LAKES REGION COMMUNITY COLLEGE

379 Belmont Road

Laconia, NH 03246

(603) 524-3207

COURSE OUTLINE/SYLLABUS SHEET

  • COURSE NO:LSCI 1210Section-D122253 (Thursday)
  • COURSE TITLE:Chemistry I
  • CREDIT HOURS:3
  • SEMESTER:Spring 2015
  • INSTRUCTOR NAME:Dr. George Antonopoulos
  • E-MAIL ADDRESS:
  • OFFICE LOCATION:phone: 603-293-8116
  • CONFERENCE HOURS:Thursday 12:00 – 1:00 In the classroom (CAT 243)

Sometimes additional time or one-on-one assistance is needed. I am normally available during the conference hours listed above-or you may make an appointment with me for another time.

  • PREREQUISITES:Successful completion of LMAT0610 or competence as demonstrated on math placement exam
  • COURSE DESCRIPTION:This course provides an introduction to chemistry on a qualitative level. The major topics covered include measurement, energy, chemical terminology, classification of matter, atomic models, the Periodic Table, sources and types of chemical bonds, chemical reactions, acids and bases, phases of matter and the properties of common gases. This course is not recommended for students in Liberal Arts or Fine Arts, or for pre-nursing students.
  • TEXT/INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

Introductory Chemistry, 7th Edition by C.H. Corwin – (bring book to class)

A purchased access code and routine internet access to do/perform homework using

MasteringChemistry at (all homework is web-based)

Routine access to Blackboard to check for assignments and class updates

Scientific calculator with exponential and logarithmic functions - (bring to class)

Notebook / ring binder – (bring to class)

  • GRADING:

Your work is scored on a points system so that your grade can be found directly from the percentage of points scored compared to the total points available. Typical point values may be 4 points for a homework assignment, 10-14 points for a laboratory write-up, and 1 point for a test question, where a test may contain 70 questions for 70 points. Thus, missing a homework assignment is equivalent to getting 4 questions wrong on a test as far as your final grade is concerned.

Important parts of the grading system are (see next page for rules):

oEvery score counts the first time – I do not give retakes.

oTests and homework assignments that are not completed on time score zeroes.

oTests are designed to thoroughly cover the course content, and they historically yield a class average in the range from 68% - 75%.

oI do not offer extra credit other than for work passed in (see below) – you must demonstrate competency of the course content through the offered assessments to pass the course.

In order to reward hard work and diligence, I will add to your total score bonus points for work passed in on-time and of sufficient quality, as follows:

+1 point for each homework passed in on time and having a grade of 2.0/4.0 or better;

+1 point for each completed laboratory/activity write-up passed in on time. Note that for laboratory/activity reports having multiple authors, each is responsible for the report being passed in. Must score 80% or better to receive bonus point.

Thus you can increase your total score by a total of 25 points or more during the semester by getting work completed and passed in on time.

Your grade can be found at any time by the following procedure: 1) Add up your score to date; 2) Add +1 point for each successfully completed homework and laboratory report that you passed in on time; 3) Find the total number of points available; 4) Divide your revised score from step (2) by (3), and then multiply by 100; 4) Pull your grade from the grade scale using standard rounding rules:

A93-100
A-90-92
B+87-89 / B83-86
B-80-82
C+77-79 / C73-76
C-70-72
D+67-69 / D63-66
D-60-62
F0-59

Grading Scale:

The following table gives the anticipated percentages for the different assessments used in the class. The actual percentage for all exams and quizzes will be fixed at 65%, but the final percentage for the other items will depend on the actual assignments used in the class – for example a class cancellation would cause changes in the laboratories and homework assignments and slightly shift the percentages.

ItemPercentageItemPercentage .

