Heartland Community College
Math and Science Division
Course Syllabus and Policies
Summer 2013 Semester
Fundamentals of Chemistry (Lab) CHEM 120-L2 (1029) ICB 1401
Contact Hours
Lab hours: Monday 8:00AM-9:50AM
Wednesday 8:00AM-9:50AM
Instructor Information
Instructor: David Phillis
Phone number: (309) 242-0999
Email address: David.Phillis@heartland.edu
Office hours: Mon and Wed 10am – 12:00 p.m. or my appt.
Required Lab Materials
CHEM 120 Laboratory Manual, Muench, R. John (2011)
Safety Glasses (HCC will provide safety glasses, although you may bring your own)
Scientific Calculator
Laboratory Information
The lab portion of this course will consist of fourteen (14) traditional lab experiments and a
series of computer-based exercises. Each lab experiment will have an associated Pre-Lab
assignment and post-lab data pages and questions. One typed report, associated with the Water
Quality experiment, is required. The lab experiments are designed both to be enjoyable and to
reinforce the content presented in the lecture portion of the class. The focus of the computer
exercises is to reinforce basic skills that are presented in the lecture portion of the class and are
required to be proficient in chemistry.
Date Prepared: July 15, 2010
njb
Date Revised: August, 2012 DJP
Lab Schedule
Class Period
June 3
Computer Exercises
2.1, 2.2, 2.3 (6)
2.4,3.2, 3.3, 3.4 (8)
2.5,1.5, 4.2 (6)
4.3, 4.5, 8.5 (6)
June 17
Experiment
Taking Measurements (8)
The Density of Solids and Liquids (10)
A Physical or Chemical Change? (10)
Testing Drinks for Electrolytes (10)
Water Quality: Week 1 (8)
(Pre-Lab and Water Video Questions Due)
June 19
Water Quality: Week 2 (Testing Your Sample)
None
June 24
Discussion of Water Quality Data
A Chemical Reaction (10)
9.1, 9.2, 9.3 (6)
June 5
June 10
June 12
June 26
July 1
July 3
No lab!
Discussion of Water Quality Data
A Chemical Reaction (10)
The Empirical Gas Laws (12)
Water Report and Data Due (30)
Solubility Limit vs. Temperature (10)
July 8
July 10
July 15
July 17
None
Titration of an Antacid Product (10)
Radioactivity (Demonstration by Instructor) (10)
Introduction to Organic Structures (12)
July 22
July 24
July 29
The Biodiesel Project: Week 1 (6)
(Pre-Lab and Week 1 Data)
The Biodiesel Project: Week 2 (20)
If needed (ChemSkills Make up day)
None
None
16.2 (2)
None
None
None
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
Attendance for the lab portion of the course is required. Any student missing more than three
labs can fail the course. It is important to arrive in the lab room a few minutes before the
scheduled start time. Anyone who arrives during or after the completion of the instructor's PreLab discussion or who leaves early (without instructor permission or without having completed
the assigned lab activity for the day) will be penalized half of the associated points for that day's
lab experiment. Lab data and reports that are not turned in prior to leaving the lab for the day
will not be accepted.
Please remember to either turn off or put your phone into silent mode before the start of each
lecture and lab, in order to minimize disruptions. The course instructor reserves the right to
dismiss repeat offenders from a class period after an interruption.
Method of Evaluation (Grading System)
Lab grades will be determined by a combination of lab reports and computer exercises. The point
values of each lab report and set of computer exercises are found in parentheses on the lab
schedule. These exercises will be worth a possible 200 points.
Date Prepared: July 15, 2010
njb
Date Revised: August, 2012 DJP
Lab Format
Before Lab
Completely and thoroughly read through the materials pertaining to the day’s topic and complete
the “Pre-Lab” questions associated with each experiment. (Note: The Pre-Lab questions can
generally be found after each experiment in the CHEM120 Lab Manual.)
During Lab
Upon arrival in the lab room, the Pre-Lab questions must be shown to the course instructor, who
will initial this section for completion. Any student who does not have their Pre-Lab initialed by
the course instructor prior to beginning the experiment for the day will have two points deducted
from the associated points for that day's lab experiment.
The instructor will give a brief pre-lab discussion, which will detail the procedures and any
safety information for the experiment to be performed. Be sure to ask for clarification on any
points of the experiment that seem unclear, including usage of laboratory equipment or
chemicals, safety information, the data that should be collected, or data analysis.
Upon completion of the pre-lab, the experiment should be performed, to completion, as detailed
in the lab manual. Most experiments will be done in pairs. Be sure to record data, as detailed
within the experiment and listed on the data sheets following each experiment. Use either blue
or black ink when recording your laboratory data. Use a single strikethrough to cross things out
– don’t scribble! It is very important to be neat and legible. If I cannot read your handwriting, I
cannot grade you effectively.
