concepts, (2) lecture notes, (3) online homework assignments, and (4) addi0onal recommended text problems. The open lab notebook por0on of each midterm will focus on the laboratory experiments including the chemistry, procedure, calcula0ons, and conclusions of the experiment. CriEcal thinking will be required on all exams! The exams will test not only your problem solving skills, but also your conceptual understanding of the material and your ability to integrate concepts. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that you discuss the key course concepts and problems with the instructor during office hours and also with your peers in study groups.
EXAM DATES: Mark your calendar!
Midterm Exam 1: Week 6 Midterm Exam 2: Week 11
(Midterms are administered in the lab room during your scheduled lab sec0on: Wednesday or Thursday)
FINAL EXAM: Friday, March 28th from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. (Administered in the lecture room.)
Arrangements to take ANY exam at an alternate Eme CANNOT be made. Therefore, if you have plans that will prevent you from taking ANY exam at its scheduled 0me, you should not take this course. YOU MUST BRING A VALID PICTURE ID TO ALL EXAMS. VALID FORMS OF ID include: A DRIVER'S LICENSE, A PASSPORT, OR AN ALIEN REGISTRATION CARD (GREEN CARD). PLEASE NOTE THAT AN OWL CARD IS NOT A VALID ID.
COURSE GRADE
Your course grade will be based on your overall percentage score taken from the following grade distribu0on graph. I do not give C-­‐, D+ or D-­‐ grades. A percentage score less than 55% is a grade of F.
Course Percentage
Course Grade Cut-­‐offs
100%
80%
Course Work Percent DistribuEon
95%
90% 88% 86%
60%
40%
A+ A
80% 78%
75%
A-­‐ B+ B
65%
B-­‐ C+ C
55%
D
Two Midterm Exams:
Closed book por0on (13% each)*
Open lab notebook por0on (10% each)
Comprehensive closed book final exam*
Online homework (Mastering Chemistry)*
Laboratory work (see lab syllabus for details)
26%
20%
24%
10%
20%
*Caveats:
1. Make-­‐up exams will NOT be generally given. All exams are required and will count towards your grade. Exams will not be rescheduled to accommodate your personal schedule. The final exam is mandatory and cannot be missed! Failure to take the final will result in a failing grade. Accommoda0ons will be made ONLY for VERIFIED illness or VERIFIED legi0mate emergencies.
2. If your final exam score is higher than the average of the closed book por0on of your midterm exams, then your final exam will count 30% and the closed book por0on of your midterm exams will count a total of 20% (10% each) when determining your overall course grade.
3. IF your WEIGHTED AVERAGE EXAM PERCENTAGE, including the two midterm exams and the final exam, IS AN F (<55%) YOU WILL NOT EARN A PASSING GRADE IN THIS COURSE.
4. If you FAIL THE LABORATORY PORTION of this course, you will NOT EARN A PASSING GRADE.
5. If your WEIGHTED AVERAGE PERCENT score on the closed note por0on of your exams, including the final exam, is higher than your online homework percentage, then your WEIGHTED AVERAGE percent score from the closed book por0on of your exams will be used as your homework percentage when determining your overall course grade.
MASTERING CHEMISTRY
Mastering Chemistry is a web based tutorial/homework program. A significant por0on of your overall grade is based, either directly (from your actual homework grade) or indirectly (from your performance on exams) upon the use of this sotware. Therefore, access is highly recommended! Expect to spend an average of at least 5 hours a week on the online homework. The access code for Mastering Chemistry is specific for the textbook, is valid for 18 months and follows you from course to course (Chemistry 1A to 1B to 1C). You only need one access code for all three courses. An access code comes with new textbooks purchased through the Foothill 1C 2014W Lecture Syllabus.pages 2 of 8 1/4/14
Chemistry 1A Lecture Syllabus Dr.Larson
College bookstore or you can purchase access separately online from the publisher. Each assignment will indicate the due date and have a link detailing the grading seungs for the assignment.