Exams/Quizzes65 %Laboratoriesapprox. 23%

(including cumulative finalHomeworkapprox. 12%

and laboratory practical)

______

Note that motivated students having average test scores can earn a course grade of “C+” to “B” by successfully completing all laboratories and homework assignments. The table below shows calculated outcomes (based on past student performances) for motivated, model students who turn in all work given this grading system:

Student description / Test percentage / Lab/homework percentage / Final percentage
Good test taker / 88% / 92% / 94%
Average test taker / 70% / 92% / 83%
Poor test taker / 55% / 92% / 73%

These results assume a total of 500 pts accrued in the semester, and will vary for other amounts.
COURSE RULES

  • ATTENDANCE POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FAILURE
  • Student attendance is a primary factor for success, and student attendance will be noted;
  • Attendance does not factor into the course grade with the (important) exception of missed work: laboratories, exams, etc. performed within the class period (see other policies);
  • Students missing excessive classes will be withdrawn from the course through execution of an Administrative Failure (AF), as per the procedure noted in the student handbook and/or catalog – note that an AF can be reversed and the student can be re-enrolled into the course;
  • In particular, a student becomes eligible for an AF after missing two consecutive classes without contacting me in advance, after which the AF may be submitted at my discretion;
  • As noted in the student handbook, other reasons for student un-enrollment from the course via an AF are possible and are also at my discretion.
  • NOTES ON HOMEWORK(Assignments posted on MasteringChemistry)
  • MasteringChemistry (MC) provides significant feedback and learning opportunities to students and will be used exclusively for graded student homework.
  • Homework must be completed by the designated time unless a later time is granted by me.
  • Missed homework gets a score of zero.
  • Homework scores from MC are not used directly in determining course grade, but when converted to a percentage score will be referenced to the point system otherwise used in the course. Here a homework is worth 4 pts, and each 12.5% drop from a perfect MC score will cause a loss of 1/2 pt in the course score, i.e. a MC% of 92% will score 4 pts while a MC% of 77% will score 3.5 pts.
  • All bonus points are earned on an assignment by assignment basis.
  • NOTES ON LABORATORIES(Most labs cannot be made up)
  • A few selected activities that do not require access to chemicals or lab equipment, or working in a group, can be made up outside of the class.
  • Missing a laboratory scores a zero.
  • The score of a group lab report is shared by all members whose name is on the report;
  • All laboratory scores are comprised of both an in-class score and a post-lab (analysis) score;
  • Students who are present and actively participating in the lab earn the in-class score, which is at most 30% of the total lab grade;
  • Students who are not actively participating earn a lowered in-class score;
  • Lab reports are graded. Late lab work will otherwise be accepted for a reasonable length of time (determined by me and announced to the class) – afterwards it defaults to a zero on the post-lab work (even if presented to me). Late reports are penalized 2 points.
  • FINAL EXAM /TEST / QUIZ POLICIES(See Syllabus and Blackboard for dates)
  • Multiple exams may be used for a class and questions may be replaced for make-ups;
  • Exams will be given a fixed time for completion in the class period – however, any student may complete their exam outside of class time using the following procedure:

Tell me you will need extra time before the exam begins;

Ask for the exam to be given as separate pages;

Start a new page upon completing the previous page (you may not change these);

Arrange a date, time and place to complete the exam and fulfill those obligations;

  1. Students who miss an exam must contact me and get an approved make-up plan before exams are passed back. If exams are passed back before arrangements for your test are made and completed, it will be scored a zero.
  2. If an exam is not completed in a reasonable time (considering the college calendar, the need to pass back exams, reviewing answers, etc…) the exam will be scored “as is.”
  • I reserve the right to change these policies if necessary given unexpected or unusual circumstances – please see Blackboard for announcements of changes and posted revisions
  • COURSE OUTCOMES/COMPETENCIES:

This is a list of what you must successfully accomplish to pass the course. The list roughly goes in the order in which material is presented, although quite often several different interconnected topics will fold into one competency. Each competency is satisfied by your routinely performing the action correctly or appropriately, as demonstrated through the various assessments.

You must:

