CHEM131GeneralChemistryI‐Spring2012
Dr.AjayMallia amallya@umd.edu
Lectures: M
6:30p.m.–9:30p.m. CHEM1402
Officehours:M5:15pm‐6:00pmatCHEM1109(withappointmentonly)
TeachingAssistant:
NataliaWhite‐nwhite1@umd.edu
Introduction
The purpose of this course is to provide you with an introduction to atomic and
molecular structure, as well as molecular properties. We will also discuss general
principles of reactions including stoichiometry, equilibrium and some thermodynamics.
The overall goal of this course is to adequately prepare you for CHEM 231 (CHEM II –
Organic Chemistry I), which will cover introductory organic chemistry, including organic
structure,organicreactionsandorganicreactionmechanisms.
RequiredCourseMaterials
1)Tro,N.J.Chemistry–AMolecularApproach–SecondCustomEditionforUniversityof
Maryland–CHEM131;Pearson,2011,ISBN1‐256‐10448‐5
ThetextshouldalsocomewithaMasteringChemistry(onlineweb‐basedlearning)access
keyforonlinehomeworkathttp://masteringchemistry.com/.Ifthecardisnotbundled
with the textbook, you can purchase it separately. See the document entitled
“MasteringChemistryRegistration.pdf” on the Blackboard page for information on how to
signupforandlogintoMasteringChemistry.
2)Youwillneeda“ResponseCardRF”or“ResponseCardXR”or“ResponseCardRF‐LCD”
(a“clicker”)byResponsiveInnovations.Alternatively,youmayuseyouriPhoneoriPodor
Blackberry or laptop computer as a clicker. This must be registered online at
http://my.umd.edu. Click “Register clicker” under the Academics and Testudo tab for
information on how to register your clicker at http://my.umd.edu. To use your
iPod/iPhone/Blackberry/laptopasaclicker,youneedtopurchaseaclickercode–clickthe
“Student” tab at http://clickers.umd.edu for information on how to do this. More
informationaboutclickerscanbefoundathttp://clickers.umd.edu.
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Grading
PointsforEachAssignment
Clicker
Questions
Homework
½pointforparticipating,
½pointforcorrectanswer;
10pointsperassignment
Exams
FinalExam
TOTAL
100points
200points
Numberof
Totalpoints
Assignments
~40questions 40points
10
assignments
3exams
1exam
100points
300points
200points
640points
Grades:
TheFinalGradeforthiscoursewillbeassignedbasedonyourgrandtotalasfollows:
A=100.0–90.0% B=89.9–80.0% C=79.9–70.0%
D=69.9–60.0% F=59.9–0.00%
Clickers:
WewillbeusingthePersonalResponseSystem(“clickers”)inclassthissemester.Clickers
canbepurchasedatthebookstorebyaskingatthecounteronthelowerlevel.Youcanuse
an “RF” or “XR” or “RF‐LCD” clicker (the old gray clickers or the newer blue and white
clickers, respectively) or a web enabled portable device (an iPod, iPhone, laptop or
Blackberry). Once you purchase your clicker, you must register your clicker with the
universityas described above. Additional information regarding clickers can be foundat
http://clickers.umd.edu by clicking the “Student” tab. This website will give you
information on purchasing your clicker, registering your clicker, using your clicker, and
what to do if your clicker is lost or stolen. It also includes information on purchasing a
licensecodeforawebenabledportabledevice.
Therewillbe~40in‐classclickerquestionsoverthecourseofthesemesterthatyouwillbe
requiredtoanswer.Thesequestionswillbeonmaterialpreviouslycoveredinthecourse
(usually in the previous lecture or two), and they will be a way to make sure you are
keepingupwiththematerial.Thefirstcoupleofminutesofeveryclasswillbedevotedto
administrativeannouncementsandoneortwoclickerquestions.Itismosthelpfulthatyou
answer the question on your own without asking your friend(s) or looking back in your
notes. I will ask that the class remain silent during this question. There will be also a
clickerquestionsession(withoneortwoquestions)attheendoftheclass.
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Each clicker question is worth 1 point toward your final grade: ½ point for participation
and ½ point if you answer the question correctly. You will be able to keep track of your
clickerpointsonBlackboard.