Grading Se+ngs for Mastering Chemistry: Online homework through Mastering Chemistry will be posted on a regular basis. Although reminders MAY be given in class, it is your responsibility to keep track of when assignments are due. The penalty for late submissions is 10% per day late, prorated from the 0me the assignment is due. However, credit is never reduced by more than 50%. Ater the due date, any completed work may be reworked for prac0ce; the reworked homework will not be included in the homework grade. The maximum number of aTempts allowed per ques0on is 4, with an 8% deduc0on in credit for each incorrect aTempt on free response ques0ons. For mul0ple choice ques0ons the deduc0on for each incorrect aTempt is calculated using the following formula: deduc0on = 100%/(# of answer op0ons–1). You are allowed to view hints always, without penalty for viewing the hint or for an incorrect answer to a hint.
CLASS RULES AND REGULATIONS-­‐Professional behavior is expected
•Arrive on Eme. The classroom is an academic environment where students come to focus and learn. Those students who arrive on 0me, ready to learn, should not be disturbed by students coming in late. If you arrive late to lecture, enter quietly from the back of the classroom, sit in the back and look guilty. Students who are habitually late or arrive more than 5 minutes late may be asked to leave instead of being allowed to join the class. The instructor may resort to locking the doors ater the start of class if habitual lateness becomes an issue. Students who are more than 10 minutes late for lab lecture will not be allowed to do the experiment.
Be polite to your instructor and fellow students. Any type of vulgar or rude language toward the instructor or another student •
may result in dismissal from the course. This rule applies to emails and phone messages as well as face-­‐to-­‐face exchanges!
Remain quiet during lecture. Talking to fellow students during lecture is disrup0ve to other students. Raise your hand if you •
have a comment or ques0on.
Turn off or turn to silent mode all cell phones and electronic messaging devices. DO NOT talk on the phone or receive/
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transmit text messages during lecture or lab. If you receive a truly urgent call or message, quietly leave the classroom to respond to it.
Lap top computers may be used during class ONLY for class business. For instance, you may use your lap top computer to view •
and/or take class notes, but please do not disrupt/distract your fellow classmates by using your lap top during class for other business and/or ac0vi0es that do not pertain to the class.
Clean up your mess in lab. This includes cleaning and organizing your immediate lab bench area, as well as shared areas such as •
hoods, balances, the bench tops around the balances, etc.
Follow all wriTen and VERBAL instruc0ons.
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Any student who, in my judgment, is habitually disrupHve or rude may be dismissed from the class.
LECTURE CONTENT
TEXT COVERAGE
Chapter 17
All
Chapter 13
SKIP 13.6
Chapter 20
All
Chapter 21
All
Chapter 23
(Time Permiung) SKIP 23.4
KEY CONCEPTS: In all chapters, concepts will include NOTES: In all chapters, conceptual understanding AND discussions about applica0ons.
mathema0cal problem solving will be emphasized.
Applica0ons of Chemical Equilibria:
This chapter expands upon concepts learned in Chapters 15 The Common Ion Effect; Buffers; Acid-­‐Base Titra0on and 16. A thorough understanding of equilibria concepts Curves; Solubility (Ksp), Complex Ion Forma0on (Kf), (Chapter 15) and acid-­‐base equilibria (Chapter 16) is a MUST. precipita0on of ions Energe0cs of Solu0on Forma0on; Factors Effec0ng You may need to review topics from Chapter 11, par0cularly Solubility; Colliga0ve Proper0es
types of intermolecular forces.
Redox Reac0ons; Voltaic Cells; Cell EMF (Voltage); Rela0onship Between ∆G and EMF; BaTeries; Corrosion; Electrolysis
Radioac0vity; Nuclear Stability and Transmuta0on; Kine0cs of Radioac0ve Decay; Energy Changes in Nuclear Reac0ons; Fission and Fusion; Biological Effects
Metal Complexes; Color and Magne0sm of Metal Complexes; Crystal Field Theory
1C 2014W Lecture Syllabus.pages 3 of 8 You may need to review Chapter 4 sec0on 4 (oxida0on-­‐
reduc0on reac0ons) and Chapter 19 (Thermodynamics).