When the experiment is completed, return any laboratory equipment and clean off the lab bench,
as needed. Then, complete any calculations and post-lab questions associated with the
experiment. Calculations and post-lab questions should be done individually. Be sure to show
work to receive partial credit, in case your data was incorrect. Write out all of the steps for a
calculation that needs to be done, using the blank space on the data and questions pages of the
lab manual. Label the calculations for what they are (density, percent error, etc.) and be neat. If
the course instructor cannot determine what all numbers pertain to, credit will not be given. Use
the perforations in the lab manual to carefully tear out the pages containing your pre-lab
questions, data sheets, and post-lab questions. Staple these pages in this order, and turn them in
to the lab instructor, prior to leaving for the day.
Finally, use any remaining time to work on the assigned computer exercises. All computer
exercises must be completed with your lab partner. The computer exercises can be repeated an
unlimited number of times, throughout the semester (through July 24, 2012), to improve earned
scores. Grades for computer exercises will be assigned based on the percentage of correct
answers given.
Date Prepared: July 15, 2010
njb
Date Revised: August, 2012 DJP
Note that, while actual lab experiments and the assigned computer exercises will be done in
pairs, each partner is expected to contribute equally to the activities done in class. Grades
assigned to the computer exercises will be partner scores. However, if one partner is not
contributing to the activity, a warning will be issued. For each additional occurrence, a score of
0 points will be recorded for that set of computer exercises. Grades for pre-lab questions, data,
and post-lab questions will be assigned on an individual basis.
If a conflict between partners occurs and you would like to be reassigned, please alert the
instructor to the problem, and groups may be reassigned, at the instructor's discretion.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
All work submitted for grading should be solely your own. Plagiarizing information will not be
tolerated. Plagiarism is defined as taking another person's ideas or work and presenting them as
your own. This can include copying or paraphrasing text from another source, whether it be
printed (textbook or internet) or verbal (peer). If other sources are used in the completion of
your lab assignments (pre- or post-lab questions or reports), cite your sources with a textbook
title and page number or website address.
Plagiarism is considered a serious academic offense and violates the fundamental principle of
academic integrity. Heartland Community College allows for a variety of disciplinary responses
to plagiarism or other examples of academic misconduct, including course failure, suspension, or
expulsion from the College. Examples of academic misconduct can include, but are not limited
to, plagiarism, cheating, falsification or misrepresentation of data or academic records, and
assisting others in acts of academic misconduct. Further examples and definitions for academic
misconduct violations can be found in the college catalog.
The penalty for cheating on any assessment will be dismissal from the course with a failing grade
(F). A letter may also be placed in the student's permanent file at Heartland Community College,
at the discretion of the course instructor. Note that these decisions can be appealed based on the
appeals process found in the Heartland Community College Student Handbook.
Date Prepared: July 15, 2010
njb
Date Revised: August, 2012 DJP
Support Services at Heartland Community College
-
The Library, located in the Student Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus, provides
Heartland students with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases,
videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to
assist in locating information. For more information, please call the Library at (309) 2688200 or (309) 268-8292
-
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland
students at the Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln
Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week. Study groups are also
available by request. For more information about services available at each location, please
call the Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal (309) at 268-8231, the Pontiac Center at
(815) 842-6777, or the Lincoln Center at (217) 735-1731.
-
The Tutoring and Testing Center provides a secure testing environment for students who are
enrolled in online, hybrid, and other distance learning courses; have a documented disability;
or need to take a make-up exam. Testing accommodations for students having documented
disabilities must be arranged by the student through the Office of Disability Services, and
Testing Services will only administer make-up exams at the request of the instructor.
Contact Testing Services at (309) 268-8050 for more information.
-
The Open Computing Lab provides free computing for HCC students at convenient times
throughout the week. The computer lab is staffed by trained Lab Assistants and offers the
use of approximately 70 computers, a scanner, a laser printer, and an electric typewriter.
-
Heartland Community College offers Disability Support Services (DSS) with offices located
in the Academic Support Center. DSS ensures that students with disabilities have equal
access to the college’s programs, services and activities through the provision of reasonable
accommodations as outlined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with
Disabilities Act. DSS offers a wide range of services to support students with disabilities,
including assistive technology, document conversion services, personnel, classroom and
testing accommodations. Students with a documented disability who wish to discuss
academic accommodations can contact disability support services at (309) 268-8259.
Date Prepared: July 15, 2010
njb
Date Revised: August, 2012 DJP