Chem 201A Laboratory Syllabus
Fall 2024
Bandi
General College Chemistry I
Course Details
Instructor: Mrs. Elizabeth Bandi, M.A.
Office/Mailbox: 2304
Email: elizabeth_bandi@cuesta.edu
Lab Location: Rm 2105
*Please see your lecture syllabus for information about Student Learning Outcomes, Grading Policies, and other details that are not specific to lab.*
Office Hours (free help!) & Assistance
Thursday
Appointments
11:45 am - 12:45 pm
Student Success Center
*Email to book
Zoom (ID: 485 520 9968)
Required Materials
1.​ Chemical splash goggles: Must be splash proof with Z87+ certification. If you are buying your goggles
from anywhere besides the bookstore, please check with the instructor before purchase as many
goggles do not meet appropriate certification. Note: Paintball goggles, snow goggles, swim goggles,
snorkels, and safety glasses do NOT meet the requirements for this lab.
2.​ Closed-toe and closed-heel shoes that cover your entire foot
3.​ Device other than phone that can access Canvas
4.​ Scientific calculator: You need a calculator for every lab. I recommend a non-programmable,
non-graphing calculator, as those types of calculators are not allowed on tests.
5.​ Pen with blue or black ink
Appropriate Lab Attire
Chemistry laboratories are dangerous. To prevent chemical exposure, it is imperative to dress properly.
Department policy dictates shoes that cover the entire foot and are not elevated (i.e. NO clogs, sandals, jellies,
ballet flats, Crocs, high heels, etc.) must be worn. You will not be permitted to work in the lab wearing shoes
that do not adhere to this rule.
Goggles
●​ Goggles must be over the eyes at ALL times that any experiments are being conducted, even if you
aren’t the one conducting them or you’ve finished your experiment already. Failure to keep goggles
equipped and intact (no modifications) will result in the deduction of points from your lab grade.
○​ First infraction: warning
○​ Second infraction: 5-point deduction
●​ Goggles may only be removed when you are about to leave the lab or if the instructor has announced
that it is safe to do so.
●​ You may store your goggles in your lab drawer.
●​ You are required to have your goggles by the second week of the semester.
Attendance
●​ You should be attending the lab section in which you are enrolled every week.
●​ If you are more than 5 minutes late for lab, you may not be permitted to participate.
●​ If you arrive unprepared (late arrival, incomplete pre-lab, missing goggles, inappropriate shoes, etc.),
you will be dismissed from the lab without the possibility of a make-up
1
●​ There are NO make-up labs. If you miss more than 3 labs, you will not pass the course.
●​ The last three experiments cannot be dropped from your grade.
●​ Students who do not participate in two consecutive labs without contacting the instructor may be
dropped from the course.
Grading
Each experiment is worth 25 points. Reports must be submitted on Canvas (via Gradescope) by the due date
posted. Experiment scores will be based on your performance in relation to the following course objectives:
quality and execution of lab work, comprehension of pertinent principles as demonstrated by the completion of
lab report questions, attendance, participation, adherence to safety regulations, and lab citizenship. View
feedback on Canvas regularly to learn from and avoid continuous mistakes.
Pre-Labs
●​ Pre-lab activities are designed to prepare you for the experiment you will be completing.
●​ You must PRINT and complete the pre-lab BEFORE your lab session each week.
○​ Find the pre-lab document and instructions in the appropriate weekly materials assignment
under “Modules” on Canvas.
●​ As you enter the lab, you are expected to turn in your pre-lab and complete a pre-lab quiz on Canvas.
●​ A completed pre-lab assignment AND passing score on the pre-lab quiz is required for approval to begin
the experiment.
●​ The pre-lab accounts for 5 out of the 25 total available points in your lab report.
Lab Reports/Post-Labs
Lab report sheets and post-lab questions will be provided in lab. Post-labs are due one week after completing
the experiment. You will turn in your completed post-lab report on Canvas via Gradescope by the start of the
next lab session. The post-lab report makes up 20 out of 25 available points. All work & calculations must be
completed on the provided report sheets. For full credit on lab reports:
●​ Turn in scanned reports with pages in correct order, following the Canvas/Gradescope template
○​ Tip: If you are missing a page, scan a blank page to hold its place in the order
●​ Reports must be complete with data, hypotheses, etc. written in permanent blue or black ink. You will
lose points otherwise. Calculations, analysis, and post-lab questions may be completed in pencil.
