Syllabus for CHE-121

GENERAL CHEMISTRY I WITH LABS

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Chemistry is a science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and with the transformations that they undergo. It is the "study of change."

In this, the first of a two-semester general chemistry sequence with labs, we explore the structure of the atom, the molecules that form from atoms, and the basic concepts of chemical reactivity, including the relations between amounts of materials undergoing reactions and the energetics of those reactions. At the atomic and molecular level, chemistry is a very abstract subject, but the study of atoms and molecules is fundamental to understanding life itself, since all matter is made up of atoms and molecules. Through practical examples and applications, we hope to explain not only the abstract concepts of chemistry but also how we come to know and understand those concepts in real-life contexts.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, you should be able to:

1. Perform calculations using dimensional analysis (factor-label method).
2. Accurately use basic chemical nomenclature.
3. Relate basic atomic theory to the trends in the periodic table.
4. Correlate chemical equations and stoichiometry.
5. Recognize and solve reactions occurring in aqueous solution
6. Describe the relationships between gases and reactions involving gases.
7. Relate the energy changes that accompany chemical reactions to the first law of thermodynamics.
8. Identify the different types of chemical bonds including the shapes of molecules and their effect on polarity.
9. Differentiate nuclear reactions and solve problems based on the concept of half-life.
10. Solve problems in chemistry using critical thinking skills.
11. Employ good laboratory practices (GLP) when handling chemicals.
12. Collect and evaluate qualitative and quantitative experimental data.
13. Correlate laboratory experiments with the principle topics of General Chemistry I.

COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to do the work of the course. The required textbook is available from the College’s textbook supplier, MBS Direct.

COURSE STRUCTURE

General Chemistry I with Labs is a four-credit online course consisting of ten (10) modules. Modules include an overview, list of topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Outlined below are the module titles along with the course objectives covered and module topics.

1. Module 1: Introduction and Measurement
   Course objectives covered in this module: 1, 10, 11, 12, 13

Topics:

1. chemistry and its role in society
2. scientific method
3. classification of matter into pure substances and mixtures
4. states of matter
5. physical and chemical properties and changes
6. measurements units for mass, volume, length, temperature, and density
7. application of metric system in calculations
8. chemical calculations using scientific notation
9. significant figures in numbers and calculations
10. dimensional analysis (factor-label method) in problem solving
11. safety in the chemical laboratory

2. Module 2: Atomic Structure and Chemical Compounds
   Course objectives covered in this module: 2, 3, 10, 12, 13

Topics:

1. atomic theory
2. atomic structure: protons, electrons, neutrons
3. atomic number, mass number, and isotopes
4. structure of periodic table
5. ions
6. molecular and ionic compounds
7. chemical nomenclature

3. Module 3: Mass Relationships for Compounds
   Course objectives covered in this module: 3, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13

Topics:

1. atomic mass
2. Avogadro’s number and molar mass of elements and compounds
3. percent composition of compounds
4. empirical and molecular formulas

4. Module 4: Chemical Reactions
   Course objectives covered in this module: 1, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13

Topics:

1. writing and balancing chemical equations
2. stoichiometry in chemical reactions
3. theoretical yield, actual yield, and percent yield of chemical reactions

5. Module 5: Chemical Reactions in Solution
   Course objectives covered in this module: 1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13

Topics:

1. properties of aqueous solutions
2. solubility
3. molecular, ionic, and net ionic equations
4. acid-base reactions
5. solubility rules and precipitation reactions
6. reactions involving the formation of gases
7. oxidation-reduction reactions
8. solution concentration: molarity and dilution
9. titration analysis

6. Module 6: Gases
   Course objectives covered in this module: 1, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13

Topics:

1. kinetic theory of gases
2. properties of gases
3. gas laws
4. molecular mass of a gas
5. density of a gas
6. gas stoichiometry
7. Dalton’s law of partial pressures
8. Diffusion of gases

7. Module 7: Energy and Thermochemistry
   Course objectives covered in this module: 1, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13

Topics:

1. types and forms of energy
2. energy changes in chemical reactions
3. exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions
4. thermochemical equations
5. thermodynamics—first law
6. enthalpy of chemical reactions
7. specific heat and specific heat capacity
8. heat of solution
9. Hess’s law in calculations

