GENERAL CHEMISTRY - I
CHE 121 – Spring 2010
CHE 121:
Lecture:
Lab:
4 credit hours
8:00 am – 9:15 am
8:00 am – 9:15 pm
9:30 am – 12:20 pm
Instructor:
Email (primary contact):
Phone:
Office:
Cullen Jones
mtncullen@hotmail.com
N/A
N/A
Section: D01
M RDMT210
W RDMT 210
M RDMT 303
Course Description
General College Chemistry 121 is for science and pre-professionals. It includes the study of measurements,
atomic theory, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, gases, solutions, and chemical reactions. It also includes
problem solving skills and descriptive contents for these topics. Laboratory techniques used in the
experiments demonstrate the above concepts as well as qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques
involved in chemistry.
Students are expected to have some basic chemistry knowledge. If you have not had a chemistry course in
the last three years, it highly recommended reviewing the material in Appendix A of the Text. An ACS
assessment test will be given in the first lab to help determine whether you will be prepared for this course.
The formal prerequisite for Chemistry 121 is the UNR Core Curriculum Math course, currently MAT 121.
Course Material
Textbook: Chemistry, The Central Science, any edition, Brown, LeMay, Bursten
(TMCC has a custom edition of the Text available at either the UNR or TMCC bookstores this is optional.)
MasteringChemistry Student Access Kit (optional): (can be purchased directly online, but comes
bundled with the custom edition of the text.)
Solutions Manual (recommended): Solutions to Exercises; Chemistry, The Central Science, 9 th edition,
Brown, LeMay, Bursten
Lab Manual: Chemistry 121 Laboratory Manual (10 edition) by Clevenger and Kolbet (supplied by
instructor)
Safety Goggles: Industrial quality eye protection is provided and required at all times when you are in the
lab. Safety goggles that fit over regular glasses are provided.
Calculator: An inexpensive calculator is required. It should have capabilities for square roots, logarithms
and exponential (scientific) notation operations. The calculator will be used on homework, quizzes, exams,
in lecture, and in the lab. Palm Pilots and Cell Phones may not be used as calculators on exams and
quizzes.
Throughout the course emphasis will be placed on understanding the subject and learning to think
effectively in solving scientific problems. Lectures, laboratories, discussions, the textbook, etc., are all
intended to help you learn chemistry.
Online Resources
Angel System: the course website can be accessed using Angel at http://my.tmcc.edu/mytmcc/ you must
activate your TMCC email and sign in to WebCollege to access the course website. The following is
available through Angel:
 Syllabus
 Course Schedule
 Learning Goals
 Class Notes (lecture outlines)
 Labs
o Pre-lab Assignments
 Practice Exams
 Grades
MasteringChemistry (optional): webpage at www.masteringchemistry.com with the Course ID as
JONESCHEM121. The following is available through Angel:
 Practice Problems
Campus computer access locations and hours can be found at:
www.tmcc.edu/ito/Academic/GACL_Hours/gacl_hours.html
Lectures
During lectures we will discuss principles, outline goals, and present illustrations and demonstrations. You
should take notes during lecture. PowerPoint will be used to compliment the lecture to highlight key points,
display figures, and animations. The lectures will follow the schedule included with this syllabus; however,
keep in mind the lecture topics may change depending on the pace of the course.
Attendance
Lecture: Attendance for lecture sessions is not mandatory; however, your lecture notes will be the primary
resource for material on the exams.
Laboratory: Attendance for laboratory sessions is mandatory. There are no make-up labs.
Homework
There will be assigned homework out of your text book. Problems will be selected from your text and must
be completed before the corresponding exam. Homework will be grade by completion only therefore it is
recommended to check your answers with the solution manual to the text for which you are using. There
will be no make-up homework allowed after the corresponding exam. If you happen to be using a text
edition other than the 11th edition, the problems at the end of each chapter will not correspond to the
assigned problems; therefore you must meet with the instructor to have different problems assigned for your
text.
Exams
There will be three exams and one cumulative final exam on the dates listed below. No make-up exams will
be given except for medical or family emergencies. If you happen to miss the first exam you may be
dropped from the class.
 Exam Dates:
o Exam 1
March 1st
o Exam 2
April 5th
o Exam 3
May 5th
o Final
May 12th
Laboratory
Lab experiments are designed to give you an opportunity to physically demonstrate and reinforce the
concepts presented in lecture. Lab will be held on Monday from 9:30 am – 12:20 pm. Follow the Lab
guidelines below:
 Pre-Labs: The pre-laboratory assignment should be completed on the course website prior to
the beginning of the lab session. Failure to complete this assignment online will result in a
zero for the pre-laboratory grade. You will then be required to complete the pre-laboratory
assignment in the lab manual before you may begin the laboratory.