You may need to review parts of Chapter 15 (Kine0cs), par0cularly first order reac0ons (rate law, integrated rate law and half-­‐life behavior). Being comfortable and competent with unit analysis will pay off as we introduce units that may be unfamiliar to you. We will cover this chapter as 0me permits. This is an interes0ng chapter as we finally learn some details regarding transi0on metal behaviors and proper0es. We also learn about roles transi0on metals play in biological molecules. You may need to review electromagne0c radia0on (6.1), orbitals (6.5-­‐6.6), electron configura0ons/orbital diagrams (6.7-­‐6.9) and valence bond theory (9.4-­‐9.6).
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Chemistry 1A Lecture Syllabus Dr.Larson
DROPPING THIS COURSE (IMPORTANT DATES):
Log in to MyPortal to review important drop deadlines by clicking on View Your Class Schedule.
•First week: All adds will be processed. No one will be added ater the first week.
•If you stop aZending class during the first two weeks, I will drop you on Friday of week two as mandated by state law.
•End of second week: January 17th is the deadline to drop a class and qualify for a refund. January 20th is the deadline to drop a class with no record on your transcript.
•Third through eighth week: You can drop and receive a “W” grade. February 28 is the deadline to drop a class with a “W”. You are responsible for ini0a0ng the official drop process. If you stop aTending and fail to officially drop the class, you will receive a failing grade on your college transcript.
•Any student that has three (or more) unexcused lab absences prior to the end of the 8th week may be advised to drop. However, it is enErely YOUR responsibility to drop this course in a Emely manner.
•Ninth week and beyond: If you are a registered student in the class ater midnight on Friday of the eighth week, you CAN NOT receive a W grade.
INCOMPLETE GRADES
Incomplete grades are only given for extenuaBng circumstances; for example, VERIFIED illness or legi0mate emergencies. If an incomplete is given all exams and lab work prior to the incomplete are s0ll counted in your grade, only material that has not yet been completed can be made-­‐up in the future. YOU MUST BE PASSING THE COURSE TO RECEIVE AN INCOMPLETE GRADE.
LECTURE STRATEGIES
Lecture provides you with the opportunity to process and beTer understand the key course concepts. Lecture will be most valuable and significant if you (1) preview the relevant lecture handouts and read the corresponding sec0on in the text BEFOREHAND, (2) arrive on 0me with the appropriate lecture materials (lecture handouts, calculator, pen/pencil and paper) (3) choose to be an ac0ve learner and (4) review, correct, clarify and enhance your class notes between class mee0ngs.
HOMEWORK STRATEGIES
Your success in this course depends on several factors. Do you have good study habits? Do you keep up with the material being covered in the lecture sessions? Do you carefully and regularly read and reread the lecture handouts and your text? Do you priori0ze your 0me to allow for successful comple0on of your homework? Suggested homework problems in this course will come from two different sources: (1) online homework using Mastering Chemistry and (2) other recommended text problems that focus on vital addi0onal prac0ce to prepare you for the examsThe homework represents a fair overview of what you should be learning in this course. If you cannot successfully complete the homework problem in a reasonable amount of Hme without referring to your text, looking the answer up online, copying a friend, or checking the soluHons manual, then you will not perform well on the lecture exams.
RESOURCES
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Dr. Larson-­‐See me regularly during office hours for help. Do not wait un0l the day or even the week before a test!
Other Students-­‐Help each other to learn (not copy!)
Lab is a great 0me to get to know and help each other. Study groups can be a great support!
PSME Center-­‐ See the website. hTp://www.psme.foothill.edu for hours and loca0on.
Textbook: Copies of the textbook, Student’s Guide and Solu0ons to the Red Exercises should be on reserve at the library.
“Give it Some Thought” ques0ons within each chapter are oten excellent!Check your knowledge of the material by doing the assigned homework!
Disability Resource Center-­‐To obtain disability-­‐related accommoda0ons, students must contact Disability Resource Center (DRC) as early as possible in the quarter. The following website provides details: hTp://www.foothill.edu/drc/drc.php
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
It is your responsibility to understand what cons0tutes academic dishonesty in accordance with the Foothill College Academic Honor Code (www.foothill.edu/services/honor).
Academic dishonesty includes:
Plagiarism (copying or allowing someone to copy) lab exercises or reports.
