CHEM 105 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I

Section 001

Fall 2009

Instructor: Dr. Snyder
E-mail Address: snyderk@winthrop.edu
Office: 109B Sims
Office Hours:  MW 9:30-10:30 am or by appointment
Lecture: MW 8:00-9:15 am, F 8:00-8:50 am Sims 105
Recitation:  Th 12:30-1:20 pm Sims 111
Course Credit Hours: 4

Required Textbook:

●    Chemical Principles, The Quest for Insight, Atkins and Jones, 4^th edition

Course Goals:

●    This course will cover some basic concepts of chemistry.   Some of these concepts will be expanded upon in lab and will serve as a foundation for future chemistry courses.
●    Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles presented in each of the following chapters.
●    Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills

 Course Outline:

●    The Structure of the Atom and the Periodic Table
●    Structure and Properties of Ionic and Covalent Compounds
●    Thermodynamics
●    Calculations and the Chemical Equation
●    Intermolecular Forces
●    Chemical Equilibria
●    Kinetics
●    Electrochemistry
●    Nuclear Chemistry

Class Preparation: You will get more from a class period if you spend time preparing ahead of time. Therefore, you should:

●    Read assignments before class.  This will give you a better understanding of the topics being discussed and you will be able to take better notes. 

●    Attend class.  If you miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain lecture notes from another student in the class. 

●    Devote time to class each day.  This is a rigorous course that requires daily preparation.  Work homework problems daily.

●    Take good notes.  I highly recommend rewriting your notes as soon as possible after class. 

Exams and Grading:

1.        There will be three exams worth 150 points each covering 3-4 chapters. No make-up exams will be given.  Tentative exam dates are noted on the syllabus.  If you miss an exam with a valid excuse, the missed exam grade will be replaced with your final exam grade scaled to 150 points.

2.        There will be a comprehensive final exam, worth 250 points.  You must take the final exam and make at least a 50% on the final in order to pass the course.

3.        There will be short 5 minute, 5 point quizzes given throughout the semester.  These short 5 minute quizzes will be given on most Mondays and Wednesdays.  See schedule for quiz dates.  Quizzes will only be given the first 5 minutes of class.  No make-up quizzes or time extensions will be given.  Your lowest 5 quiz grades will be dropped before calculating final grades.  If you miss a quiz for any reason, the missed quiz will be one of the quiz grades that is dropped.  This is a tentative quiz schedule.  The maximum point total for quizzes will not exceed 65 points.  If for some reason we miss a quiz, the point total for quizzes will be adjusted accordingly.

4.        There will be short homework quizzes given throughout the semester.  The homework quizzes will be given on most Fridays.  See schedule for quiz dates.  The quiz question will come from your assigned homework problems for that week.    Homework quizzes will only be given the first 5 minutes of class.  No make-up quizzes or time extensions will be given.  Your lowest 2 homework quiz grades will be dropped before calculating final grades.  If you miss a homework quiz for any reason, the missed homework quiz will be one of the homework quiz grades that is dropped.  This is a tentative homework quiz schedule.  The maximum point total for quizzes will not exceed 70 points.  If for some reason we miss a quiz, the point total for homework quizzes will be adjusted accordingly.

5.        You have one week from the time a graded assignment is returned to question the way it was graded.  After a week, I will not change a grade.

6.        Letter grades will be assigned as follows: A 100-90%; B+ 89-86%; B 85-77%; C+ 76-74%; C 73-66%; D 65-56%

7.        You should carefully read the Winthrop University Student Conduct Code printed in the Winthrop University Student Handbook.  As noted in the Student Conduct Code:  “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.” This policy on student academic misconduct is outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf

Total Possible Points

Exams                                                     450

Final                                                       200

Quizzes (13 x 5 pts)                                65

Homework Quizzes (7 x 10 pts)            70

Total possible points (max)*              805

*The total number of points for the course may be lower than 805 depending on the number of quizzes and homework quizzes given.

Grades:  I will not discuss grades through e-mail.   If you have a question about your grade, please stop by my office.

Lecture:  Some lectures will be power point presentations.  I will send everyone a copy of the lecture notes via e-mail for these lectures.  It is important to check your e-mail regularly.  If you registered for the course late, you will need to manually subscribe to the listserv.  If you drop the course, you will need to unsubscribe to the list or you will continue to receive all e-mails I send.  You can find directions at http://www.winthrop.edu/acc/classlist.htm

I recommend that you bring your textbook, notes, completed homework problems, extra paper, a writing utensil and a calculator to every class. 

Recitation: Recitation will meet on Thursdays at 12:30 in Sims 105. This will be a time to ask questions about lecture or homework.

Exams and Quizzes: You will need a calculator for exams and quizzes.  Cell phones and pagers are strictly prohibited during exams and quizzes.  You cannot use a cell phone as a calculator during exams and quizzes.

Course Withdraw: October 23^rd is the last day to withdraw from a full fall semester course with an automatic N grade issued.  Students may not withdraw from a course after this date without documented extenuating circumstances as determined by the University.

Communication: If you have any questions, please stop by and see me during office hours. If these hours are not convenient, see me in class or e-mail me to set up an appointment.

Attendance: You are expected to attend all class meetings. You are responsible for all announcements made in class. Absence or lateness does not excuse you from this responsibility.

Homework: You are expected to complete each reading assignment and all assigned homework problems.  End of chapter homework problems from the textbook will not be collected or graded, but one of these problems will be used as the homework quiz question each Friday.

Students with Disabilities:  Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and need accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290, as soon as possible.  Once you have your Professor Notification Form, please tell me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first exam.

This is a tentative schedule.  It will change as necessary.