CHEM 105: Introductory Chemistry I
Section WWW, Spring 2012
Instructor name: Vincent Giannamore
Office location: Beauregard 140
Phone number: 985-448-4501
Email: Vincent.Giannamore@nicholls.edu
Office hours: 9:30–10:30AM and 1:30-2:30PM M - F
Websites: We will make use of several websites.
The Moodle site. Moodle may be accessed through a link on the Nicholls home
page or at http://moodle.nicholls.edu/moodle/
CHEM Q&A directory site: http://chemqa.blogspot.com/2007/10/chem-q.html.
This site contains video tutorials made at Nicholls by Nicholls faculty and
students. They may be helpful for some of the topics we will be studying.
MasteringChemistry site: http://masteringchemistry.com. This is the online site
associated with the textbook. We will use it for online homework assignments.
There is also other material on this site such as study aids that may be useful to
you Many of the study aids are also available on Moodle. You must have access
to MasteringChemistry. It is the only place where you can do the homework
assignments for this class. I will not make paper copies of the homework
available. The course ID for this section is SPRING2012CHEM1054M
Chem.Review.Net: http://www.chemreview.net/. This site has free self-paced
tutorials, mostly related to chemical calculations. I may assign parts for study
occasionally, but mostly it’s a place to go if you’re looking for extra help.
Catalog Description: Nature and properties of matter including the common elements
and their compounds. Periodic classification, atomic and molecular theories, nuclear
chemistry, and the relation of atomic and molecular structure to chemical behavior,
stoichiometry, nomenclature. For students needing more than one year of chemistry.
Degree credit will not be given for both CHEM 101 and 105.
Prerequisites/Corequisites: MATH 101, MATH 100, or equivalent. (You must have
passed it already, placed out of it, or be taking it now.)
Required Text and Materials:
Tro, Nivaldo. Principles of Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, New York:
Prentice Hall 2010. (Do not get this text confused with other books with similar
names by the same author.) Access to the MasteringChemistry site associated
with the textbook is also required.
Required Supplementary Readings: None are anticipated at this time, but if any
should be assigned information will be placed on Moodle..
Course Goals: Specific goals for this course are posted on the class Moodle site. This
course also fulfills goals, objectives, guidelines, and outcomes related to Nicholls general
education core curriculum, NCATE, and ACS. Information pertaining to this is found
below.
CHEM 105, as a Core Curriculum course, fulfills three hours of general education
requirements in the area of the natural sciences and is thus designed to enable students to
meet the following broad outcome for all the natural sciences:
Goal: Upon completion of the undergraduate curriculum, students will be able to
comprehend and apply the basic principles of science and methods of scientific inquiry.
Specifically, upon completion of this course, students will be able to comprehend and
apply the basic principles and theories of general chemistry.
Student Outcome Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
 Approach problem solving in a systematic manner, understand and apply the
scientific method, understand the use and limitations of measurements, and
understand and apply the concept of significant figures.
 Understand the components of matter, historical and current ideas of atomic
theory, and the characteristics of elements, compounds, and mixtures. Name
chemical compounds.
 Work stoichiometric problems and understand the relationships involved in
chemical equations.
 Recognize, predict the results of, and be able to balance equations for various
types of chemical reactions including ionic reactions, precipitation, acid-base, and
oxidation-reduction. Understand the role of water as a solvent.
 Understand the behavior and characteristics of gases and be able to perform
calculations based on the gas laws.
 Understand and apply the ideas of the quantum theory and the quantum
mechanical model of atomic structure on an elementary level.
 Understand the concept of chemical periodicity and its relationship with electron
configuration. Use and interpret the Periodic Table.
 Understand ionic and covalent bonding, electronegativity, bond polarity, and bond
energy.
 Draw and interpret Lewis structures for compounds, determine shapes of
compounds using VSEPR theory, and determine molecular polarity.
