HCCS – Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 1405) CRN 52685 – 12weeks (9/24-12/18/2011)
Instructor: Dr. S. Batamo; e-mail: shuhsien.batamo@hccs.edu; tel. 713-718-2544
F (9:00-1:00 p.m.)LHSB 414; meet once a week for lab.
Office: LHSB 401; Office hours: T/Th 12 noon-1:30 by appointment only.
Important Message from HCCS to All Students:
"Students who repeat a course three or more times may soon face significant tuition/fee
increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask your
instructor/counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to considering course
withdrawal, or if you are not receiving passing grades."
American Disability Act: The Office of Students with Disabilities at HCC reminds faculty that
they are required to include the following statement on all their class syllabi: Any student with a
documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to
arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the
respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
For questions, contact Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the Disability Counselor at your college.
To visit the ADA Web site, log on to www.hccs.edu, click Future Students, scroll down the page
and click on the words Disability Information.
District ADA Coordinator –
Central ADA Counselor –
Donna Price – 713.718.5165
Martha Scribner – 713.718.6164
Course Description:
CHEM 1405: Introductory Chemistry for Non-Science Majors.
Credit: 4 (3-hour lecture, equivalent to 3 credits + 3-hour lab, equivalent to 1 credit).
This is an introductory course in Chemistry with an emphasis on the impact of chemistry in our
everyday lives and our environment. Laboratory experiments are designed for hands-on
chemistry activities with real life applications.
Course Prerequisites:
Must be placed into GUST 0342 (or higher) in reading and ENGL 0310/0349 (or higher) in
writing, and MATH 0306 (or higher like MATH 0312 or 1314). Knowledge of using a scientific
calculator is also required. Student taking this class without proper prerequisites is at his/her
own risk. Usually lacking satisfactory completion of the prerequisites and/or studying the course
materials are the key reasons resulting students doing poorly in chemistry. Math involved are
the word problems and thus problem-solving skills at the level of college algebra are essential.
Course Intent:
This course is intended in preparing students to have basic knowledge of chemistry as
chemicals, including clothes, food, drinks, medicine, etc. are everywhere in our daily life. The
course is beneficial to students who are preparing themselves for higher level science courses
in their majors.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The outcomes include but not limit to naming and writing formulas of elements, ions, and ionic
and molecular compounds; categorizing and balancing chemical reactions including net-ionic
equations; using periodic table to identify elements, the periodic trends, and write electron
configurations; able to do calculations involving stoichiometry and gas laws; drawing electron
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dot and Lewis structures and predicting polarity of chemical bonding and molecular shape or
geometry of molecules or ions.
EGLS3 – Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, feedback is necessary professors believe that thoughtful
student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you
will be asked to answer a short survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The
anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs
for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community
College Student System online near the end of the term.
Free Tutoring by:
1. Departmental tutors: M through Thr, 12 to 4 p.m. LHSB 313, or see flyers.
2. Online tutors:Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. See HCC Home
page for details or visit www.hccs.askonline.net
3. SI tutoring section: M and W from 3 to 4:30 pm. LHSB 406 by Mr. Khai Truong. You can
contact him through his HCC student email account ( @student.hccs.edu)
Required Textbooks and others:
Please be aware that different campuses require different textbooks and lab manuals.
The books used are available at the bookstore of the Central Campus.
****Textbook Information*****
o Textbook: Introductory Chemistry: Concepts & Connections, 6thed. By Corwin, Prentice
Hall.HCC bookstores sell the custom-made edition (Volume I) which contains the first 12
chapters. The practice exams are very useful for self-testing. For specific testing
questions, use the instructor’s practice exams.
*****Lab information*****
Go to http://swc2.hccs.edu/pahlavan/
At the left scroll-down column, under the Introductory and College Chemistry I, click on
the Experiments.
The safety rule and chemical apparatus information are very useful for review.
o Scientific calculator (a basic model is TI-30; of course, you can use a more expensive
one).
o Student Solutions Manual (highly recommended). Some answers are available in the
Appendix of the textbook and maybe at http://www.cramster.com. For fourth edition,
http://www.cramster.com/introductory-chemistry-concepts-and-connections-4thsolutions-600http://www.cramster.com
o Safety goggle (available from lab) and lab coat (optional). Safety goggle is available from
major retailers under the paint or gardening department. Lab coat is same as physician
uniform and is available from major uniform retailers.
o Scantrons (FORM NO. 882-E:width: 4.25’’ and height: 11’’or half of the letter size).
Scantrons are available at HCC bookstore. Students must bring their own scantrons to
each test.
Important College Policy: Final Version – 06/15/11
 Policy: Please visit the below link for details, especially page 2,
athttp://www.hccs.edu/hcc/System%20Home/Departments/Financial_Aid/Financial%20A
id/About%20Financial%20Aid/pdfs/Revised%202011-12%20SAP%20Policy.pdf
Withdrawals (“W” grades) – Courses with a grade of “W” (Withdrawn) will not be
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calculated in the GPA or considered as credits successfully completed, but will be
countedas credits attempted.