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1C 2014W Lecture Syllabus.pages 4 of 8 1/4/14
Chemistry 1A •
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Lecture Syllabus Dr.Larson
During an exam, communica0ng or transferring informa0on to another student, receiving informa0on from someone else, looking at another person’s exam, and/or using unauthorized materials such as text books, notes, etc.
Having another person complete and submit work in your name.
Lying to an instructor to improve your grade.
Altering a graded work ater it has been returned and then submiung the work for regarding.
Consequences of academic dishonesty may include:
A report of the viola0on to the Dean of Student Affairs and Ac0vi0es; this office keeps a record of students who have •
engaged in academic dishonesty. Repeated viola0ons may result in administra0ve ac0on including proba0on, suspension or expulsion from the college.
You may receive an F grade on the work involved; this may also result in an “F” in the course.
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Verified chea0ng on the online homework will result in a score of 0% being given for the homework grade.
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For incidences of lab exercise or report plagiarism, all par0es involved will receive a reduced grade or grade of zero for the •
exercise or report.
CollaboraEon and Academic Honesty: The following was adopted, with permission, from material provided by Mr. Patrick Bernhardt, mathemaBcs instructor at Pioneer High School in San Jose, CA.
Solving problems in chemistry requires two steps: (1) figuring out how to do the problem; and (2) doing it. For the first of these steps, when working on homework and/or lab reports, it is permissible, acceptable and ac0vely encouraged to use whatever resources you have available: friends, parents, tutors, study guides, me, other teachers, prayer, or Ouiji boards. People learn in different ways, and what works for someone else may not work for you. Remember that it is your educa0on, and you need to find what works for you. Collabora0on is generally good for the learning of complex materials that require cri0cal thinking skills, but collabora0on must be confined to step 1 of the process.
Once you have figured out how to solve a problem, you progress to step 2, wri0ng out the solu0on and your answer. This part is the part that is graded. If you copy someone else’s work, then you are (a) chea0ng and (b) defea0ng the whole learning process by proceeding to step 2 without ever having confronted step 1. I want very much to encourage you to work together on homework and lab reports, collabora0on will help you process and understand the material. However, you will never understand and gain mastery of the more complex aspects of the subject unless you write out solu0ons independently.
Similarly, you are avoiding step 1 if you simply copy an answer from the back of the book. Checking those answers is a good idea, but only insofar as it helps you learn how to do the problems. If your answer agrees, it is usually a good sign that you understand the problem. Remember that you must be able to clearly and completely show your work. Also, be aware that the answers in the back of the book are not always correct.
Of course, when you take an exam, you will be required to perform steps 1 and 2 independently. If you are caught chea0ng on an exam, you will be given a failing grade for that assessment.
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Chemistry 1A Lecture Syllabus Dr.Larson
BEFORE the beginning of Chemistry 1B you are expected to KNOW OR BE ABLE TO DO the following:
The following metric prefixes: mega
M
106
kilo
k
103
deci
d
10–1
cen0
c
10–2
milli
m
10–3
micro
µ
10–6
nano
n
10–9
pico
p
10–12
UNITS:
mass-­‐gram (g) length-­‐meter (m) 0me-­‐second (s) volume-­‐liter (L)
Density (g/mL for liquids and solids, g/L for gases)
Solu0on Concentra0on (M)
1 mL = 1 cm3
˚C to K conversions: K = 273.15 + ˚C or ˚C = K – 273.15
UNIT CONVERSIONS: The ability to use unit analysis in problem solving is an essenEal skill.
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The difference between precision and accuracy and how to calculate percent error.
Record a measurement to the correct digit (precision) based upon the limita0on of the measuring device.
Determine the correct number of significant figures allowed in the result of a calcula0on.
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The basic nuclear structure of the atom (protons, neutrons and electrons).
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Locate metals and nonmetals, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens and noble gases, periods and groups, atomic numbers and atomic weights on the Periodic Table.
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The difference between ionic and covalent bonding. Be able to recognize if a substance is ionic or molecular in nature.
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Name and write formulas for ionic compounds, binary molecular compounds and acids. You should know the names and formulas of the polyatomic ions listed on the handout provided.
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The strong acids: HCl, HI, HBr, HNO3, HClO4, HClO3, H2SO4
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The strong soluble bases (Group 1A Hydroxides and Ba(OH)2) and strong slightly soluble bases (Ca(OH)2 and Sr(OH)2) Ammonia (NH3) is a weak base.
