USC Aiken Fall 2014 CHEM A111 SYLLABUS MEETING TIMES LAB/LECTURE: Dr. M. Fetterolf SBDG 300, x3378 MWF 2:30 – 4:20PM SBDG 301 OFFICE HOURS: M R F 11:00AM – Noon W 10:00 – 11:00AM T 3:00 – 4:00PM CHEM A111 – General Chemistry I (4) (Prereq: Placement into, beyond, or completion of MATH 111; other specifications) The first semester of a two-semester course sequence that offers a general understanding of topics in chemistry and that provides necessary chemistry application skills and knowledge for science, math and engineering majors. This course begins the first year of General College Chemistry. ATTENDANCE University and departmental guidelines apply. A student cannot miss more than 25% of all lectures and labs to pass the class. If a student has more than two (2) unexcused absences, a loss of one letter grade penalty will result. Roll will be taken through mini-tests and lab flow charts along with an attendance sheet. Excused absences must be verified with a doctor’s note, a note from a family member that includes a telephone number, or a business note. Arrangements will be made to deal with the material missed for excused absences only. Regardless of reason, you are responsible for the missing course and lab content. TEXTBOOK “Chemistry: A Molecular Approach,” by Nivaldo Tro, 3rd Ed., Pearson, 2014. Mastering Chemistry Online Homework, Pearson Publishing. (Access code is good for three semesters; Course Name: MCFETTEROLF54503. “General Chemistry Lab Manual” by USCA Chemistry Faculty, 2014 (Lt. Green Cover). “Study Manual for ACS Standardized Tests,” by the American Chemical Society. CLASS REQUIREMENTS An inexpensive scientific calculator is needed. You will need closed-toe shoes and long pants for lab. Safety goggles are supplied. A lab notebook with carbonless paper is required. COURSE OBJECTIVES The introduction of topics such as 1) general reaction stoichiometry, 2) reaction types, 3) gases, 4) thermochemistry, 5) atomic structure and periodicity, 6) molecular bonding and 7) molecular geometry are planned. The course will try to kindle a curiosity about chemistry and the way in which chemistry overlaps with other scientific disciplines. This will be accomplished by a series of demonstrations and by reference to many other scientific fields that overlap the current lecture topic. The course will also attempt to give each student a sense of confidence about routine use of basic chemistry ideas and calculations. This will be done with online homework problems and a great deal of classroom practice. I plan to follow the textbook closely and a tentative outline/schedule is attached. Please become very familiar with this. The three main characteristics of chemistry will be stressed in this course--chemical methods (such as math manipulations, procedures, and complex problemsolving), chemical nomenclature (vocabulary and formulas), and chemical concepts (periodicity, bonding, geometries, and stoichiometry for instance). The student is expected to accept the responsibility of learning chemistry. Analytical thinking and problem solving skills will be approached in the classroom on a chapter by chapter basis through the use of examples and procedure development. Some key chemical concepts and chemical nomenclature are well presented in the text and will be approached as reading assignments. MY RESPONSIBILITIES Initial lectures on each chapter will involve direct examples of basic skills or topics. After much in-class practice, the in-class work will turn to difficult chemistry examples. Since the problem-solving foundations are established in earlier lectures, I can develop for the class strategies for attacking these difficult problems. The lectures will proceed in this manner. The lab exercises have been designed to overlap the lecture and text materials and to provide a hands-on experience that complements the lecture. The goal is to prepare the student for real chemistry problem-solving situations and provide opportunity for the students to participate in the problem solving. I am responsible for guiding the class through the various topics in the text and lab in a timely manner so that most students who uphold their responsibilities will acquire sufficient skills to move on to their next science course. I am responsible for providing office hours so that students who seek outside one-on-one help can get it. I am responsible for providing a fair and equitable grade based on the knowledge and skills earned in class, lab, and on exams. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES Students are responsible for understanding, reading, and memorizing (certain parts when necessary) the chapters in the text. The student is responsible for practicing the analytical thinking and problem-solving skills that are discussed and illustrated in class and lab. This practice should be to the extent that the multilevel but routine problems encountered in general chemistry are understood and can be solved. The student is responsible for the lab work, its satisfactory completion, and its understanding. The lab work should enhance the student’s growing understanding of the topics presented. Only the student will know when the level of practice and preparation reach the optimum. If the student’s perception of the practice level is not reflected in the grade for any assignment or exam, please accept this last responsibility of seeking me out for advise, counsel, and discussion. Nothing can guarantee a particular grade. However, if you meet your responsibilities by understanding as best you can the lab exercises and online problems with their associated techniques, the assigned reading with examples, and the concepts and methods presented in lecture, you