Afterthelastdayforscheduleadjustment,anyproblemswithyourclicker(suchasanew
clickerIDtoreplacealostclickeroranytechnicalissues)needtobedirectedtome.
Clicker points will be uploaded at the latest by the day following the in‐class clicker
question(s).Youshouldcheckyourpointsonaregularbasistomakesureyouranswers
are being recorded and that your points show up correctly – there are always technical
issues regarding some clickers and the sooner that you and I resolve these issues, the
betterforthebothofus.Iwillnotaddressanyclickerissuesafterthefinalexamisgiven.
Thereisnomake‐upforanymissedclickersession.Itisyourresponsibilitytomakesure
thatclickerisproperlyworking.Noexcuses.
Homework:
This semester, we will use the Mastering Chemistry system for homework. You need a
Mastering Chemistry access code to gain access to the website and complete assignments
thissemester.Ifyoupurchasedyourtextinthebookstore,theMasteringChemistryaccess
codeshouldhavebeenpackagedwithyourtext.Ifyoupurchasedyourtextelsewhere,you
will need to purchase a Mastering Chemistry access code. The campus bookstore should
havestand‐alonecodesavailable.
To
register
for
the
course,
follow
the
directions
on
the
“MasteringChemistryRegistration.pdf” document on the Blackboard page under “Course
Documents.”Youwillneedthecoursecode,whichisasfollows:
MALLIASPRING2012
NOTE: If the registration process prompts you to sign up for a specific textbook and
edition,use“Tro,Chemistry:AMolecularApproach,2e.”Thismeansthesecondedition.
There will be 10 homework assignments during the semester, each with 10 questions
worth1pointeach.Youwillbegiven7daystocompletetheassignments.Youwillhave
three attempts for each question (except multiple choices). The assignment entitled
“Introduction to Mastering Chemistry” will be available for the entire semester, and will
NOTcounttowardsyourfinalgrade.Itistheresimplysoyoucanfamiliarizeyourselfwith
howtoinputanswersandlearnhowtousetheinterface.TheMasteringChemistrysystem
maintains grades for all assignments, and may include this score too in the gradebook –
thatsaid;attheendofthesemesterthisscorewillbediscarded.Ifyoufeelanytechnical
difficulties while answering questions at Mastering Chemistry system you should let me
knowassoonaspossible.
AssignmentduedatesarelistedonthesyllabusaswellasontheMasteringChemistrypage
itself.Typically,assignmentswillbeavailableonMondaymorningsby10a.m.anddueby
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Mondayofthefollowingweekat11:59p.m.,withsomeexceptionsbasedonthelocations
ofexamsandholidays.
Exams:
Thein‐classexamswillbeonFebruary27,March26andApril30th(6:30‐7:30pm).The
finalexamisonMay14thfrom6:30p.m.‐8:30p.m.
Only non‐programmable calculators will be allowed during the exams. A scientific
calculatorisstronglyrecommended.Noelectronicdevices(otherthanyourcalculator)will
be permitted during an exam. Each student is required to keep his/her University of
MarylandphotoIDonthedeskduringtheexam.Ifyouknowyouwillhaveaconflictwith
the date ofan exam, such as religious observances, youmust be intouch with me by the
endofscheduleadjustment.
CourseSchedule:
Date
LectureTopic
1/30
Introductiontocoursepolicies;Chapter2:Elements,
molecules,compounds,mixtures,atomictheory,
conservationofmass,definiteproportions,atomic
structure,atomicnumber,massnumberandisotopes.
