Chemistry 106 - General Chemistry II  

Brief Description - see Blackboard for specific details

Dr. Margaret Legg (Marge)

Office: Lewis Hall 308   Voicemail: 333 6370
Email at LeggMargaretJ@sau.edu   

 

Required Texts:

Kotz, John C. & Treichel, Paul  Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity 7th edition

Moog, Richard S. & Farrell, John J. Chemistry A Guided Inquiry 4th edition

OWL - online web based learning

Required Equipment:

Lab goggles-chem splash type (splash goggles have protected caps on air vents, fit close to the face, and do not have numerous air holes),

Scientific calculator (bring to every class)

Recommended:         

Study Guide (by Pence) presents a chapter overview, learning goals, concept exercises, concept tests, study hints, practice problems and self-tests for mastery of material.

Student Solutions Manual (by Banks) has solutions to selected problems.

Course Outline

 

This is the second semester of a two-semester sequence in general chemistry for science majors. Students generally take this course to fulfill a requirement in their major (biology, chemistry, physics, industrial engineering, engineering, environmental management or bio-psychology) or because the course has been recommended for a major (psychology) or graduate program (physical therapy).

In this semester, we will continue our study of molecular structure, the characteristics of the three states of matter (gas, liquid and solid) and introduce kinetics and equilibrium concepts for the study of chemical reactions. Topics generally will follow chapters 10, selections from 11, and 13 through 21 in your textbook.

 

Goals

 

During the semester, you will increase your understanding of chemistry and science by:

  1. learning and demonstrating experimental science skills, such as:

o         making careful observations in data collection,

o         translating data into graphs and tables, including use of computer programs,

o         using data to formulate and support conclusions,

o         communicating this information in reports

  1. learning basic chemical concepts, including:

o         vocabulary terms

o         microscopic and macroscopic views of chemicals

o         chemical principles

  1. developing thinking, and reasoning skills for problem solving, including both conceptual and quantitative problems
  2. developing your ability to write about science topics

 

Evaluation

 

There are many different types of assignments in this course, all of which can help you demonstrate mastery of the material. Class participation, homework, and computer tutorials all show daily effort and accomplishments. Lab participation, acquisition of lab skills, and lab reports shows your science skills in an experimental setting. On-line quizzes show mastery of material in an open book format. Exams show comprehensive mastery on an individual basis. You are required to take all exams and complete all lab and computer assignments. I also want to encourage and reward consistent participation and studying.

 

Class Work Home Work

 

Consistency in studying will increase your success in this course. Consistency includes class attendance, class participation, completion of ChemActivities, taking Turning Point quizzes, and regularity in doing homework.  Some assignments are done in the ChemActivities Workbook and are not collected. ChemActivities homework is available in Blackboard. Textbook based assignments are completed in OWL. You are responsible for checking deadlines and reminders are only sent to SAU email accounts.  Homework is 10% of your grade. 

.            The C&E News bonus assignment will be continued this semester. You can complete 6 assignments for 12 bonus points that are added to your 1st exam grade.  C&E News assignment instructions.

Turning Point clicker response system will be used during the semester. Turning Point is 5 % of your grade.

 

.

Computer Technology

 

·        Acquisition and analysis of data:  As a multipurpose tool for calculations and graphing of lab data, we use EXCEL spreadsheets.  In first semester, you learned to input data, do some calculations and create graphs.  You will be expected to do assignments for lab and or exams using EXCEL.   

·        You will also learn chemistry from other web sites and computer programs.  Blackboard also includes an entire textbook of on-line learning resources under the course content folder.

·        Personal use: There is a CD-ROM with your text as well as the SIRS programs available in the classroom computer labs.  There are also web sites that allow self quizzing on materials.  Talk to me if you need help using any of these materials.

 

Exams

 

Three or four unit exams (approximately monthly) will be scheduled during the semester plus a final cumulative exam. Unit Exams will include shorter questions and longer multiple step problems and/or essays. Exams include conceptual understanding as well as problem solving. Questions will be related to class topics as well as laboratory work. Some problems will be taken directly from your text or ChemActivities and most problems will be similar to assigned problems. Copies of exams given in past years are available on reserve in the library ask for the folder at the front desk.  Some exams are also available on the SAU library website under their electronic resources or “ereserves”. http://library.sau.edu/services/aboutsrvs.htm#reserves   Note: some special characters (Greek letters or chemical symbols) do not appear correctly on the electronic versions of the exams.

 

In addition, there will be a cumulative final. This exam is an American Chemical Society (ACS) standardized exam on general chemistry topics.  The ACS exam is used to monitor your progress during this semester and to allow me to compare SAU with other schools using this exam.  We do not complete all topics covered on this exam so the grading is curved relative to the class mean.

·        Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities at 333-6275 as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

 

LAB: See separate handout. Lab is a required part of this class.

 

Grades

 

Students will be graded on exams (65 % of grade), consistent attendance, participation & turning point response clicker quizzes (5%), on-line homework assignments (10%) and lab work & reports (20 %).   The grades from assignments, exams, and labs are combined and scaled to 100%.  The letter equivalents are:

 

A

B+

B

C+

C

D

F

90 - 100

84 - 89

79 - 83

74 - 78

68 - 73

60 - 67

below 60

 

Attendance

 

You are encouraged to attend all lectures. Most students have perfect or near-perfect attendance.  Attendance will be noted in lecture and will be considered in your turning point assignment grade with respect to consistent performance (5% of the grade). 

 

Expected attendance:

Attendance at all exams during the scheduled time and attendance at lab each week is expected. Exceptions are made in the event of an emergency, including serious illness.

·        You are expected to call me and explain the situation in a timely manner.

·        If you know of a problem due to a scheduled conflict including "official SAU" activities, you must obtain PRIOR permission, well in advance, for any change in exam or lab schedule.  Some exams are on dates that are voted on by the class, you must make me aware of conflicts BEFORE the class picks the exam date.

 

 

Supplemental Instruction (SI)

 

             This is a study group that will be held three times a week to review notes, to work problems and to overcome the "difficulties" of chemistry. I urge you to join this study group and attend regularly. Learning chemistry is hard work. In general, working in groups promotes learning. The research on SI clearly shows that the students who attend SI finish the course with a higher chemistry gpa then those who don't join. For example, in Spring 2004, the SI group participants earned a 3.5 gpa versus 2.9 for the non-participants.