Dr. E.A. Berg

Office PS-118

e-mail:

CHEMISTRY IA

I. PREQUISITES AND PREPARATION

Chemistry is a quantitative science – most of this course is devoted to measurement and calculation. As a consequence, it is very important that you are prepared to handle the mathematics involved. In addition to being able to solve algebraic equations, you should be able to use logarithms extensively. Therefore, successful completion of Chemistry 12 or the equivalent is a prerequisite. A complete listing of student learning outcomes for this course can be found at under the academic departments link.

You should also be able to read and write English at a reasonable level. It is a frustrating experience to know the answer to a question and, yet, be unable to write it down clearly.

If you have any kind of handicap or learning disability, let me know so we can make any necessary arrangements.

II. QUIZZES AND EXAMS

A. Quizzes

There will be 11 quizzes given throughout the semester. There will be no make-up quizzes, but your lowest score will be discarded. The total of all the quizzes will be counted as one Exam when the final grades are calculated.

B. Exams

There will be four exams during the semester. These exams will last the full lecture period and will cover all of the course material up to the exam, with the emphasis on the material covered since the last exam. I will generally give you a one-week notice. It is crucial that you keep up with the course material and not rely on last minute cramming. There will be no make-up exams. If an emergency arises, discuss the situation with me.

C. Final Exam

The Final Exam will be comprehensive, covering of all the material in the lecture. It is mandatory that you take the Final Exam.

III. LABORATORY

The chemistry laboratory experience provides the necessary link between theory and practical application. It is a most essential part of the course. Consequently, your performance in lab will count as a significant part of your course grade. Your performance and write-up of the experiments will both be used to determine your lab grade.

IV. GRADING

Your grade in the course is based solely on your performance in achieving the course objectives. As mentioned in the previous section, your grade is composed of the following parts:

A. Quizzes – 100 points

B. Exams – 400 points

C. Final – 200 points

D. Lab – 130 points

All grades are converted into percentages and the overall percentage for the course is calculated. Your percentage is then used to assign a letter grade according to the following scale:

PercentageGrade

100 – 90 A

89 – 80 B

79 – 65 C

64 – 50 D

less than 50 F

Even though attendance does not count as part of your grade, 7 absences may result in your exclusion from the class. I also reserve the right, after two prior warnings, to drop any student whose conduct I deem disruptive to either the teaching or learning processes of the course. The grade of “I” (incomplete) is reserved for those unusual cases in which a student with a passing grade is unable to complete the course. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a withdrawal from the course. This may be done up to the 4th week of the semester. Any student whose name appears on the final roll sheet will receive a letter grade for the course.

All students are expected to do their own work. Violations of academic honesty and integrity may result in an F on an exam or an assignment, suspension from the class, or an F in the course.

One final word about grades. An A in this course is not easy to achieve, but a B or C is within reach of virtually everyone having the prerequisites. The most important thing to remember is to keep up with the material and do the assigned work. If you fall behind, come see me as soon as possible.

V. OFFICE HOURS AND SPECIAL HELP

If you are having trouble – or if you want to learn more – I hold regular office hours (the times will be announced in class). If you can’t come during my regular office hours, I’ll be happy to make other arrangements. Remember that I’m working for you and I want satisfied customers.

Should you feel you need tutoring or special help, come to me first. Moorpark College has many fine programs for assisting students, but to get the maximum benefit, let me help you in choosing the approach that suits your needs best. If you have a disability, you are encouraged to contact ACCESS at 378-1461. Their office is at LMC-137. They will help you determine what assistance is available to you.

CHEMISTRY IA LECTURE/LAB SCHEDULEFALL 2012

Text: Tro, “Chemistry - A Molecular Approach” 2nd Edition;

Optional Reading: “The CartoonGuidetoChemistry” by Larry Gonick and Craig Criddle,

Lab Manual: “Chemistry 1A Laboratory Manual” Available in the Bookstore

UNIT
/
WEEKS
/
TOPIC/EXPERIMENT
I / 3½ / Sec. 1.1 -1.5 Measurement/Experiment #1
Sec. 1.6 – 1.8 Measurement /Experiment #8
Sec. 4.1 – 4.4 Formulas & Equations/Experiment #3
Sec. 3.5 – 3.10, 2.8, 2.9 Formulas & Equations/Experiment #5
II / 3½ / Sec. 2.1 – 2.6, 19.1 – 19.3 Atomic Structure/Experiment #2
Sec. 7.1 – 7.3 Atomic Structure /Workshop #9
Sec. 7.4 – 7.6, Electron Configurations/Experiment #9
Sec. 8.1 – 8.9 Periodicity/Experiment #14
III / 3½ / Sec. 3.5, 9.4 Ionic Bonding/Experiment #10
Sec. 3.6, 4.9 Nomenclature & Balancing/Exp. #13
Sec. 9.1 – 9.9, 10.2 – 10.4 Covalent Bonding/Experiment #11
Sec. 11.1 – 11.4, 11.11, 9.11 Physical Properties/Experiment #12
+WS 11
IV / 31/4 / Sec. 10.6, 10.7 Hybrid Orbital Theory/Experiment #15
Sec10.8 Molecular Orbital Theory/Experiment #15
Sec.5.1 – 5.11 The Gaseous State/Experiment #15
V / 31/4 / Sec. 11.5 - 11.8 Changes of State/Experiment #15
Sec. 12.1 – 12.5 Colligative Properties/Experiment #15
Sec. 12.6 – 12.7 Colligative Properties/Experiment #15
FINAL EXAM DECEMBER 13 1:00 – 3:00
Important Dates:August 31 – Last date to drop the class without a “W’.

November 16 – Last date to drop the class with a “W”.

The above schedule and procedures are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

Getting in the Class

We have a serious problem in all community colleges. Instructors have very little control over who gets added to classes, or whether they can add extra students. I will give out add codes during the lab section to the people on the waitlist. If someone is not in attendance for the first quiz, and have not written me beforehand, I drop them. The computer adds the next person on the waitlist. I have no control over who that is.

If you are not on the waitlist, your chance of getting in the class is essentially zero. If no one has dropped after the first week, it is highly unlikely that any space will open up. I cannot get any more add codes, I cannot let you audit in case a spot opens up, there is no method to allow me to choose who gets in the class.