Chemistry 121: Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry
Fall 2008
Chem 121 is the first of a 2 quarter series covering the fundamental concepts of inorganic,
organic, and biological chemistry and is intended primarily for students in various healthrelated programs. Previous chemistry is required, either high school chemistry or Chem
100. Chem 101 requires moderate proficiency with algebra; as such Math 95 or Math 98 is
a prerequisite (but may be taken concurrently). Suggested English language skills are
placement in English 101.
Chem 121 will develop the central concepts of measurement and determination of physical
properties; scientific and analytical methodology, the nature of atoms, molecules, and
ions; bonding between atoms and molecules; mass relationships and stoichiometry;
solubility and solution chemistry. Additionally, Chem 121 will focus on chemical reactivity
in terms of equilibrium and kinetics. Acids, bases, and pH will be considered in some
depth, and oxidation and reduction will also be developed. The course will be presented
within a framework of practical relevance, and should provide a “chemical scaffold” on
which to interpret physical phenomena, with examples geared towards the health science
student.
Instructor: Shane Hendrickson
Office: Cascade Building, Room 204A, Phone: (253) 964-6236
e-mail: SHendrickson@pierce.ctc.edu
Official Office hours: M-F 10 am to 11:30 am or by appointment
Required Text1:
General, Organic, and Biochemistry, 2nd edition, Ira Blei & George Odian, W.H.
Freeman and Co. (2006).
Time & Location
Lecture: M, T, W from 1:00 to 2:05 pm, Rm C202
Laboratory: Th from 1:00 - 2:50 pm (section CF) or M from 2:15 – 4:05 pm
(section DF), Rm C204
1
The Chem 121 lab manual will be provided to you
Grading:
The Grading for Chem 121 will be as follows
 3 90 Point Examinations2, lowest normalized to 60 points
 2 exams(90 points/exam) + 1 exam(60 points/exam) = 240 points
(40.0%)
 Final Exam = 100 points (16.7%)
 10 Laboratory Experiments: 10 Labs(10 points/Lab) = 100 points
(16.7%)
 3 Quizzes, lowest dropped: 2 Quizzes(30 points/Quiz) = 60 points
(10.0%)
 5 Homework Assignments: 5 HW(10 points/HW) = 50 points (8.3%)
 5 Group Exercises: 5 GE(10 points/GE) = 50 points (8.3%)
Total graded3 points = 600
Grades will be assigned as a percentage of total points possible, as follows:
%
>92
91.0-91.9
90.0-90.9
89.0-89.9
88.0-88.9
87.0-87.9
86.0-86.9
85.0-85.9
84.0-84.9
Grade
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.3
3.2
%
83.0-83.9
82.0-82.9
81.0-81.9
80.0-80.9
79.0-79.9
78.0-78.9
77.0-77.9
76.0-76.9
75.0-75.9
Grade
3.1
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5
2.4
2.3
%
74.0-74.9
73.0-73.9
72.0-72.9
71.0-71.9
70.0-70.9
69.0-69.9
68.0-68.9
67.0-67.9
66.0-66.9
Grade
2.2
2.1
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
%
65.0-65.9
64.0-64.9
63.0-63.9
62.0-62.9
61.0-61.9
60.0-60.9
59.0-59.9
<59
Grade
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.0
As may be noted from the above, the course is not graded on a Gaussian
distribution. I reserve the right to normalize the grades upward if the class
average falls below a C+. However, the more likely occurrence will be the
assigning of additional problems for extra credit
2
Exams will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer (generally mathematically based),
and fill in the blank. Questions for the examinations will be taken from material covered in lecture
(≥ 90%) and reading assignments (≤ 10%).
3
Non-extra credit
Schedule of Examinations:
Section I: Physical Properties of Substances, Atomic & Molecular Structure Wednesday, 10/15
Section II: Mass Relationships and Stoichiometry - Behavior of Gases - Monday, 11/03
Section III: Solution Chemistry, Reaction Rate & Equilibrium - Monday, 11/17
Section IV: Acids, Bases, Salts & Buffers; Nuclear Chemistry (Final Examination) –
Wednesday, 12/10, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, Rm C202
Make-up Examinations
Make-up exams will be considered only if you approach me before the
scheduled exam with an exceptional, documentable excuse. Documentation is
mandatory before a make-up examination will be provided. If you miss an exam
and have not notified me beforehand you will receive a zero for that exam.
Due to time constraints, make-up examinations will not be given for poor test
performance.
Excusal from Final
In the event a student has only to pass the final to receive an A for the course, he
or she is excused from taking the final examination. Since the total number of
graded (non-extra credit) points in the course is 600, .92(600) = 552 points are
required for an A. As a passing score for the final is 59, 493 points (552 – 59)
accumulated prior to the final is required to have the examination waived. This
corresponds to 98.6% of graded points (493/500) on all other work. All other
work must be turned prior to the final to exercise this option.
Behavior
You are students who have elected to pursue careers in the health sciences. As
such, little needs be said concerning behavior. You should be mindful of creating
distractions, as they only impede your fellow students’ chances of success.
Please note that questions are never considered a distraction, but must be
limited to the topic at hand.
As a courtesy to others, cell phones should be turned off, or switched to vibrate
only in the event an emergency call is anticipated.
Cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances. My standing policy is to
give a score of 0 for any exam a student is caught cheating on. As each exam is
worth 20%, and the division of letter grades roughly corresponds to 10% of the
total points available, cheating on an exam will cost you no less than 2 letter
grades.
Disabilities
Students with disabilities who believe they may need academic adjustments, auxiliary aids or
services to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements are encouraged to
register with the Access and Disability Services (ADS) office, room N-115 in the Sunrise building.