 Clothing: Appropriate attire is required for all laboratory sessions. No open-toed or openheeled shoes, shorts, short skirts or dresses, nylons or tights, sleeveless or midriff-baring
shirts, or baggy clothing will be permitted in the lab. These are all safety hazards and may not
protect you in the case of spills or fires. Failure to arrive appropriately dressed will result in
your needing to go change into appropriate clothing. If you cannot do so in a timely manner,
you will receive a zero for that laboratory.
 Be On Time: You should be on time to the laboratory session. Late arrivals affect several
people 1) You—you miss the lab safety introduction and any comments about how the
laboratory works, 2) Your lab partner—who then has to search to find someone else to work
with, 3) The group you join—who has to fill you in on what they’ve done so far.
 Personal Items: Cell phones, backpacks, jackets, notebooks, and all extra materials besides
your laboratory notebook, calculator, and writing utensil, should be stored in the cubby holes
by the goggle cabinet or in the computer room. Please turn all cell phones off and store them
for the duration of the laboratory. Using your cell phone during lab (even leaving the lab to
take a call) is a safety hazard.
 When to Start: Do not begin the laboratory experiment (or even set out your glassware) until
the instructor indicates it is time to begin. When you first arrive in laboratory, spend those few
minutes before the safety introduction reading over the laboratory. This will get your mind
into “lab mode.”
 Goggle Time: Following the safety introduction, “goggle time” will begin. Goggles must be
worn at all times while in the laboratory once the laboratory is begun and may only be
removed in the computer room or outside the laboratory.
 Emergency: If you are hurt or think you have come into contact with a chemical, notify the
instructor immediately (or send your lab partner to fetch the instructor) while following proper
safety procedures. Know where the eye wash, safety shower, and fire extinguishers are
located.
 Notebooks: Lab experiments are due on the following lab day after completing the
experiment. Late labs will receive a 50% reduction prior to grading. Be sure to turn in any
appropriate data printed from computers. If you forget your lab manual at home and cannot
return to retrieve it, the class website also has copies which you can print out. Clean-up:
When you are done with the laboratory, you should clean up your station and dispose of all
chemicals as instructed. Another group of students should be able to come in and start with the
lab station ready to go after you are done. This is also part of your laboratory etiquette grade.
 Lab Results: Just a note on the lab format…this portion of the course is your chance to be a
scientist and base your conclusions on what happens in the lab. The right answers are the ones
based upon what you observe. In other words, it is possible that your lab group may have
completely different answers than another group, and that’s okay!
Cancellation of Class
If a class session is canceled, look on Angel for announcements of course material that you should complete
prior to the next class.
Cell Phones
Please turn off cell phones during lecture and lab. Text messaging during lecture or lab is unacceptable.
Access
Qualified students with documented disabilities have the right to free accommodations to ensure equal
access to educational opportunities at Truckee Meadows Community College. For assistance and
clarification of services provided under the ADA, contact the Disability Resource Center at 775-673-7277,
TTY 775-673-7888, come by the Red Mountain Building, room 315 B or visit www.tmcc.edu/drc.
Tutoring
Tutoring services are offered through The Tutoring and Learning Center. For assistance, contact them at
Vista B106, phone 674-7517, or http://www.tmcc.edu/tutoring/ .
How to get an A:
Never fall behind in a chemistry course! Your number one mistake in pursuing an A is to fall behind.
Chemistry inherently builds on itself. The moment you become shaky with a topic and neglect to spend time
understanding it is the moment it all falls apart. My recommendation is to review your notes each day after
class and complete several problems that you struggled on in class, not ones that you already understand.
We all know it feels good to complete lots of problems we are good at, but it’s the ones we don’t know that
hurt in the end. Feel free to ask me for help after or before class.
Important Dates

Last day to drop (receive W)
May 30th
Grades
10 Web Assignments@ 12 points each
12 Laboratory Reports @ 20 points each
4 Exams @ 100 points each
Total
Laboratory Grading:
Pre-Lab:
5 points
Lab Report:
15 points
Total for each lab:
20 points
Final grades will be based upon the absolute scale shown below.
A
B
C
D
F
666 points or more
592 to 665 points
518 to 591 points
444 to 517 points
443 points or less
= 120 points 16.22%
= 220 points or 29.73%
= 400 points or 54.05%
=740 points or 100.0%
> 90%
80 - 89%
70 - 79%
60 – 69%
< 59%
Always keep your graded homework, exams, experiments, and reports in case there is any missing
grades or conflict of grades.