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How to write ioniza0on equilibrium equa0ons for strong and weak acids and bases in water.
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Selected solubility rules for ionic salts (see handout).
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Convert between mass and moles. Balance chemical equa0ons. Perform stoichiometric calcula0ons including those needed for 0tra0on, limi0ng reactant and percent yield problems.
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Recognize types of chemical reac0ons (precipita0on, acid-­‐base and redox). Write net-­‐ionic equa0ons for various types of reac0ons.
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Dilu0on calcula0ons.
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The First Law of Themodynamics and the defini0on of ∆H.
Standard states for thermochemistry: 1 atm for gases, 1M for aqueous solu0ons, most stable form for pure substances.
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Hess’ Law: ∆H˚rxn = ∑∆H˚f (products) – ∑∆H˚f (reactants) (This will also be used for ∆S˚ and ∆G˚)
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The shapes of atomic orbitals (s and p).
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Write electron configura0ons.
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Periodic Table: trends in atomic size, ioniza0on energy, electron affinity and ion sizes.
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Draw Lewis structures for molecular compounds and polyatomic ions.
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Determine shapes of molecules and ideal bond angles using the VSEPR Model.
1C 2014W Lecture Syllabus.pages 6 of 8 1/4/14
Chemistry 1A Lecture Syllabus Dr.Larson
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Understand the concepts of bond polarity and dipole moments and be able to determine if a molecule is polar or nonpolar.
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Understand the Valence Bond Theory descrip0on of covalent bond forma0on: orbital overlap, orbital hybridiza0on, sigma and pi bonds, single and mul0ple bonds.
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Understand the concept of Lauce Energy and factors that affect the magnitude of Lauce energy: ion size and charge.
BEFORE the beginning of Chemistry 1C you are expected to KNOW OR BE ABLE TO DO the items expected for Chemistry 1B plus the following:
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Basic understanding of gas behavior. Be able to use the Ideal Gas Law; solving for one variable. Understand Kine0c-­‐Molecular Theory.
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Understand the various types of Intermolecular Forces (IMF): Ion-­‐dipole, dipole-­‐dipole, London Dispersion and Hydrogen Bonding. Be able to iden0fy the type(s) of IMF that exist in a given system. Understand the effects that the strength of IMF have on proper0es of liquids, such as boiling point and vapor pressure.
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Understand the rela0onship between Lauce Energy and mel0ng point of ionic compounds: greater lauce energy results in higher mel0ng point.
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Kine0cs: We will focus on first-­‐order behavior when studying nuclear chemistry. Therefore, it is essen0al that you understand and be able to use the first-­‐order kine0cs mathema0cal rela0onships (rate law, integrated rate law, half-­‐life behavior).
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A thorough understanding of the concept of chemical equilibria and the ability to solve equilibria problems:
Defini0on of equilibrium constant.
Combining chemical equa0ons to obtain a net reac0on; how to calculate Knet for the overall reac0on.
Solving equilibrium problems using “ICE” tables.
Le Chatlier’s Principle.
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A thorough understanding of acid-­‐base equilibria:
Defini0on of Browsted-­‐Lowry acids and bases.
The pH scale; defini0on of pH, pOH and how to convert between [H3O+], [OH—], pH and pOH.
Solving equilibria problems involving weak acids and bases, including percent ioniza0on calcula0ons.
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The rela0onship between chemical structure and strengths of acids and bases.
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Defini0on of Lewis acid and Lewis base and Lewis acid-­‐base reac0ons.
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A basic understanding of Chemical Thermodynamics: The second and third Laws of Thermodynamics.
Changes in enthalpy (∆H) and entropy (∆S) of the system; understand the meaning of ∆Hsys and ∆S sys and be able to calculate both.
Know and understand the rela0onship of ∆Hsys to ∆S of the surroundings (∆Ssurr).
Know how to calculate the change in entropy of the universe (∆Suniv).
Gibbs Free Energy Change (∆G); be able to calculate both standard (∆G°) and non-­‐standard (∆G) free energy change. Understand the relaEonship of ∆G° to ∆H, ∆S and the equilibrium constant. Know and understand the rela0onship between ∆G and spontaneity.
