FOOTHILL COLLEGE SPRING 2012
CHEM 25 FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY
SECTIONS 01 AND 02
5 Units for Lecture and Laboratory
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-10 AM
Instructor: Dr. Craig J. Mossman
Office: 5618 or 5619
e-mail: mossmancraig@fhda.edu
phone: 408-497-7550
DR. MOSSMAN’S WEBPAGE:
Please visit the following website to view and print lecture notes and to find supplemental information for
this course: http://www.foothill.edu/psme/directory.php?s=1&rec_id=1578.
OUR SCHEDULED MEETINGS: T/Th
T
1:30-PM-2:20 PM
T
2:20 PM-4:20 PM
Th
1:30-PM-2:20 PM
Th
2:20 PM-4:20 PM
10:00-AM-11:50 PM Lecture 3525
Lab Sec 01 5602 (lab lecture)
Lab Sec 01 5603 (lab)
Lab Sec 02 5602 (lab lecture)
Lab Sec 02 5603 (lab)
OFFICE HOURS: I will be available to answer questions on Tuesday. and Thursday. from 8:30-10: AM
or by appointment.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Text: Tro, Introductory Chemistry, Essentials 4th Edition
Mastering Chemistry Online Access: An access code is provided at no additional cost with the purchase of
a new text from the college bookstore; otherwise purchase the code at www.masteringchemistry.com.
Laboratory Manual: Fundamentals of Chemistry, Signature Labs Series
Supplies: Safety Goggles or Visorgogs and a Scientific Calculator
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
This course requires 3+ hours of outside study/homework each week for success. Your homework in
this course comes from two sources:
(1) Recommended problems from your text. The recommended text problems represent a fair overview of
the types of problems you can expect on exams. They will also provide practice for the graded online homework.
(2) Graded online homework using a program called Mastering Chemistry. You will receive a handout today
with registration and enrollment instructions. Enroll in Course ID: MCMOSSMAN12009.
LECTURE QUIZZES/EXAMS:
There will be several lecture quizzes, a midterm exam, and a comprehensive final exam administered in
this course, all of which will test not only your problem solving skills but also your conceptual understanding
of the material and your ability to integrate concepts. These exams/quizzes will focus on (1) the key course
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concepts, (2) the lecture slides, (3) the online homework assignments, and (4) the recommended text
problems. The dates are on the course schedule.
Bring a Scantron form and calculator for all lecture quizzes/exams.
There will be NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES OR EXAMS administered in this course. To accommodate
emergencies or illness, your lowest lecture quiz score and your lowest lab report score will be dropped. If
you miss the final exam, then you will not receive an overall passing grade
GRADING SCALE BREAKDOWN
Online Homework Assignments
10%
Lecture Quizzes
20%
Midterm Exam
20%
Comprehensive Final Exam
25%
Laboratory Quizzes
10%
Laboratory Assignments
9%
Pre-lab Assignments
4%
Subjective evaluation
2%
GRADES BY PERCENTAGE
A+ ≥
A ≥
A- ≥
B+ ≥
B ≥
B- ≥
C+ ≥
C ≥
D+ ≥
D ≥
D- ≥
F <
97%
93%
90%87
83%
80%
77%
68%
65%
61%
58%
58%
HOW TO SUCCED IN THIS CHEMISTRY COURSE: It is strongly suggested that you not get
behind in your study of the assigned material. Concepts learned in early chapters must be mastered first
because they will be used again in later chapters. Cramming the night before an exam will almost never result
in a good grade. I also recommend previewing the text material to be covered the night before it is covered in
class. Repetition is an effective way to learn difficult subject matter. I suggest you work all of the assigned
book problems (I will not grade them) as a way of really learning the concepts of chemistry. Learn by doing!.
The more you think about a solution to a problem, the more you learn. I think it is beneficial to study in pairs
or in groups, (when preparing for exams),: test each other over subject matter, discuss the problems, etc. If
you are having difficulties with the assigned problems please attend my office hours or take advantage of the
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tutoring resources available. Benefits from tutoring are directly proportional to your effort.
MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: My role as an instructor is to help you succeed in the study of
chemistry and thereby reach your professional goals. I will give you an outline of material to be covered in class
for the semester, present lecture material clearly, engage you in interesting discussions, write test questions that
are closely linked to our discussions and assigned problems and hopefully allow for some fun once in awhile.
Your job is to work hard, prepare thoroughly, then succeed!!
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this quarter, you will be able to:
A. Understand the scientific method and distinguish between a theory and a scientific law.
B. Report the correct number of significant figures in measured and calculated quantities.
C. Use dimensional analysis to set up and solve numerical problems.
D. Classify matter and describe the properties of matter.
E. Understand and apply the fundamental assumptions of Dalton's atomic theory and describe the structure
of the atom.
F. Use the periodic table to explain and predict the properties of elements.
G.
Interpret chemical formulas and write the names and formulas for ionic compounds, molecular
compounds, and acids.
H. Understand the meaning and uses of the mole and of Avogadro's number.
I. Write, balance, and classify chemical equations and recognize patterns of chemical reactivity to predict the
products of a chemical reaction.
J. Perform stoichiometry calculations and understand the concept of a limiting reactant.
K. Understand the basis of the gas laws and derive the gas laws from the ideal gas law.
L. Describe the properties of solids and liquids and understand the manifestations of intermolecular forces.
M. Describe the properties of solutions and define and use molarity in calculations.
N. Describe the properties of acids and bases and understand the basis of the pH scale.
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