  1. follow safety procedures with foresight and care;
  2. correctly follow all experimental procedures, collect appropriate data, and perform all analyses and data interpretations;
  3. routinely demonstrate correct usage of spelling, grammar, sentence structure and paragraph construction in test responses, laboratory reports and other written work;
  4. routinely use the vocabulary of the course correctly in class discussions, questions and responses, and in written work;
  5. demonstrate the correct usage of standard metric units and measurement precision while performing measurements and calculations;
  6. identify the key concepts of the scientific method;
  7. classify a given substance and then infer the properties of that substance;
  8. explain the differences between elements, compounds and mixtures, and properly classify examples into these categories;
  9. accurately describe any substance in terms of particles such as atoms and molecules;
  10. classify the properties (and changes) of a substance as either physical or chemical;
  11. describe and compare energy, heat, temperature, and specific heat, and apply these quantities in descriptions and calculations;
  12. describe the Conservation Laws and routinely apply them in problem solving;
  13. describe the discoveries and process by which the modern model of the atom and its constituents were developed, and why the discoveries that lead to this model are still important to science and society;
  14. describe the types of nuclear radiation and explain how they interact with matter;
  15. accurately describe the subatomic components of the atom and use them to describe elements and isotopes;
  16. use the connections between the electrons of an element and its placement on the Periodic Table to deduce the properties of that element;
  17. classify an element as a metal, nonmetal or metalloid, describe its properties, and name its family or group;
  18. apply the Periodic Law in describing families of elements and their properties;
  19. describe the types of chemical bonds (and intermolecular bonds) and use them in inferring the properties of a substance;
  20. use electron-dot models to construct proper models of covalently-bonded molecules;
  21. identify and use ions in writing formulas and names;
  22. accurately interpret, write, and use chemical formulas and chemical nomenclature;
  23. list the indicators and basic types of chemical reactions, determine their products and reactants, and classify the type for specific reactions;
  24. routinely balance chemical reactions;
  25. describe the properties of solutions and quantify them using mass percentages;
  26. describe the properties of acids, bases and salts, and the usage of the pH scale;
  27. apply kinetic theory to explain the properties of solids, liquids and gases, and explain phase transitions between states;
  28. analyze the behavior of a gas with changes in volume, temperature, and pressure;
  29. apply Dalton’s Law of partial pressures in describing a gas.

  • ANTICIPATED COURSE SCHEDULE

Class # / Thursday
Date / Test Dates;
Content Covered / Primary Laboratory
or Activity / Readings covered;
homework due
1 / 1/22 / Welcome;
Measurements / Measurement Lab / PSS.1-PSS.7, 2.1, 2.6
2 / 1/29 / Scientific Method;
Conversions;
Density / Density Lab / 1.1-1.3, 2.2 - 2.10,
IntroHmk due
Hmk 1 due
3 / 2/5 / Energy, Heat & Temperature;
Specific Heat / Food Caloric Values Lab; / 2.9, 2.10, 3.9, 3.10
Hmk 2 due
4 / 2/12 / QUIZ 1
Matter;
Elements, Compounds & Mixtures / Elements, Compounds & Mixtures / 3.1 - 3.5, 10.1,
11.1, 11.4, 11.6
Hmk 3 due
5 / 2/19 / Changes in Matter;
Models of Atom / Electricity & Radioactivity Demonstrations
Properties of Elements Lab; / 3.6 - 3.8, 4.1 - 4.4, 18.1
Hmk 4 due
6 / 2/26 / Isotopes, Ions & Atomic Mass
The Periodic Table / Density Is Periodic Lab / 4.5 , 5.1 - 5.5
Hmk 5 due
7 / 3/5 / TEST 1
Light Spectra & the Modern Atom
Electronic Configurations / light spectra demonstrations / 4.6 – 4.11, 5.6 – 5.8
Hmk 6 due
8 / 3/12 / Electrons & The Periodic Table / 5.8 - 5.10, 12.1 - 12.3
Hmk 7 due
9 / 3/26 / Chemical Bonds / Covalent Molecules / 12.3 -12.7, 6.7
Hmk 8 due
10 / 4/2 / Ionic Compounds / Formula of An Ionic Compound / 6.1- 6.6, 6.8, 6.9, 12.2
Hmk 9 due
11 / 4/9 / Chemical Reactions / Classifying Chemical Reactions Lab, pt. 1 / 7.1-7.4
Hmk 10 due
12 / 4/16 / TEST 2
Types of Chemical Reactions; / Classifying Chemical Reactions Lab, pt. 2 / 17.0, 7.5- 7.11, 14.1
Hmk 11 due
13 / 4/23 / Solutions;
Acids and Bases; / Acids & Bases Lab / 13.1 - 13.8, 14.1
Hmk 12 due
14 / 4/30 / Properties of Gases, Liquids & Solids; / Common Gases Lab / 10.1 - 10.9,
11.1-11.3
Hmk 13 due
15 / 5/7 / Final Exam including lab practical / XC Hmk 14 due