1C 2014W Lecture Syllabus.pages 7 of 8 1/4/14
Chemistry 1A Lecture Syllabus Dr.Larson
FAQ-­‐HOW DO I GET A GOOD GRADE IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY?
Realize that you are responsible, through your own hard work and efforts, for your success. NO EXCUSES! My role as your instructor is to be your guide, to offer insights into the material and to help when you are having difficul0es. I cannot learn the material for you. Set high personal goals for lab work and examina0ons and focus on learning, not just the grade. The following offers some more detailed sugges0ons:
Do the suggested homework problems. A major key to a good grade in chemistry is to prac0ce problem solving. This tests you •
on your knowledge and prepares you for exams. The problems at the back of each chapter are designed for this purpose. If you cannot do the problems in the back of each chapter in a reasonable amount of 0me without referring to the text or solu0ons manual, you may not pass the course. For assigned problems that do not have answers in the back of the text, see the instructor to check your work.
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The PSME Center: This is located in 4213. Help is available from a wide variety of tutors/instructors. In addi0on to providing tutoring, you can meet with fellow students in the PSME Center to study. Visit the first week of classes (it opens on Wednesday) for the current tutor schedule or go to the PSME website at hTps://sites.google.com/site/foothillpsmecenter/home.
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Develop good study habits. To be successful in General Chemistry you must have good study habits. For ANY CLASS, the recommended study 0me is AT LEAST 2 hours outside 0me per hour of lecture. Including regular lecture and lab lecture, we have 5 hours of lecture per week in General Chemistry. This means that you should study outside of class AT LEAST 10 hours per week. This is for every week of the quarter, not just the week or weekend before an exam. Cramming does not generally work for chemistry! Be sure to make the study 0me count by removing distrac0ons-­‐for instance, do not watch television or carry on conversa0ons while studying. Also, make sure that you are well rested and eat healthy so that your brain can func0on at its best! Studies have shown that a person’s I.Q. temporarily declines when they are sleep deprived.
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Read the textbook regularly and carefully. Do not be surprised or alarmed if you must read the material two or three 0mes to gain a full understanding of it. This is normal for a chemistry class! In fact, you should read the sec0ons in the textbook to be covered in lecture BEFOREHAND! This will make it much easier for you to follow the lecture and take good notes.
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Come to lecture prepared to learn. Prepare by reading the textbook ahead of 0me, reviewing class notes from previous lectures and previewing the new notes to be covered. Come to lecture alert and ready to learn. Bring a pencil or pen, lecture hand-­‐outs, paper and your calculator.
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Prepare yourself well for compleEng lab assignments. It is essen0al that you read and study the related material from the textbook and your notes before aTemp0ng to complete a lab assignment.
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When you need help, come to office hours or the PSME Center prepared. Keep a list of ques0ons to bring when you come in for help. Bring a pencil or pen, paper and your calculator. If you have trouble solving a homework problem, bring the work you have done on it so far. Coming prepared will demonstrate that you have made an aTempt to analyze the problem and will result in a more effec0ve mee0ng.
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The night before exams should be spent reviewing what you have already learned. Pulling an “all nighter” (or cramming) just before an exam will result in work that is not to the best of your ability. This type of studying can also result in a lack of confidence and extreme nerves during the exam.
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Use graded material as a learning tool. Graded assignments and exams should be analyzed. Look at any mistakes you made. Ask yourself and answer ques0ons such as: Is the grade what I expected? Am I sa0sfied with the grade? What mistakes did I make and what can I learn from these mistakes? What are the comments and correc0ons wriTen by my instructor? What kind of changes do I need to make in my academic behavior to improve my grade? Ater analyzing your grade, consult with your instructor if needed.
In Summary, successful learning is a series of organized acEviEes. You must engage in previewing, listening, note taking, reading, reviewing, ques0oning, self-­‐tes0ng and discussion with peers, tutors and instructors. If you have the self-­‐discipline and self-­‐direc0on to do this and are mo0vated to learn, you will be more successful and experience greater personal sa0sfac0on.
1C 2014W Lecture Syllabus.pages 8 of 8 1/4/14