Syllabus for Chemistry 2A
Introduction to Chemistry
Riverside Community College Spring 2013 Semester
Course Title:
Instructor:
Contact:
Room:
Meeting Time(s):
Course Prerequisite:
Required Textbook:
Required Materials:
Chemistry 2A – Introductory Chemistry
Sheila Nguyen (Lecture)
snguyen2011@sbcglobal.net
MTSC 437
Tuesdays 6:10 pm – 9:10 pm
Completion of MATH 040c, MATH 41C or equivalent
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, 2nd Ed., by Janice Gorzynski Smith.
Scientific Calculator with Exponential and Log functions (non-graphing / non-programmable)
Spiral bound notebook.
Course Description
This course will provide an introduction to chemistry in society with an emphasis on medical perspectives. Some topics include:
physical and chemical properties of common elements and compounds, atomic structure, chemical bonding, reactions, gases,
nuclear and organic chemistry.
Expected Student Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. Solve basic level problems (using formula and unit analysis) relating to unit conversions
2. Describe and apply a chemical vocabulary of approximately 200 words
3. Apply the systematic naming system to name inorganic and simple organic compounds
4. Relate chemical concepts to physical phenomena in the areas of health, then environment and their daily uses
5. Collect data using accurate qualitative and quantitative measurements of length, mass, temperature and volume
6. Analyze experimental results and relate them to the relevant concepts
Exams
Throughout the course, there will be 3 tests and a comprehensive final exam. Exam questions will be based on concepts covered in
lecture, assigned homework problems, labs and practice problems discussed in class. Exams may include a variety of questions
including true/false, multiple choice, completion, problem solving and short essay responses. There are NO MAKE UP TESTS.
Missing the final exam may result in an F for the course.
Grading Scale:
3 Tests
Weekly Quizzes
Class Assignments
Laboratory
Final Exam
Total
300 pts
150 pts
150 pts
200 pts
200 pts
1000 pts
90 – 100%
80 – 89 %
70 – 79 %
60 – 69 %
0 – 59 %
A
B
C
D
F
Student Behavior
Class disruptions including, but not limited to, the use of cell phone and other electronic devices will not be acceptable. Late arrivals
are disruptive to the class environment. Students who arrive late are expected to enter the room quietly and politely to minimize
the distractions that may result. All forms of academic dishonesty will be handled according to RCC policy. Cheating will result in a
zero for the assignment and likely result in an F for the course.
Lecture Topics, Reading Assignments, Suggested Review Questions and Assessment Dates
Instructional methods may consist of: lecture / direct instruction, discussion, demonstrations, cooperative groups, etc. Any of the
material discussed or contained within the reading may be assessed on the exams. Late work will not be accepted without a doctor’s
note. Late arrivals to the quiz or exam will not be given extra time. Assignment and exam dates may be changed at the discretion
of the instructor.
Riverside Community College Spring13
Course Syllabus for Chem-2A
Instructor : S. Nguyen
TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR:
Date
Recommended
Homework
Topic(s) Covered
Lab Activity
Syllabus
2/12
Ch. 1 – Matter and Measurement
Matter and Classification, Significant Figures, Units of
Measurements and Conversions, Temperature
pp. 28 - 30
#35 – 75 odd
Scientific Notation
Quiz #1
Ch 1 – Matter and Measurement – Density
pp. 30
# 77 – 85 odd
2/19
Significant Figures and Units
Ch 2 – Atoms and the Periodic Table
Atoms, Elements, Isotopes, Periodic Table, Electron
Configurations and Valence Electrons
pp. 63 – 66
# 31 -83 odd
Quiz #2
Ch 2 – Atoms and the Periodic Table – Period Trends
pp. 66
# 85 – 91 odd
Ch 3 – Ionic Compounds
Bonding, Ions, Ionic Compounds and Naming Binary
Compounds, Polyatomic Ions, Physical Properties
pp. 90 – 93
#27 – 87 odd
2/26
Density
Chapter 1 – 3 Test
3/5
Ch 4 – Covalent Compounds
Covalent Bonding, Naming Molecular Compounds, Lewis
Structures
pp. 118 -120
# 27 – 43 odd
#53 – 57 odd
Elements vs. Compounds
Quiz #3
Ch 4 – Covalent Compounds – Electronegativity and Polarity
3/12
pp. 162 – 163
#43 – 71 odd
Ch 5 – Chemical Reactions
Types of Chemical Reactions, Balancing Chemical Reactions,
Molar Mass Calculations, Conversions