FX Grade—the FX grade will calculate into your GPA as an “F”, however, it may also be
treated as a course for which you have withdrawn or did not successfully complete.
Repeat Courses – Students may repeat a course and receive financial aid if the original
grade is not successful (F, I, W, X, FX or IP). A grade of “D/1.0” is successful for
financialaid purposes.
Incomplete (“I” grades) -- A grade of “I” (Incomplete) indicates that a student has not
finished all course work required for a grade and is included in the cumulative credits
attempted. An incomplete grade will not count as hours passed until a final grade is
postedin the Registrar’s Office. If a student’s ―”I” grade changes during a semester, it is
thestudent’s responsibility to inform the financial aid office of the change. If the change
ofgrade will affect the student’s financial aid eligibility, the financial aid office will then do
arecalculation during the semester. Otherwise, the change of grade will not be factored
intothe overall completion rate until the next increment of evaluation.
Important Days of the Semester:
1. September 27 (Tuesday), Last Day for Drop/add/Swap
2. October 4 (Tuesday), Official Day of Record
3. November 11 (Friday), Last Day for Administrative/Students Withdrawals-12:00 noon
4. Departmental Tutoring Service: Monday through Thursday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.,
LHSB 313.
5. Supplemental Instructor Tutorial Section: Monday and Wednesday from 3 to 4:30
p.m., LHSB 406.
Grading Policy:
Exams (3 best out of 4: 25% each; drop the lowest one):
Lab reports (student worksheets)/participation (7):
Safety & Common Apparatus Exam (1):
Total
75%
21%
4%
100%
Final Average: Round to the whole number to assign the letter grade.
Grading Scale: 90-100 = A; 80-89= B; 70-79= C; 60-69= D; Below 60 = F.
No comprehensive system-wide final exam.
Exam IV can be considered as a make-up exam or a final exam.
Your grade is solely based on how well you have met the requirement according to the grading
policy. Students with excessive absence (12 hours or more) will be graded with two decimal
digits.
There is no makeup exam allowed and thus students can elect to take the exam prior to the
scheduled time or to drop the test of no-show. However, if you miss two exams, you must
drop the class.
Withdrawal Policy:
Any student who STOPS coming to the class and fails to drop the class by 12 noon on November 11,
2011 WILL receive a new grade as FX, which will SHOW your last day of attendance. Please contact
your counselor for advising, details and consequence.
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Receiving a grade of FX may prevent the student from receiving financial aid for the following
semester/academic year or facing the issue with International Student Office. The College and instructor
can drop students from the class due to student’s excessive absence WITHOUT notifying the student.
If you are dropped by the College due to the first 12-day attendance record, do not expect the instructor
to reinstate your enrollment. You can register any of the second start classes for CHEM 1405.
If you need to drop the class for any reason, you can do it by either of the following methods
prior to 12 noonNovember 11, 2011:
1. Complete the withdrawal form online through your HCC student account or
https://hccsaweb.hccs.edu:8080/psp/csprd/?cmd=login&languageCd=ENG&
and print out the receipt for your record.
2. Completing an official withdrawal form at any HCCS campus.
3. Send a letter requesting withdrawal to Registrar, Houston Community College System, P.O. Box
667517, Houston, TX77266-7517. The withdrawal will be effective the date of postmark.
4. Fax a letter of withdrawal to 713-718-2111 prior to the deadline.
Read the information under at the following sites:
(a) http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/future-students/registration/adding-and-dropping-classes
(b) http://www.hccs.edu/portal/site/hccs/menuitem.a12520d901466b1f3227a2ced07401ca/?vgne
xtoid=5700e1b84368a210VgnVCM100000864710acRCRD&vgnextchannel=536bf34ca644a2
10VgnVCM100000864710acRCRD&appInstanceName=default
(c) http://de.hccs.edu/Distance_Ed/DE_Home/general_info/student_handbook/Handbook%20PD
Fs/Policies%20and%20Procedures.pdf
Attendance and Tardiness Policy and Student Responsibilities:
Students are expected to follow the rules established by the State and the College printed in
Annual Schedule of Classes. Students are solely responsible for making up materials missed
due to their tardiness, early departure, and absence, and are expected to study and sign roll
sheets every time in class. Cell phone is distractive and its use in class is prohibited. Cell
phones must be turned off during examination.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Zero tolerance for academic dishonesty. Student who is caught cheating will receive a grade of
zero for that exam or lab report with no exceptions and may be withdrawn administratively from
the class.
Lab Policy:
No make-up labs are allowed. Students must watch safety video during the first lab of class.
Students who missed the Videotape: Starting with Safety reserved in the library must turn in
the written notes to meet the requirement. In lab section, there will be point deduction for
safety violation, messy lab, and tardiness that is greater than 30 min, early departure without
finishing the lab or instructor’s approval, and not cleaning up the lab benches and hoods.
Chemicals must be emptiedat the designated waste area.
Students are required to read through the experiment before hand in order to be well
organized and adequately prepared for each experiment. Please pay very much attention
for the instrumentation labs which utilize expensive instruments and equipments like micro-liter
syringes, lens, detectors, and quartz cuvets.