8. Module 8: The Electronic Structure of Atoms
   Course objectives covered in this module: 3, 10, 12, 13

Topics:

1. electromagnetic radiation and properties of waves
2. quantum mechanics and quantum numbers
3. electron configuration of elements—longhand and shorthand methods
4. orbital diagrams and magnetism
5. periodic classification of the elements (ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity, and valence electrons
6. valence electrons and chemical properties
7. ionization

9. Module 9: Chemical Bonding
   Course objectives covered in this module: 8, 10, 11, 12, 13

Topics:

1. Lewis dot structures of elements and compounds
2. octet rule and chemical bonds
3. ionic bonds
4. covalent bonds
5. electronegativity and polar bonds
6. molecular geometry, the VSEPR theory
7. hybridization of atomic orbitals
8. sigma and pi bonds

10. Module 10: Nuclear Chemistry
    Course objectives covered in this module: 9, 10

Topics:

1. radioactivity
2. types of nuclear reactions
3. energy, rates of radioactive decay, and half-life calculations
4. issues of health and safety with respect to radioactivity
5. uses of radioactive isotopes in science and medicine

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, complete written assignments and laboratory assignments, take unproctored module quizzes, and take two proctored online examinations: a midterm exam and a final exam. See below for details.

Consult the course Calendar for due dates.

Discussion Forums

You are required to participate in four (4) graded discussion forums, worth 10 percent of your course grade,  as well as an ungraded Introductions Forum. The online discussions are on a variety of self-selected topics associated with the course modules.

Communication among fellow students and with the mentor is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a posted question (discussion thread) and subsequent comments on classmates' responses. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate, the reading, or your mentor, state and support your agreement or disagreement. You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation. Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful

For posting guidelines and help with discussion forums, please see the Student Handbook located within the General Information page of the course Web site.

Laboratory Assignments

General Chemistry I with Labs includes ten (10) laboratory assignments, worth 20 percent of your course grade. Each laboratory assignment asks you to complete experiments from an eScience lab (paying close attention to the instructions provided in the eScience Lab Manual) and then to submit a written Laboratory Report to the mentor for grading.

Laboratory Report assignment sheets, with all sections and questions typed out in advance for you, are provided. Be sure to include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled. Click General Instructions for guidelines on completing laboratory assignments.

Written Assignments

General Chemistry I with Labs has ten (10) written assignments, worth 20 percent of your course grade. The written assignments draw mostly on on odd-numbered questions and problems from the textbook. Answer all assigned questions and problems, and show all work. 

Assignment sheets, with all questions typed out in advance for you, are provided. Be sure to include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled. To receive full credit for your answers, you must show all work and include complete solutions.

For help regarding preparing and submitting activities, see the Student Handbook located within the General Information page of the course Web site.

Quizzes

You are required to take ten (10) module quizzes, worth 10 percent of your course grade. Each quiz consists of multiple-choice questions based on your textbook and lab manual reading and problems. Quizzes are open book but time restricted (30 minutes). You may take each quiz multiple times both during and after the quiz period but will be graded (highest score received) only on attempts made by the due date for the quiz (consult the course Calendar).

A quiz link is available within each module of the course Web site. While the quiz is active, you will not be able to ask for help on specific quiz questions; however, after the due date and after you have received your quiz grade, you may address private questions to the mentor.

To prepare for the quiz, be sure to complete the written assignment, laboratory assignments, and readings in your textbook and lab manual and to review all study materials listed in the Study Materials section.

Examinations

You are required to take two (2) proctored online examinations: a midterm exam and a final exam. Both exams require that you use the College's Online Proctor Service (OPS). Please refer to the "Examinations and Proctors" section of the Online Student Handbook (see General Information area of the course Web site) for further information about scheduling and taking online exams and for all exam policies and procedures. You are strongly advised to schedule your exam within the first week of the semester.

Online exams are administered through the course Web site. Consult the course Calendar for the official dates of exam weeks.

Midterm Examination

The midterm exam is a closed-book exam, worth 20 percent of your course grade. It is two hours long and covers all topics and material from Modules 1–5 of the course. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions like those on the module quizzes.