Chapter2:Ions,bondingandnoblegases.Chapter3.1‐
3.6:Formulas,namingandChapter7:Electromagnetic
spectrumandlinespectra
Lastdateofscheduleadjustment
Chapter7:OrbitalsandquantumnumbersChapter8:
Spin,electronrepulsionandenergyMulti‐electronatoms,
electronconfigurations,orbitaldiagrams
Chapter8:ElementalpropertiesParamagnetism,metals,
ionicradiiChapter9:Lewissymbols,ionicbonding
Exam#1–Chapters1,2,3.1‐3.6,7,8(6:30‐7:30pm)
Chapter9:Covalentbonds,bondproperties,bondorder,
electronegativityLewisstructures
Chapter9:Formalcharge,resonanceChapter10:VSEPR,
shapesVSEPR,shapes,Polarity,dipolemoments,
Covalentbonding,
Chapter10:valencebondtheory,hybridizationSigma
andpibonding,orbitaloverlap,Chapter3.7‐3.10:Moles,
Avogadro’snumber,molarmass,calculationsFormulas,
composition,masspercentEquations
SpringBreak(3/19‐3/23)
Exam#2–Chapters9,10,3.7‐3.10
Chapter4:Stoichiometry,molarity,percentyield,
limitingreagentaqueoussolutions,electrolytesnetionic
equations,precipitation,solubility
2/6
2/7
2/13
2/20
2/27
3/5
3/12
3/19
3/26
CHEM 131 SPRING 2012 -MALLIA
Assignments
due/Available
HW1available
HW1due/HW2
available
HW2due
HW3available
HW3due/HW4
available
HW4due/HW5
available
HW5due/HW6
available
4
4/2
4/9
4/11
4/16
4/23
4/30
5/7
5/14
Chapter4:Acidsandbases,neutralization,gasforming
reactions;Redoxreactions,oxidationnumber
Chapter6:Heat,work,1stlawofthermodynamics,state
functions:Enthalpy,specificheat,calorimetry
Thermochemistry,heatsofreactions,Hess’law
Lastdatetodropwitha‘W’
Chapter14:Reversibility,equilibriumEquilibrium,
equilibriumconstants,reactionquotientReaction
direction;equilibriumcalculations
Chapter14:Equilibrium,reactionconditions,
LeChatelier’sprincipleChapter15:Acid‐Baseequilibria,
Ka,pHBronsted‐Løwrytheory,conjugateacidsandbases,
Ka,Kb
Exam#3–Chapters4,6,14,15(uptothetopic
discussedinclass)
Chapter15:Acid/baseequilibria(cont)
Chapter15:Acid/baseequilibria(cont)
Chapter11.1‐11.3:Intermolecularforces(iftime)
FinalExam–6:30a.m.–8:30p.m.;locationChem1402
HW6due
HW7available
HW7due/HW8
available
HW8due/HW9
available
HW10
available/HW9
due
HW10due
Note:Chapter1containsaseriesofimportanttopicssuchasstatesofmatter,significant
figures,precisionandaccuracy.Iwillnotcoverthesetopicsinclass,buthaveprepareda
documentontheBlackboardpagethatsummarizesthemostimportantsubjectsin
Chapter1.Ihavealsoputsuggestedproblemsfromchapter1inthe“Recommended
ProblemsfromtheText”onBlackboard.
Policies:
AcademicIntegrity:
TheUniversityofMarylandhasanationallyrecognizedCodeofAcademicIntegrity,
administeredbytheStudentHonorCouncil.ThisCodesetsstandardsforacademic
integrityatMarylandforallundergraduateandgraduatestudents.Asastudent,youare
responsibleforupholdingthesestandardsforthiscourse.Youshouldbeawareofthe
consequencesofcheating,fabrication,facilitation,andplagiarism.Formoreinformationon
theCodeofAcademicIntegrityortheStudentHonorCouncil,pleasevisittheStudent
HonorCouncilwebsiteathttp://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html.
All work turned in for credit MUST be your own, in your own words, not taken directly
from other sources. Any indications of work that was not done by the student will be
investigated. If academic dishonesty is suspected the case will be turned over to the
campusjudicialoffice.
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YouareresponsibleforunderstandingthecontentoftheCodeandbehavinginamanner
consistentwiththeCode.Therewillbezerotoleranceforanyviolations.
Make‐UpExams:
Onlyuniversity‐excusedabsenceswillbeacceptedformissedexams.Notethatthereisno
make‐up for the Final exam. Proper documentation is expected. You must contact me
within24hoursofthemissedexam.Failuretomeetthesethreerequirementsresultsina
ZEROforthemissedexam.
LearningorOtherDisability:
If you have a disability or other documentation from Disability Support Services, please
makeanappointmenttodiscussavailableaccommodationstomaximizeyourexperiencein
this course. Learning disabilities must be documented by DSS prior to receiving
accommodations.
Withdraw:
ThelastdayforscheduleadjustmentsisFebruary7th.ThelastdaytowithdrawisApril11.