Quiz # 4
3/19
3/26
Ch 5 – Chemical Reactions
Stoichiometry, Percent Yield, Limiting Reagents, Oxidation –
Reduction Reactions
pp. 164 – 165
# 73 – 97 odd
Quiz # 5
Physical vs. Chemical
Properties
Formula Writing
Balancing Equations
Ch 6 – Energy Changes, Reaction Rates, and Equilibrium
Energy, energy diagrams, energy changes, reaction rates,
equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s Principle
Riverside Community College Spring13
Hypothesis and
Nomenclature
pp. 193 – 197
#24 – 87 odd
Course Syllabus for Chem-2A
Instructor : S. Nguyen
Date
Recommended
Homework
Topic(s) Covered
Lab Activity
Ch 4 – 6 Test
4/2
Ch 7 – Gases, Liquids and Solids
Kinetic Molecular Theory, Pressure Units, Gas Laws, Ideal Gas
Law, Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure
pp. 234 – 237
# 37 – 79 odd
Conservation of Mass
Lewis Dot Structures
Quiz # 6
4/16
Ch. 7 – Gases, Liquids, and Solids
Changes of State, Evaporation, Vapor Pressure, Boiling and
Boiling Point, Intermolecular Forces
pp. 237 – 239
#81 – 107 odd
Ideal Gas Laws
Solutions
Quiz # 7
4/23
Ch 8 – Solutions
Factors Affecting Solubility, Concentration Calculations
pp. 268 – 270
# 31 – 87 odd
Colloids
Quiz # 8
4/30
pp. 271
#89 – 99 odd
Ch 8 – Solutions – Colligative Properties
Ch 9 – Acids and Bases
Acids and Bases, Bronsted Lowry Reactions, Acid Strength
Rates of Reaction
pp. 310 – 312
#37 – 67 odd
Quiz # 9
5/7
Ch 9 – Acids and Bases
pH scale, common Acid-Base Reactions, Acidity & Basicity of
Salt Solutions
pp. 312 – 313
# 69 – 91 odd
Acids & Bases
Quiz # 10
5/14
pH
Ch 9 – Acids and Bases – Titrations, Buffers and Calculations
pp. 313 – 314
# 93 – 109 odd
Ch 7 – 9 Test
5/21
Ch 10 – Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear Reactions, Fusion v. Fission and Half-life Calculatons
pp. 337 – 340
#23 – 79 odd
Buffers
Quiz #11
5/28
6/4
CH 11 – Introduction to Organic Molecules and Functional
Groups
Organic Molecules, Naming, Drawing and Functional Groups
pp. 370 – 375
# 23, 25, 35 – 71 odd,
77 – 85 odd
Comprehensive Final Exam
Riverside Community College Spring13
Molecular Models
Check – Out of Lockers
Course Syllabus for Chem-2A
Instructor : S. Nguyen
Attendance
Attendance to lecture and laboratory is MANDATORY. Regular attendance is key to successful completion of the course. It is your
responsibility to catch up if you are absent and obtain class notes from a classmate. Absences creates more work for you and you
will NOT be able to make up missed quizzes or exams. Two or more absences may result in being dropped from the course.
Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to drop from the course if they so wish. Do NOT depend on the instructor to drop you
from the course.
Homework
This is a 4-unit course and moves quickly. It is your responsibility to keep up and continuously do your work. Do NOT wait for the last
minute to do your homework as this leaves you NO time to ask questions or seek assistance. Lecture time will not be spent reviewing
for an exam. Upon completion of the exam, we will move on to the next topic.
Tests and Quizzes
No talking or any other form of communication with anyone is permitted during exams and quizzes. You will need a No. 2 pencil, a
calculator, and red ParSCORE answer sheet. Calculators may not be shared and only scratch paper provided by the instructor is
permitted. Once you have received the exam, you may not leave the room until the exam is complete. Once the exam is turned in,
you may not have it back to alter it in any way. Cheating on an exam will receive a zero for the first offense at a minimum. You may
be flunked for the entire course for just one act of academic dishonesty. Further offenses will result in notification of the Dean of
Student Services and implementation of the Riverside Community College Policy on Cheating.
Policies on Academic Honesty:
Any violation of academic integrity will result in a zero for the assignment, possibly an “F” in the course and referral to the
administration for further disciplinary action. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to: talking or passing notes
during quizzes and exams, plagiarism, the use of any unauthorized material while taking a quiz, and changing answers on an
assignment, quiz, or exam after it has been graded in an effort to garner more points.
Riverside Community College Spring13
Course Syllabus for Chem-2A
Instructor : S. Nguyen