 Understand the Valence Bond and the Molecular orbital theories of covalent
bonding and apply them to describe the bonding and structure of molecules.
For education majors, this course addresses the following benchmarks in the Louisiana
Content Standards: properties and changes of properties of matter, transformations of
energy, measurement and symbolic representation, atomic structure, structure and
properties of matter, chemical reactions, energy, and interaction of energy and matter.
For chemistry majors: The Nicholls chemistry program is approved by the American
Chemical Society. CHEM 105 and CHEM 106 together prepare you for the study of
foundational courses in the five areas of chemistry – analytical, organic, inorganic,
physical, and biological chemistry.
Course Content: The content of this course includes introduction and fundamental ideas
about matter, stoichiometry, chemical reactions, the behavior of gases, thermochemistry,
electronic structure of the atom, chemical periodicity, molecular bonding and structure,
and intermolecular forces.
This material is found in the chapters 1- 10, and part of chapter11 in the textbook. We
cover most, but not all of the material in each chapter. The course goals on Moodle give
specific textbook references for the material that we cover.
Course Calendar: The course calendar is at the end of this syllabus.
Course Requirements and Methods of Evaluation: There will be 4 tests and a final
exam. There will also be graded online homework assignments.
Tests: Each test will cover a section of the course as listed on the calendar.
Topics covered after the fourth test will be included in the final exam. Test dates
are listed on the course calendar. Tests are normally multiple choice.
Final exam: The final exam will be comprehensive. It will include all chapters
covered during the semester including any covered after the fourth test. The exam
date is also listed on the course calendar. The exam will be multiple choice.
The final exam is the one part of this course that you cannot do online. The date
and time listed on the calendar are when my regular class is scheduled to take
their exam. If you can, I would prefer that you take your exam at that time. If
you can’t, we will make arrangements closer to exam time.
Homework assignments. These will be done online using the MasteringChemistry
site. The site includes both practice and graded assignments as well as tutorials
for each chpater. Practice assignments and tutorials are for your use in studying
the material. Graded assignments will be graded on MasteringChemistry. They
are worth 25 points each and will count toward your course grade. There will be
graded assignments for chapters 2 through 10 (nine assignments). See the next
section for how the points will be counted.
Grading: Tests are worth 100 points each. Calculate your percentage grade for tests by
dividing the total of your test scores by 4. Tests will count for 50% of your grade so
multiply your test percentage by 0.5.
The final exam is worth 100 points and so your percentage score for exams will be equal
to your final exam score. The final exam will count for 25% of your grade so multiply
your exam percentage by 0.25. Please note that this method of calculating the grade
makes the exam worth twice that of any single test. Do not be misled by the fact that
the exam and the test are both 100 points.
Homework assignments are worth 25 points each. The assignment with the lowest score
will be dropped. That will leave 8 graded assignments worth a total of 200 points.
Calculate your percentage grade for assignments by dividing the total of your 8 best
assignment scores by 2. Assignments will count for 25% of your final grade so multiply
your assignment percentage by 0.25. Remember that only graded assignments count
toward your final grade. The others are for study purposes.
Your overall grade is the sum of the three numbers calculated above. A perfect score is
100. The grading scale will be 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D. There
may be a “curve” if I believe it is justified.
Make-Up Policy: Tests: In the interest of fairness and prompt feedback of results, there
will be no make up tests. If you miss one test, the test grade will be replaced by your
final exam score. If you miss a second test, contact me within one week of the tests with
your excuse. If I agree that the excuse is valid, I will allow you to make up the test. If I
am not contacted within one week of the test date, the grade will stand at 0 unless there
are extenuating circumstances.
Final Exam: Missing final exams presents a special problem. If you have a legitimate
excuse for missing the exam, contact me as soon as possible and we will arrange for a
make up exam. It may be necessary that an I grade be given in such circumstances.
Assignments: There is no make up for homework assignments.
