Modesto Junior College
CHEM 142 Course Outline
Effective Date: 05/05/2008
Printed On: 10/30/2007 11:38:32 AM
I. COURSE OVERVIEW
The following information is what will appear in the MJC 2008-2009 Catalog.
CHEM 142 - Pre-General Chemistry
3 Unit(s)
Co-requisite(s): Satisfactory completion of or concurrent enrollment in MATH 90.
Intended to prepare students for General Chemistry with an emphasis on problem
solving using unit analysis. Included are topics on classification of matter, atomic
and molecular structure, measurements and the metric system, chemical reactions
and stoichiometry, aqueous solutions and fundamentals of acids and bases.
A-F and CR/NC. Approved for online and hybrid instruction. Applicable to the
Associate Degree. Transfer to CSU and UC. MJC-GE - A; CSU-GE - B1; IGETC 5A.
II. LEARNING CONTEXT
Given the following learning context, the student who satisfactorily completes
this course should be able to achieve the goals specified in section III: Desired
Learning.
1. COURSE CONTENT
A. REQUIRED
A.
B.
C.
Introduction to the Study of Chemistry
1.
How to learn chemistry
2.
The Scientific Method
Measurements in Chemistry
1.
The Numerical Value of a Measurement
2.
Significant Figures and Mathematical Operations
3.
Expressing Large and Small Numbers: Scientific Notation
4.
Measurement of Mass, Length, and Volume
5.
Conversion of Units by Unit Analysis
6.
Measurement of Temperature
Matter, Changes, and Energy
1.
Types of Matter: Elements and Compounds
D.
E.
2.
Physical Properties of Matter
3.
A Physical Property: Density
4.
Chemical Properties of Matter
5.
Mixtures of Elements and Compounds
Elements, Compounds, and Their Composition
1.
Names and Symbols of the Elements
2.
Composition of an Element and Atomic Theory
3.
Elements and Compounds Composed of Molecules, and their Formulas
4.
Electrical Nature of Matter: Compounds Composed of Ions
5.
Composition of the Atom – The Nuclear Model
6.
Isotopes - Atomic Number, Mass Number, and Atomic Mass
7.
Molecules and Molecular Compounds
8.
Ions and Ionic Compounds
The Periodic Table and Chemical Nomenclature
1.
F.
G.
Grouping the Elements: Metals and Nonmetals, Noble Metals and Active
Metals
2.
The Periodic Table
3.
Periods and Groups in the Periodic Table
4.
Putting the Periodic Table to Use
5.
Naming Metal-Nonmetal Binary Compounds
6.
Naming Compounds with Polyatomic Ions
7.
Naming Nonmetal-Nonmetal Binary Compounds
8.
Naming Acids
Chemical Reactions
1.
Chemical Equations
2.
Combustion, Combination, and Decomposition Reactions
3.
The Formation of Ions in Water
4.
Single-Replacement Reactions
5.
Double-Replacement Reactions-Precipitation
6.
Double-Replacement Reactions-Neutralization
7.
Oxidation Numbers
8.
Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
9.
Balancing Simple Oxidation – Reduction Reactions
Quantitative Relationships in Chemistry
1.
Relative Masses of Elements
2.
The Mole and the Molar Mass of Elements
H.
I.
3.
The Molar Mass of Compounds
4.
The Composition of Compounds
5.
Empirical and Molecular Formulas
6.
Stoichiometry
7.
Limiting Reactant
8.
Percent Yield
9.
Volumetric Analysis and Titration
Aqueous Solutions
1.
The Nature of Aqueous Solutions
2.
Solubility and Temperature
3.
Concentration: Percent by mass
4.
Concentration: Molarity
5.
Dilution of Concentrated Solutions
6.
Stoichiometry Involving Solutions
7.
Physical Properties of Solutions
Acids, Bases, and Salts
1.
Properties of Acids and Bases
2.
Strengths of Acids and Bases
3.
Neutralization and Salts
4.
Equilibrium of Water
5.
pH Scale
6.
Bronsted-Lowry Acids and Bases
2. ENROLLMENT RESTRICTIONS
1. Co-requisite(s):
Satisfactory completion of or concurrent enrollment in MATH 90.