Eating, drinking and horse playing are not allowed in the lab. Safety goggle must be worn at all
times in the lab. Experiments are performed in-group. (Maximum: 3 students in a group
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depending on the enrollment). Certain experiments must be performed in the fume hood with
glass door pulled down completely.
Tips for Learning Chemistry
Chemistry is an empirical, math-based science which requires conceptual understanding and
application. It is not a subject that you can learn or master passively. Chemistry is best learned
through doing: Some students learn well through hands-on experiments; while some others
through theories. Thus, you are strongly encouraged to read your textbook, do your practice
exams/homework assignment and ask questions to clear your confusion while studying.
Always have paper, pencil, calculator and highlighter handy to write down or highlight the
important concepts and the parts that confuse you the most; bring them to the instructor/tutor’s
attention.
If you do not read the textbook slowly and carefully and work on its sample exercises in
the text prior to working on the questions in the practice exams, you are simply wasting
your time and increasing your own frustration.
Roman is not built within a day and learning also takes time. Rushing through the materials
frequently results in failure. Studying daily and gradually retains most of the knowledge and
information; it surly leads to success.
Remember that reading solutions is solely different from solving problems and doing homework
assignment and practice exams yourself. To learn effectively, you should read the texts before
attending the class. The Problem-Solving Organizer and Chapter Self-Test are the essence
of 6th ed. Corwin’s Introductory Chemistry.
Schedule
F: Rm 414
Departmental Tutorial: Mon. through Thr. 12-4 p.m. LHSB 313
SI tutorial section: M/W 3-4:30 p.m. LHSB 406;
Experiments are from http://swc2.hccs.edu/pahlavan/
Week Date Activity
Homework: End-of-Chapter Exercises
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9/30
Syllabus & Prologue.
Reading: Chapters 2 and 3.
Safety video. Last day
Assignment: Chapter 2: 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23,
for drop/add/swap:
25, 27, 31, 33, 37, 49, 53, 55, 61, 67, 69, 71, 73
Experiment 1:
Ruler, scale, pipet, thermometer, etc.
Measurement. (#1)
Assignment: Chapter 3: 3, 9, 13, 17, 19, 21, 29, 37,
41, 45, 47, 49, 53, 55, 59, 61, 63
Lab exam: Safety and
2
10/7
Reading: Chapter 4
apparatus
Assignment: Chapter 3: 3, 9, 13, 17, 19, 21, 29, 37,
41, 45, 47, 49, 53, 55, 59, 61, 63
Experiment 2:
Assignment: Chapter 4: 7, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27,
Separation of a mixture. 31, 33, 35, 37, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 65,
(#2)
69, 75, 77
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10/14 Exam I (Chapters 2 to
4)
4
10/21 UV-VIS spectrometer
with caffeine –if desire,
bring one of your
Reading: Chapter 5
Assignment: Chapter 5: 1, 13, 19, 21, 33, 35, 39, 41,
55, 61, 71, 72, 73, 77, 79, 83, 85, 89, 99
Reading: Chapter 6
Assignment: Chapter 6: 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21,
23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 53, 55,
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favorite drinks--less
than 1 mL will be
enough. (#3)
5
10/28 Experiment 4: online lab
to fill the questions. No
samples provided. (#4)
Questions answered
section for Exam II.
Exam II (Chapters 5 to
7)
6
11/4
7
11/11 Experiment 5: Double
Replacement Reaction.
(#5)
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11/18 Experiment 8: Ideal Gas
Law-Molecular Weight
of a Vapor (#6)
9
10
11/25 Thanksgiving Holiday
12/2
Exam III (Chapters 8 to
10)
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12/9
12
12/16 Exam IV (Chapters 11
to 12), 9-11 a.m.
Experiment 9: Lost
Structure and Molecular
Geometry (#7)
57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79
Experiment is from CHEM 1411; operation
procedures of instrument will be provided. No sample
preparation needed..
Reading chapter 7
Assignment: Chapter 7: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16,
19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 37, 39, 45, 47, 49, 51,
53, 54
Reading Chapter 8
Assignment: Chapter 8: 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21,
23, 25, 29, 33, 35, 37, 39, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 57, 63,
67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77
Reading Chapter 9
Assignment: Chapter 9: 1, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19,
21, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 35, 37, 41, 46, 47, 51, 53, 58,
59, 61, 63, 67.
Reading Chapter 10
Assignment: Chapter 10: 1, 3, 7, 11, 13, 19, 21, 25,
27, 29, 31, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 51, 57, 59, 61, 65, 67,
73, 75, 77
Reading Chapter 11
Assignment: Chapter 11: 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 17, 19, 23,
25, 29, 31, 33, 35, 39, 43, 45, 47, 49, 53, 59, 61, 63,
65,
Reading Chapter 12
Assignment: Chapter 12: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21,
25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 55,
57, 63, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77,
Exam lasts two hours only.
Class ends.
SCHEDULE IS SUBJECTVE TO CHANGE WHEN NECESSARY.
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