A note about valid excuses: An example of a valid excuse would be that you need a liver
transplant that must be done without delay. An example of an invalid excuse is that your
parents bought you tickets on a cruise that leaves before the day of the exam.
Attendance: You will be considered to be attending class if you participate in class
activities such as doing online homework and tests and accessing Moodle..
Withdrawal: The last day to withdraw from this class with a “W” is Wednesday, April
4.
Academic Honesty Policy: Any student found cheating will be subject to penalties as
stated in the Student Code of Conduct handbook; including, but not limited to, a score of
zero on the exam (or other item), expulsion from the class, or expulsion from the
University. Please note that this applies to online homework assignments as well as
tests and exams. See the note 2 sections below about clicker questions. Anyone caught
cheating will be reported to the academic integrity committee.
Disability Policy: If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will
need to register with the Office of Disability Services for coordination of your academic
accommodations. The Office of Disability Services is located in Shaver Gym, room 158A. Their phone number is (985) 448-4430 (TDD 449-7002)
Academic Grievances: The proper procedure for filing grade appeals or grievances
related to academic matters is listed in Section 5 of the Code of Student Conduct and at
the following link:
http://www.nicholls.edu/documents/student_life/code_of_conduct.pdf.
Continued Learning following an Extreme Emergency: In order to make continued
learning possible following an extreme emergency,
students are responsible for:
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reading regular emergency notifications on the NSU website;
knowing how to use and access Blackboard and/or Moodle (or university
designated electronic delivery system);
being familiar with emergency guidelines;
evacuating textbooks and other course materials;
knowing their Blackboard (or designated system) student login and password;
contacting faculty regarding their intentions for completing the course.
Faculty are responsible for:
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their development in the use of the Blackboard (or designated) software;
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having a plan for continuing their courses using only Blackboard and email;
continuing their course in whatever way suits the completion of the course best,
and being creative in the continuation of these courses;
making adjustments or compensations to a student’s progress in special programs
with labs, clinical sequences or the like only in the immediate semester following
the emergency.
Schedule
MONDAY
1/16 NO CLASS
1/23 Chapter 2
1/30 Chapter 3
2/6 H3 due Chapter 4
2/13 Chapter 4
2/20 NO CLASS
2/27 Chapter 5
3/5 Chapter 6
3/12 Chapter 6
3/19 Chapter 7
3/26 Chapter 8
4/2 Chapter 8
4/9 NO CLASS
4/16 Chapter 9
4/23 H9 due Chapter 10
4/30 Chapter 10
5/7 1:00 PM Final Exam
WEDNESDAY
1/18 INTRO/ Chapter 2
1/25 Chapter 2
2/1 Chapter 3
2/8 Chapter 4
2/15 Chapter 4
2/22 NO CLASS
2/29 Chapter 5
3/7 Test 2 (CH 4 & 5)
3/14 H6 due Chapter 7
3/21 Chapter 7
3/28 Test 3 (CH 6 & 7)
4/4 H8 due Chapter 9
Last day to drop with W
4/11 NO CLASS
4/18 Chapter 9
4/25 Chapter 10
5/2 Chapter 10 last class
day
5/9
FRIDAY
1/20 Chapter 2
1/27 H2 due Chapter 3
2/3 Chapter 3
2/10 Test 1 (CH 2 & 3)
2/17 H4 due Chapter 5
2/24 Chapter 5
3/2 H5 due Chapter 6
3/9 Chapter 6
3/16 Chapter 7
3/23 H7 due chapter 8
3/30 Chapter 8
4/6 NO CLASS
4/13 NO CLASS
4/20 Chapter 9
4/27 Test 4 (CH 8 & 9)
5/4 H10 due
5/11
H = graded homework assignment. Number = chapter. H2 = chapter 2 graded
assignment
All items on the syllabus are tentative and subject to change. It is not to be construed as
a contract. Students will be notified of any changes.