will have the best chance at passing the course with a “C” or better. STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION The “C” or better student will be able to perform basic chemical calculations and judgments as assessed by their efforts on exams, homework, and the Final Exam. The “C” or better student will also be able to follow a basic chemical laboratory procedure as assessed by their efforts on pre-lab pages and lab reports. This work is appropriate for a first semester of general college chemistry. The "A" student will perform with a significantly higher level of understanding and performance than the passing student as assessed by their routine high marks on all lecture exams, pre-lab pages, and lab reports. A student who expects to pass this course (“C” or better) should spend at least 8 hours per week on homework, chapter reading, and study of the lecture/lab material, and around 2 hours per week on laboratory preparation and reading; this is outside of scheduled lecture/lab periods. This follows the "Rule of Thumb" that to pass a college course one should spend twice as much time outside of class as in class. My experience has been that students who seriously approach the task of learning chemistry have the best chance at passing this course with a "C" or better. Each student will sign up on the Mastering Chemistry website to access the online homework. The due date for all problems will be at the end of the semester to allow students to return to problems and continue to work on them for credit even after an exam. Working on problems throughout the semester is important. However, certain problems will help prepare you for each mini-test. The course name is: MCFETTEROLF54503. I will also assign suggested problems from the back of each chapter that will help focus your studies in preparation for each mini-test. These problems will not be graded. There will be eight min-tests given during the semester. Please see the tentative course outline/schedule for the dates. These exams will contain questions that apply the skills discussed and illustrated in the lecture/lab sessions and in the online homework and suggested problems. Reading the text will be tested by student response to several general, short-answer questions. The reading questions are assigned on average about 15% of the points for any exam. Exams designed in this manner will provide motivation to keep up in class and to do the assigned reading, also helping develop strong study habits and time management skills. Please see me if a mini-test is missed due to absence. An excused absence must fit the criteria for a make-up exam to take place. Lab reports and pre-lab (completed before each scheduled lab) will be used to determine the lab portion of your grade. Please see the class calendar for upcoming labs. The pre-lab will be done in your notebook and specific details will be given in class. The lab report requirements are given at the end of each lab manual experiment/procedure. These reports will be due at the beginning of the next class unless otherwise stated. The Safety Rules for each lab will be reviewed. Any repeated safety infraction during lab will result in a dismissal for that day’s work. Approved eye protection must be worn at all times in the lab. A Final Exam will be given in our regular classroom. See the class calendar for the date and time. The Final Exam is the American Chemical Society National Exam for First Semester General Chemistry. This national exam covers ACHM 111 is timed, and is comprehensive. We will use the required Study Guide throughout the semester in preparation for this exam. The point totals are given on the next page. The totals break down to approximately 22% from lab, approximately 73% from exams, and about 5% from homework. The reading questions that are a part of the exams are worth approximately 15% of the exam points. GRADING FORMAT AND POLICIES Lecture Homework (Mastering Chemistry) Mini-Tests (8 @ 60 pts) Final Exam (100 pts) 42 pts 480 pts 100 pts Labs (18 @ 4, 7 or 14 pts) Pre-Labs (18 @ 3 pts) 124 pts 54 pts Laboratory Total 800 pts Final letter grades will be assigned based on the percent of your accumulated points relative to the total possible points of 800 obtained from both lecture and lab combined. Letter grades for individual exams are not assigned. Consultation during an appointment or office hour is the best way to obtain your class standing at any particular time. This is because I have all of your accumulated scores at hand and can therefore judge your overall performance. I do not grade strictly on a straight percentage basis but allow for some flexibility in class performance. Within plus or minus 2 percentage points, the final letter grade lines will be at 90% for an "A", 80% for a "B", 68 % for a "C", and 60% for a "D". If you keep track of your own points relative to the total possible you can use the percentages listed above and obtain a fairly good notion of your class standing. I also record scores on BlackBoard. The ACADEMIC HONOR CODE is in place for all assignments and exams. The Honor Code states that it is dishonest to either give or receive any unauthorized aid or assistance on an exam or homework. Evidence of such practice is very obvious to a grader so be forewarned; such behavior will result in a zero for the assignment or exam. A student must complete the work in the lab as well as take the final to pass this class. Friday, October 31, 2014 is the last day to drop this class without receiving a WF for the course. Several exams will have been given by then and several lab reports turned in so you will have a basis on which to make a decision to withdraw or not. I will ask students to stop