You may also call the ADS office to make an appointment to meet with the ADS coordinator at
(253) 964-6568, (253) 964-6526, or (253) 964-6527. Students requesting accommodations must
obtaint an Approved Academic Adjustments, Auxilary Aids or Services form from ADS.
Tentative Schedule of Lecture Topics
Section I: Physical Properties of Substances, Atomic & Molecular Structure
Week 1
Day
Wednesday, 9/24
Thursday, 9/25
Subject
Extra Credit Survey, Course Introduction
Lab 1 (Section CF): Introduction to Chemical Lab
Techniques
Week 2
Day
Monday, 9/29
Tuesday, 9/30
Wednesday, 10/01
Thursday, 10/02
Subject
Composition of Matter, Physical Properties and Their
Measurement (1.1-1.7) Lab 1 (Section DF): Introduction to
Chemical Lab Techniques HW 1 Out
Unit Conversions and Dimensional Analysis; Mass, Volume and
Density (1.8, 1.9)
Heat, Temperature, and Energy; Temperature Conversions
Revisited (1.10, 1.11) Group Exercise 1
Lab 2 (Section CF): Separation of a Mixture into Pure
Substances
Week 3
Day
Monday, 10/06
Tuesday, 10/07
Wednesday, 10/08
Thursday, 10/09
Subject
Atomic Structure (2.1-2.5) Quiz 1
Lab 2 (Section DF): Separation of a Mixture into Pure
Substances
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table (2.6-2.10) HW 1
Due, HW 2 Out
Formation of Ions from Atoms, Ionic vs. Covalent Bonds (3.1,
3.2) Group Exercise 2
Lab 3 (Section CF): Physical Properties of Substances
Week 4
Day
Monday, 10/13
Tuesday, 10/14
Wednesday, 10/15
Thursday, 10/16
Subject
Naming Ionic Compounds; Covalent Compounds & Lewis
Structures (3.3-3.8) HW 2 Due, HW 3 Out
Lab 3 (Section DF): Physical Properties of Substances
Polarity in Covalent Compounds, 3-D Structure (3.9, 3.10)
Exam I Review
Examination I: Chapters 1 - 3
Lab 4 (Section CF): Mixtures & Compounds
Section II: Mass Relationships and Stoichiometry, Behavior of Gases
Week 5
Day
Monday, 10/20
Tuesday, 10/21
Wednesday, 10/22
Thursday, 10/23
Subject
Chemical and Molecular Formulas, The Mole Concept,
Balancing Chemical Equations (4.1-4.6) Lab 4 (Section DF):
Mixtures & Compounds
Balancing Chemical Equations; Redox Reactions; Reaction
Stoichiometry (4.5-4.8)
Gas Laws I (5.1-5.6) Quiz II
Lab 5 (Section CF): Stoichiometry
Week 6
Day
Monday, 10/27
Tuesday, 10/28
Wednesday, 10/29
Thursday, 10/30
Subject
Gas Laws II, O2 , CO2 Transport (5.7-5.11); Lab 5 (Section
DF): Stoichiometry
Intermolecular Forces, States of Matter, and Phase Changes
(6.1-6.5) HW 3 Due
Intermolecular Forces Continued: Vaporization, Vapor
Pressure, and the Structure of Solids (6.6-6.10)
Group Exercise 3
Lab 6 (Section CF): Gas Laws Handout
Section III: Solution Chemistry, Reaction Rate & Equilibrium
Week 7
Day
Monday, 11/3
Tuesday, 11/4
Wednesday, 11/5
Thursday, 11/6
Subject
Examination II: Chapters 4 – 6
Lab 6 (Section DF): Gas Laws Handout
Introduction to Solutions and Solubility (7.1 – 7.3)
HW 4 Out
Solutions vs. Suspensions, Molarity and Other Measures of
Solution Concentration (7.1-7.6)
Lab 7 (Section CF): Concentrations and Absorbance
Week 8
Day
Monday, 11/10
Tuesday, 11/11
Wednesday, 11/12
Thursday, 11/13
Subject
Dilutions, Diffusion and Osmosis (7.7-7.16) Lab 7 (Section
DF): Concentrations and Absorbance
Veteran’s Day – NO CLASS
Reaction Rates & Equilibrium (8.1-8.8) HW 4 Due
Lab 8 (Section CF): Analysis of Aluminum
Section IV: Acids, Bases, Salts & Buffers; Nuclear Chemistry
Week 9
Day
Monday, 11/17
Tuesday, 11/18
Wednesday, 11/19
Thursday, 11/20
Subject
Examination III: Chapters 7-8
Lab 8 (Section DF): Analysis of Aluminum
Acids and Bases I (9.1-9.3) HW 5 Out
Acids and Bases II (9.4-9.6) Group Exercise 4
Lab 9 (Section CF): Unlabelled Bottles
Week 10
Day
Monday, 11/24
Tuesday, 11/25
Wednesday, 11/26
Thursday, 11/27
Subject
Acids, Bases, and Salt Formation (9.7)
Lab 9 (Section DF): Unlabelled Bottles
Buffers and Titration (9.8-9.10)
RPD – NO CLASS
Thanksgiving Break
Week 11
Day
Monday, 12/1
Tuesday, 12/2
Wednesday, 12/3
Thursday, 12/4
Subject
Applications of Radiation, Nuclear Energy (10.8-10.10)
Lab 10 (Section DF): Acid-Base Neutralization
Radiation, Common Decay Pathways (10.1-10.4) HW 5 Due
Biological Effects of Radiation, Detection and Quantification
of Radiation (10.5-10.7) Group Exercise 5
Lab 10 (Section CF): Acid-Base Neutralization
Week 12
Day
Monday, 12/8
Tuesday, 12/9
Wednesday, 12/10
Subject
Quiz 3
Final Exam Review
Final Examination