Re‐Grades:
Intheeventthatyoufeelthatpointswereunfairlydeductedfromyourexam,re‐gradesare
permissibleforuptooneweekfromthedatetheexamishandedback.Onaseparatesheet
of paper, write an explanation of where and why you feel that you deserve more points
than you were given credit for. Re‐grades are to be submitted directly to me. Note that
afteroneweekfromthedateoftheexamhandedback
Atmydiscretion,Imaydecidetore‐gradeyourentireexam.
NeithertheTAsnorIwilldiscusswithyouwhetherornotyoushouldsubmitare‐grade.
Additionerrorsthatunfairlysubtractedpointsfromyourexamscorewillbecorrected,but
notre‐graded.
You will get one chance to review your final exam answer paper (after grading). I will
announcethedateafterthefinalexam.
GradesinGeneral:
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to make sure that your grades are recorded
correctlyinthegradebookonBlackboard,andthattheyremaininorderthroughoutthe
semester. Due to the sheer volume of graded material throughout the semester (clicker
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points,MasteringChemistrygradesandexams),therewillinevitablybeasmallnumberof
technical glitches regarding clicker points and possibly regarding homework grades, and
occasionally there may be math errors on exams. I will try to minimize how often these
eventsoccur.Errorsingrades(eitherre‐gradesoramis‐enteredgradeonBlackboardor
MasteringChemistrymarkingacorrectanswerwrong)shouldbebroughttomyattention
immediately – please note that there is a statute of limitations on re‐grades as described
above.YoushouldcheckBlackboardoftentomakesureyourscoresappearastheyshould.
After the date of the final exam, I will not entertain exam re‐grades (as per the section
above),norwillIentertaingradingissuesregardingtheonlinehomeworkorclickers.
Assistance:
Iamavailableforhelpwithandordiscussionaboutanyaspectofthiscourse,andI
will have office hours on Mondays 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm at Chemistry 1109 (with
appointmentonly).Youarefreetoe‐mailmeaquestion.Stayingontopofthematerialisan
importantdutythatyoumustdoinordertodowellinthiscourse.Onceyoufeelyouare
beginning to lag behind or get lost, I would encourage you to meet with me as soon as
possible so we can get you back up to speed. Not doing so may affect your grade in an
undesiredmanner,aswellasyourperformanceinCHEM231.
OtherSuggestions:




Add my e‐mail address (on the top of the first page of this syllabus) to your
whitelist/listofpreferredsenders.U.Md.addresseshavebeenusedtospamsome
hotmailandGmailaccountsrecently,sosomevalidmessagesfromtheumddomain
may be blocked. If I am on your whitelist, messages from me willnot be blocked.
ThisisparticularlyimportantifyourumdaddressautomaticallyforwardstoaGmail
orhotmailaccount.
Attendalllectures–Ifyouchoosenottodoso,youwillloseclickerpoints,andyou
willnothearmylectures.Imayexplainthingsinthetextbookinadifferentwayor
provide alternative methods for working problems or understanding a concept.
Occasionally,Imayteachsomethingthatisnotinthebook.Ifitiscoveredinclass,it
isfairgameforanexam.Itisinyourbestinterestnottomisslectures.
Go to your discussion sections – Your discussion sections will be smaller than the
lectures and are places where you can get your questions addressed in a more
personalmanner(althoughIwillanswerquestionsduringlecture).Thepointofthe
discussionsectionistofillinthegapsinthematerialthatthelecturesleave,tohelp
youbetterunderstandthematerialfromlecture,andtopracticeproblemsrelatedto
thelecturematerial.
Worktheendofchapterproblems–OntheBlackboardsiteforthecourseIwillpost
“RecommendedProblemsfromtheText”.TheseareproblemsthatIfeelareagood
way to verify your understanding of lecture and textbook material. There are far
too many to do considering your other classes and assignments, but nonetheless,
working on a healthy number of these per chapter will reinforce your
understandingofthematerial.
CHEM 131 SPRING 2012 -MALLIA
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
Gethelptheminuteyoubegintohavetroublewiththematerial.Thiscourseisnot
only a course in and of itself, but it is also preparation for CHEM231, Organic
ChemistryI.Anydifficultiesyouhavewiththematerialinthiscoursemayleadto
disastrousconsequencesinCHEM231.YourTAandIareheretohelpyoulearnand
toprepareyouforyourfuturechemistrycourses,sotakeadvantageofus!!!
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