●​ Correct significant figures and units must be used for all measurements and calculations.
●​ Calculations and written answers must be clear, concise, correct, and fully address the question.
●​ Late post-labs will be accepted up to one week late but are subject to up to a 30% deduction.
Other Policies
●​ Use of cell phones in the laboratory is prohibited. If you must use your phone, wash your hands, and
step out of the laboratory.
●​ No food, drink, gum, or tobacco in the laboratory. They must remain in your backpack or in cubbies
and NEVER be placed on benchtops. If you plan on eating or drinking during the lab period, you may
step completely outside the door to do so. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in points lost.
●​ Headphones may not be used while in the laboratory.
●​ Bags and personal belongings must be stored in cubbies by the doors.
Accessibility
Students with a disability that is documented with DSPS and who require special accommodations should see
the instructor during the first week of classes for a confidential discussion. If you have a service animal, please
be advised that the laboratory is an inherently dangerous place, especially for service animals. Please speak to
your laboratory instructor for more information about bringing service animals into the laboratory.
Fall 2024
Bandi
Chem 201A Tentative Lab Schedule
Week
Dates
Lab
1
Aug. 12-16
Welcome, Safety Training (Required), Exp 1: Scientific Method
2
Aug. 19-23
Drawer Check-in, Exp 2: Graphing
3
Aug. 26-30
Exp 3: Chemical Formula of a Hydrate
4
Sept. 2-6
Exp 4A: Precipitates - Mental Models
5
Sept. 9-13
Exp 4B: Precipitates - Limiting Reactant
6
Sept. 16-20
Exp 5: Chemical Reactions
7
Sept. 23-27
Exp 6: Acids and Bases
8
Sept. 30 - Oct. 4
9
Oct. 7-11
Exp 7: Titration of Acetic Acid (Thurs. & Fri. Lab Only)
10
Oct. 14-18
Exp 8: Thermochemistry
11
Oct. 21-25
Exp 9: Absorbance Spectroscopy
12
Oct. 28 - Nov. 1
13
Nov. 4-8
Exp 12: Computational Chemistry
14
Nov. 11-15
Exam 4 Prep (Ch. 9, 10, 11, and 6)
15
Nov. 18-22
Exp 13: Gas Laws
16
Nov. 25-29
No Lab (affected by Thanksgiving holiday)
17
Dec. 2-6
Drawer Check-Out, Final Exam Review (Required)
Exp 7: Titration of Acetic Acid (Tues. Lab Only)
Exp 11: Molecular Models
DISCLAIMER: Chemistry is fun, but it's not a game. Don't try this at home.
In the laboratory on campus, students perform experiments in a controlled environment with supervision, the appropriate
equipment, and significant safety measures in place. You must not recreate these experiments outside of our laboratory and
without expert supervision. Do not try any techniques, reactions, or any aspect of any experiment discussed in class at home
with your friends, family, or pets. Science experiments can entail unavoidable risk of illness, personal injury (even death), and
loss of or damage to property. Please do not conduct or make up any experiments at home.
By your continued enrollment in this course, you acknowledge and agree that (a) you have been advised against performing
experiments related to this course; and (b) neither Cuesta College nor your instructor shall be liable for any damages arising
from injuries to person or property, including death, sustained by you or any third party, as a result of any and all science
experiments and/or activities you may perform outside the course, including, but not limited to, any damages resulting from
negligence. If you choose to conduct science experiments and you or someone else is injured or you injure or damage anyone
or anything, you shall be fully and solely responsible for all associated claims, obligations and liabilities. You accept full
responsibility for any and all damage or injury that may result from your actions. This is a first-year chemistry course. Ask
questions and be curious under instructor supervision.
*Details & schedule are subject to change. Any changes will be announced during class and on Canvas.