Ch110E – General Chemistry
Prof. Ruben Savizky
Email: rsavizky@cooper.edu
Telephone: (212) 353-4372
Class Hours: Wednesday 12-2 (Room 105), Friday 10-12 (Room 104)
Office Hours: Official hours are TBD. I am usually in my office (Room 413), but the
best times to find me are right before or after class. If you would like to set up an
appointment just email me.
Text: Hill, Petrucci, McCreary and Perry, General Chemistry, 4th edition
Topics to be Covered:
1. Introduction (Chapter 1)
2. Atoms, Molecules and Ions (Chapter 2)
3. Stoichiometry (Chapter 3)
4. Chemical Reactions in Aqueous Solutions (Chapter 4)
5. Atomic Structure (Chapter 7)
6. Electron Configurations, Atomic Properties and the Periodic Table (Chapter 8)
7. Chemical Bonds (Chapter 9)
8. Bonding Theory and Molecular Structure (Chapter 10)
9. Gases (Chapter 5)
10. States of Matter and Intermolecular Forces (Chapter 11)
11. Chemical Equilibrium (Chapter 14)
12. Acids and Bases (Chapter 15)
Exams: There will be 3 exams, including the final. They will be cumulative in the sense
that the material from later in the course will rely on your understanding of concepts
introduced earlier on. For each exam you will be provided with a reference sheet – a copy
will be given to you before the exam so you will see the information that is on it. You
will be allowed to use a scientific or graphing calculator.
Homework: Problem sets will generally be assigned on a weekly basis and will be due
within a week. They will be either collected, be put up by you, or gone over by me. If the
assignment is collected, it will be graded and returned as soon as possible, and when
necessary, will be discussed in class. Each question that is graded will be worth 10 points.
In general one point will be deducted for errors involving simple arithmetic mistakes,
significant figures, signs, etc. More egregious errors (using the wrong equation, setting up
the problem incorrectly, making an invalid assumption, etc) will be subject to greater
point deductions. All homework assignments will then be normalized to be worth the
same number of points (100).
Class participation: Please show respect and courtesy to me and your classmates. Do not
talk or engage in distracting behavior during class. You will not be allowed to use any
electronic device except a calculator – i.e. no laptop, iPad, Kindle, cell phone, etc. If
you bring a cell phone to class, please silence it during class. Absolutely no text messaging
or talking on the phone will be permitted during class. If you are caught using any
electronic device (besides a calculator), making/receiving calls or checking/sending text
messages during class, 5 points will be deducted from the “Class participation” portion of
your grade for each violation. If behavior becomes an issue, you will be asked to leave.
Volunteering to put up homework problems will be a significant portion of your class
participation grade.
Academic Dishonesty: Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated. If you are caught
cheating on any assignment or test for this course, you will fail the course and be reported
for possible disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion from the college. Please
note: If you are caught sending or receiving text messages during the exam, I will assume
that you are cheating.
Grades: Your grade will be determined as follows.
Exam 1:
20%
Exam 2:
20%
Exam 3:
30%
Homework:
15%
Class participation:
15%
Each student’s raw score will be calculated using the weighted average above. Thus the
maximum number of points you may receive will be
0.2*100+0.2*100+0.3*100+0.15*100+0.15*100 = 100. Final grades will be determined
by cluster analysis. The breakdown will be as follows:
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
<60
A
B
C
D
F
Tentative schedule: “The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley” – Robert
Burns, "To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough" (1785)
Date
9/5
9/7
9/12
9/14
9/19
9/21
9/26
9/28
10/3
10/5
10/10
10/12
Topic
Introduction
Introduction to Atomic Theory
The Quantum Mechanical Model
Atomic Structure
The Periodic Table
Chemical Classification (inorganic compounds)
Chemical Classification (organic compounds)
Electron Configurations
The Periodic Table Revisited: Periodic Trends
Stoichiometry
Applications of stoichiometry
EXAM 1
Chapter(s)
1
2.1-2.4
7.1-7.9
“
2.5
2.7-2.8
2.9, Appendix D
8.1-8.6
8.7-8.9
3
“
10/17
10/19
10/24
10/26
10/31
11/2
11/7
11/9
11/14
11/16
11/21
11/28
11/30
12/5
12/7
12/12
TBD
Chemical reactions in aqueous solutions
Principles of bonding
Models to describe bonding and energetics in molecules
Lewis Theory
VSEPR Theory
Valence Bond Theory and Hybridization
Molecular Orbital Theory
Gases
Gases (continued)
EXAM 2
Intermolecular Forces
Solids, Lattices and Crystals
Chemical Equilibrium
Chemical Equilibrium (continued)
Acids and Bases
Chemical Equilibrium of Acids and Bases
EXAM 3
4, 12.1-12.2
9.1
“
9.2-9.11
10.1-10.2
10.3-10.5
10.6-10.9
5
“
11.1-11.7
11.8-11.10
14
“
15
“