3. HOURS OF INSTRUCTION PER TERM
Prorated Hours and Units
TYPE of HOURS TERM HOURS UNITS EARNED
Lecture/Discussion
35
2
Lecture/Discussion
17.5
1
Total Units Earned:
4. TYPICAL METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
3
Instructors of this course might conduct the course using the following
methods:
Face-to-face education Lecture presentation.
Small group discussions and problem solving.
Online Education 1. Course content delivered in online modality and may include
powerpoint presentations, video or static content.
2. Email and/or chat features may be used to allow students to address
individual concerns.
3. Asynchronous discussion on relavent topics.
4. Computer or Web-based Activities
5. Timed Exams and Quizzes may also be used.
For this distance-education modality, effective instructor-student contact will
be established and/or maintaned as follows:
1. Email and/or chat features may be used to allow students to address
individual concertns.
2. Allowing students to participate in an asynchronous discussion allows
for a more open discussion and will likely increase the instructorstudent interaction.
3. The addition of Computer or Web-based Activities allows for faculty
to require mastery of certain skills. Instructors are able to observe the
progress of the students and can modify lecture or office hour time
according to student need.
Hybrid Education Option 1: Lecture portion online, lecture discussion face-to-face
Option 2: Lecture portion face-to-face, lecture discussion online computer or
web-based activites.
1. The addition of Computer or Web-based Activities allows for faculty
to require mastery of certain skills. Instructors are able to observe the
progress of the students and can modify lecture or office hour time
according to student need.
2. Discussion boards/chat rooms may be used to increase student-student
and instructor-student interaction.
3. Lecture material may be emphasized by adding online componenets.
5. TYPICAL ASSIGNMENTS
A. Quality: Assignments require the appropriate level of critical thinking
Problem solving homework and exams.
Examples of homework/exam questions:
1. Given that 1 mi = 1760 yd, determine how many miles are in 1849 yd.
2. A binary compound of magnesium and nitrogen is analyzed and 1.2791 g
of the compound is found to contain 0.9240 g of magnesium. When a second
sample of this compound is treated with water and heated, the nitrogen is
driven off as ammonia, leaving a compound that contains 60.31% magnesium
and 39.69% oxygen by mass. Calculate the empirical formula of the two
magnesium compounds.
B. Quantity: Hours spent on assignments in addition to hours of instruction
(lecture hours)
Weekly problem solving homework assignments.
Weekly readings from text and/or online sources.
6. TEXTS AND OTHER READINGS
A.Required Texts: Basic Chemistry, 6th Edition, Zumdahl, 2007
Comments: Used for face-to-face or online course offerings.
B. Other reading material:
III. DESIRED LEARNING
A. COURSE GOAL
As a result of satisfactory completion of this course, the student should
be prepared to:
work successfully with the language and symbols of college-level chemistry. The student
will be prepared to succeed in subsequent chemistry courses, and apply this knowledge
in other science courses as well.
B. STUDENT LEARNING GOALS
Mastery of the following learning goals will enable the student to achieve
the overall course goal.
REQUIRED LEARNING GOALS
Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Use scientific notation to represent very large and very small
numbers.
2. Solve chemical problems using unit analysis.
3. Understand uncertainty in measurements by using significant figures.
4. Use all three temperature scales and covert between them.
5. Name inorganic compounds and derive chemical formulas from
names.
6. Use the periodic table to find information on elements.
7. Balance chemical reactions.
8. Calculate oxidation numbers for all elements in a chemical reaction
9. Recognize and identify the oxidizing and reducing agents in a
chemical reaction.
10. Recognize and balance simple oxidation – reduction reactions.
11. Use stoichiometry to determine the amount of a substance needed or
produced
12. Calculate and use molarities.
13. Write the formula equation, total ionic equation, and net ionic
equation for a chemical reaction.
14. Predict whether a given compound is soluble or insoluble in an
aqueous solution.
15. Understand the atomic structure and identify the components of an
atom.
16. Determine acidity and alkalinity using the pH scale.
IV. METHODS OF MEASURING STUDENT PROGRESS
A. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
Problem solving homework assignments may be used to determine students
progress on topics.
Quizzes may be used to determine a students progress.
Midterm examinations consisting of a combination of problem solving,
matching and short essay questions.
B. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
A comprehensive Final Examination.