by my office if their performance is not moving in the direction of passing the class. If you are thinking of withdrawing from the class, please talk with me first to see if your standing in class matches your perception. Often students are doing better than they thought. PLEASE ask questions at any time--especially during an exam. Many times questions will come up that center on clarification and these are very important questions to ask. Don't be afraid that you are seeking too much information; let me judge that. If lecture questions start running into a lengthy discussion, I may ask that we continue later in lab or at an office hour. Note: Any student who has a physical, psychological and/or learning disability that might affect your performance in this class or lab, please contact the Office of Disability Services as soon as possible. If you are registered with that office and have an accommodations sheet, please see me after class today or phone me as soon as possible to set up an appointment. Thank You FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, December 10 at 2:00PM in our regular classroom, SBDG 301. ENJOY THE CLASS GENERAL CLASS INFORMATION Campus Phone: 803/641-3378 (Voice message after fourth ring.) Email Address: montyf@usca.edu Cell Phone: 803/640-5679 Chemistry & Physics Department Home Page accessed from USCA Home Page. CLASS CALENDAR Please see the attached calendar for the lecture and lab schedule along with other important dates and times throughout the semester. It is part of an abbreviated syllabus that will be distributed in class on our first meeting day. Do not lose this schedule. It is copied on green paper for easy identification. USC Aiken Fall 2014 CHEM A111 SYLLABUS Dr. M. Fetterolf SBDG 300, x3378 MEETING TIMES LAB/LECTURE: MWF 2:30 – 4:20PM SBDG 301 OFFICE HOURS: M R F 11:00AM – Noon W 10:00 – 11:00AM T 3:00 – 4:00PM or by appointment. CHEM A111 – General Chemistry I (4) (Prereq: Placement into, beyond, or completion of MATH 111; other specifications) The first semester of a two-semester course sequence that offers a general understanding of topics in chemistry and provides necessary chemistry application skills and knowledge for science, math and engineering majors. This course begins the first year of General College Chemistry. ATTENDANCE University and departmental guidelines apply. A student cannot miss more than 25% of all lectures and labs to pass the class. If a student has more than two (2) unexcused absences, a loss of one letter grade penalty will result. Roll will be taken through mini-tests and lab flow charts along with an attendance sheet. Excused absences must be verified with a doctor’s note, a note from a family member that includes a telephone number, or a business note. Arrangements will be made to deal with the material missed for excused absences only. Regardless of reason, you are responsible for the missing course and lab content. TEXTBOOK “Chemistry: A Molecular Approach,” by Nivaldo Tro, 3rd Ed., Pearson, 2014. “General Chemistry Lab Manual” by USCA Chemistry Faculty, 2014 (Lt. Green Cover). “ACS General Chemistry Exams – The Official Guide,” by the American Chemical Society. Mastering Chemistry: MCFETTEROLF54503 CLASS REQUIREMENTS An inexpensive scientific calculator is needed. You will need closed-toe shoes and long pants for lab. Safety goggles are supplied. A lab notebook with carbonless paper is required. Routine access to BlackBoard. (Answer keys, grade scores, full syllabus, other information will be posted.) GRADING FORMAT Lecture Homework (Mastering Chemistry) Mini-Tests (8 @ 60 pts) Final Exam (100 pts) Laboratory Labs (18 @ 4, 7 or 14 pts) Pre-Labs (18 @ 3 pts) Total 42 pts 480 pts 100 pts 124 pts 54 pts 800 pts GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION Campus Phone: 803/641-3378 (Voice message after fourth ring.) Cell Phone: 803/640-5679 Email Address: montyf@usca.edu Chemistry & Physics Department Home Page accessed from USCA Home Page. FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, December 10 at 2:00PM in our regular classroom, SBDG 301. CALENDAR: Exam dates and lab schedule are printed on back. Enjoy the class! ACHM 111 GENERAL CHEMISTRY TENTATIVE LECTURE/LAB SCHEDULE FALL 2014 Date 8/22 F Chapter Lab Syllabus; Intro; Toledo XM None Chapter 1 8/25 M 8/27 W Chapter 1/Chapter 2 8/29 F Chapter 2 9/3 W Mini-Test 1; Chapter 2 9/5 F Chapter 3 9/8 M Chapter 3 9/10 W Chapter 3 9/12 F 9/15 M Chapter 3 9/17 W 9/19 F Mini-Test 2; Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Rxn Stoichiometry (Pg 20) Solutions & Dilutions (Pg 25) Electrolytes (Pg 23) 9/22 M Chapter 4 Titration (Pg 30) 9/24 W Chapter 4 Precip/Redox Rxns (Pgs 27 & 28) 9/26 F Chapter 5 9/29 M Mini-Test 3; Chapter 5 10/1 W Chapter 5 Gas Labs (Pgs 34 & 37) 10/3 F Chapter 5 Gas Rxn Stoichiometry (Pg 49) 10/6 M Chapter 6 10/8 W Chapter 6 10/10 F Mini-Test 4; Chapter 6 Chapter 6 10/13 M Chapter 4 Conductivity (Pg 9) Weighted Averages (Pg 17) Elements & Compounds (Pg 16) Specific Heat of Metal (Pg 53) Hess’s Law (Pg 56) Date Chapter Chapter 7 10/15 W Chapter 7 10/17 F 10/20 Chapter 7; Chapter 8 M Mini-Test 5; 10/22 Chapter 8 W 10/24 F FALL BREAK Chapter 8 10/27 M Chapter 8 10/29 W Chapter 9 10/31 F 11/3 M 11/5 W Chapter 9 11/7 F Mini-Test 6; Chapter 9 Chapter 10 11/10 M 11/12 W 11/14 F 11/17 M 11/19 W 11/21 F Lab No Lab Periodic Props (Pg 59) Last Drop Date Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Molec. Models (Pg 63) Chapter 10; Chapter 11 Mini-Test 7; Chapter 11 Chapter 11 11/24 M 12/1 M Chapter 11 12/3 W Chapter 12 12/5 F Mini-Test 8; Chapter 12 12/10 W FINAL @ 2PM Chapter 12 Evap. Forces (Pg 64) Fusion Heat Ice (Pg 68) Possible Handout Lab Last Class Day ACS EXAM