Final Examination

The final exam is a closed-book exam, worth 20 percent of your course grade. It is two hours long and primarily covers all topics and material from Modules 6–10 of the course, while also drawing on cumulative knowledge gained from earlier modules. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions like those on the module quizzes.

Statement about Cheating

You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:

1. Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.
2. Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This includes but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.
3. Plagiarizing answers.
4. Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.
5. Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.
6. Telling your mentor that you need another attempt and the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.

If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

1. Discussion forums (4)—10 percent
2. Laboratory assignments (10)—20 percent
3. Written assignments (10)—20 percent
4. Module online quizzes (10, unproctored)—10 percent
5. Examinations (2, proctored)—40 percent

1. Midterm exam, covering Modules 1–5 (20 percent)
2. Final exam, primarily covering Modules 6–10 (20 percent)

All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a nonarea of study course), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, etc.).

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.
   
2. Take time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.
   
3. Arrange to take your examination(s) by following the instructions in this Syllabus and the Online Student Handbook.
   
4. Familiarize yourself with the learning management systems environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.
   
5. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The Calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking examinations.
   
2. Check Announcements regularly for new course information.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students at Thomas Edison State College are expected to exhibit the highest level of academic citizenship. In particular, students are expected to read and follow all policies, procedures, and program information guidelines contained in publications; pursue their learning goals with honesty and integrity; demonstrate that they are progressing satisfactorily and in a timely fashion by meeting course deadlines and following outlined procedures; observe a code of mutual respect in dealing with mentors, staff, and other students; behave in a manner consistent with the standards and codes of the profession in which they are practicing; keep official records updated regarding changes in name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address; and meet financial obligations in a timely manner. Students not practicing good academic citizenship may be subject to disciplinary action including suspension, dismissal, or financial holds on records.

Academic Dishonesty

Thomas Edison State College expects all of its students to approach their education with academic integrity—the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception. All mentors and administrative staff members at the College insist on strict standards of academic honesty in all courses. Academic dishonesty undermines this objective. Academic dishonesty takes the following forms:

1. Cheating
2. Plagiarizing (including copying and pasting from the Internet without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources)
3. Fabricating information or citations
4. Facilitating acts of dishonesty by others
5. Unauthorized access to examinations or the use of unauthorized materials during exam administration
6. Submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the mentor
7. Tampering with the academic work of other students

Academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal from the College. Students who submit papers that are found to be plagiarized will receive an F on the plagiarized assignment, may receive a grade of F for the course, and may face dismissal from the College.

A student who is charged with academic dishonesty will be given oral or written notice of the charge. If a mentor or the College official believes the infraction is serious enough to warrant referral of the case to the academic dean, or if the mentor awards a final grade of F in the course because of the infraction, the student and the mentor will be afforded formal due process.

If a student is found cheating or using unauthorized materials on an examination, he or she will automatically receive a grade of F on that examination. Students who believe they have been falsely accused of academic dishonesty should seek redress through informal discussions with the mentor, through the office of the dean, or through an executive officer of Thomas Edison State College.

Plagiarism

Using someone else’s work as your own is plagiarism. Although it may seem like simple dishonesty, plagiarism is against the law. Thomas Edison State College takes a strong stance against plagiarism, and students found to be plagiarizing will be severely penalized. If you copy phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or whole documents word-for-word—or if you paraphrase by changing a word here and there—without identifying the author, then you are plagiarizing. Please keep in mind that this type of identification applies to Internet sources as well as to print-based sources. Copying and pasting from the Internet, without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources, constitutes plagiarism. (For information about how to cite Internet sources, see Online Student Handbook > Academic Standards > “Citing Sources.”)

Accidentally copying the words and ideas of another writer does not excuse the charge of plagiarism. It is easy to jot down notes and ideas from many sources and then write your own paper without knowing which words are your own and which are someone else’s. It is more difficult to keep track of each and every source. However, the conscientious writer who wishes to avoid plagiarizing never fails to keep careful track of sources.

Always be aware that if you write without acknowledging the sources of your ideas, you run the risk of being charged with plagiarism.

Clearly, plagiarism, no matter the degree of the intent to deceive, defeats the purpose of education. If you plagiarize deliberately, you are not educating yourself, and you are wasting your time on courses meant to improve your skills. If you plagiarize through carelessness, you are deceiving yourself.