Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus and General Information

 

 

 

Chemistry 125-B                                                         Professor Frank M. Dunnivant

Fall, 2022                                                                    344 Hall of Science

MWF 9:00-9:50                                                          dunnivfm@whitman.edu

SCI Room 159                                                            www.whitman.edu/~dunnivfm

                                                                                    509-526-4751

 

Text and Supplies: 

 

• Chem 101, an online textbook

Aktiv, an online homework and quiz application (Code EGRSRU)

•  
• Use your Canvas site, our class is CHEM-125-B

 

• A calculator capable of displaying scientific notation and logarithms (base 10 for first semester and natural logs for second semester)

 

• An open mind, willingness to learn a wonderful subject, and dedication

 

A lot of scientists and educators think of “chemistry” as the central science; what do you think we mean by this?   Think about it as we go through the course.

 

Chapters, Topics, and Time Table: 

 

As per the schedule below.  Note daily topic and Chem 101 book sections.  Homework will be give every MWF after class and due at the beginning of the next class period.  Quizzes will likely be every Monday, covering the previous week’s content; but note chemistry is cumulative.  Major exams will be given on an untimed basis on specified Friday afternoons, from 12:00 to 4:00 in room Science 100.     

 

Sep. 1		Welcome to General Chemistry!  History, Overview, Quiz 1, and General Info
Sep. 3	Q 1	1.2-1.3:  Phases and classification of matter, physical and chemical properties
Sep. 6		1.4-1.5:  Measurements, measurement uncertainty
Sep. 8		1.5-1.6:  Accuracy & precision, mathematical treatment of measurement results
Sep. 10		2.1-2.2:  Early ideas in atomic theory, evolution of atomic theory
Sep. 13	Q2	2.3-2.4:  Atomic structure and symbolism, molecular and empirical formulas
Sep. 15		2.4:  The mole
Sep. 17		3.1:  Electromagnetic energy: waves, blackbody radiation & the ultraviolet catastrophe
Sep. 20	Q3	3.1-3.2:  Photoelectric effect, line spectra, the Bohr model
Sep. 22		3.3:  Development of quantum theory
Sep. 24		3.3-3.4:  Pauli Exclusion principle, electronic structure of atoms
Sep. 27	Q4	3.5-3.6:  Periodic variations in element properties, the periodic table
Sep. 29		Review Session #1
Sep. 30		Exam #1 (noon to 4:00 in Sci 100; Chapters 1-2, 3.1-3.2)
Oct. 1		3.7, 4.1:  Molecular and ionic compounds, ionic bonding
Oct. 4	Q5	4.2-4.3:  Covalent bonding, ionic compound nomenclature
Oct. 6		4.3-4.4:  Molecular compound nomenclature, Lewis symbols & structures, the octet rule
Oct. 8		(October break)
Oct. 11	Q6	4.4-4.6: Exceptions to the octet rule, formal charge and resonance, VSEPR theory
Oct. 13		4.6:  Predicting molecular structures, molecular polarity & dipole moment
Oct. 15		5.1-5.2: Valence bond theory, hybrid atomic orbitals
Oct. 18	Q7	5.2-5.3:  Assignment of hybridization, multiple bonds
Oct. 20		6.1-6.2:  Formula mass, determining empirical and molecular formulas
Oct. 22		6.3-6.4: Molarity, other units for solution concentrations
Oct. 25	Q8	7.1-7.2:  Writing and balancing chemical equations, precipitation reactions & solubility
Oct. 27		Review Session #2
Oct. 28		Exam #2 (noon to 4:00 Sci 100; Chapters 3.3-3.7, 4-6)
Oct. 29		7.2:  Acid-base reactions, oxidation reduction reactions
Nov. 1	Q9	7.3-7.4:  Reaction stoichiometry, reaction yields
Nov. 3		7.5:  Quantitative chemical analysis
Nov. 5		8.1:  Gas pressure
Nov. 8	Q10	8.2:  Relating pressure, volume, amount, and temperature: the ideal gas law
Nov. 10		8.3:  Stoichiometry of gaseous substances, mixtures, and reactions
Nov. 12		8.4:  Effusion and diffusion of gases, kinetic-molecular theory
Nov. 15	Q11	10.1:  Intermolecular forces
Nov. 17		10.2, 10.4:  Properties of liquids, phase transitions, phase diagrams
Nov. 19		10.5:  The solid state of matter
Nov. 29	Q12	11.1-11.3:  The dissolution process, electrolytes, solubility
Dec. 1		11.3:  Solutions of: gases in liquids, liquids in liquids, solids in liquids
Dec. 3		11.4:  Mole fraction & molality, vapor pressure lowering, distillation, boiling pt. elevation
Dec. 6	Q13	11.4:  Freezing pt. depression, solution phase diagram, osmotic pressure, electrolytes
Dec. 8		Review Session #3
Dec. 9		Exam #3 (noon to 4:00 in Sci 100;  Chapters 7-8, 10-11)
Dec. 10		Final exam review & wrap up
Dec. 16		Final exam (Friday, December 16, 9-11 pm in Sci 159, cumulative & multiple choice)

 

 

 

Possible Special Lectures:      Environmental Success Stories

 

 

FINAL EXAM:  Friday, Dec. 16, 9:00-11:00 a.m. in our classroom SCI 159

This will be a two-hour COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIPLE-CHOICE FINAL EXAM.  The final exam has been scheduled by the registrar.  The schedule is published well in advance of the final and I cannot change this.  Therefore it is your responsibility to make travel plan accordingly as there are strict limitations set by the College on exceptions to the final exam schedule. 

 

Lectures:  I use a mix of PowerPoint and chalk board work.  PowerPoint lecture material will be posted on our Canvas site.  Bring your computer to class, view them, and take notes by slide number on another piece of paper.  As students ask questions, we will go off on tangents from the main subject, and these tangential subjects will be covered on the exams.  If poor attendance becomes a problem, I will start giving pop quizzes (in addition to the Monday quizzes). 

 

Weekly Tutoring Session:  There will student-led tutoring sessions on Sunday through Thursday; I will notify you of this schedule.  The location will be the table area by Jon Collin’s office (224) on second floor (by the bathrooms).  This will not be a lecture.   It is designed to give you an unlimited opportunity to ask questions, but you must come with specific problems to work.

 

Office Hours:  As needed, by appointment.

 

Attendance:  Prompt attendance is expected at every class meeting.  NO CELL PHONES! 

 

Missed Assignments:  There will be no make-ups for missed homework, quizzes, and exams.  There are limited excuses for missed exams; these are scheduled well in advance and class and work conflicts will be handled on an individual basis.  In place of having constant excused absences to deal with, I will give you a pass for three homework and quiz assignments at the end of the semester.  Athletes may make arrangements if they must be away, but only if (1) this is done well in advance, (2) the absence is due to a game, not a practice, and finally (3) any make-up requires my pre-approval. 

 

Quizzes:  Most weekends, there will be a 5-10 minute online quiz covering one or two concepts or problems from the previous week’s material.  The purpose of these quizzes is not to overburden you will studying, but to let me know if I am clearly covering the material and if you are understanding the material (on a weekly basis).  These quizzes will also let you know what I think is important and give you an idea of what type of questions will be on the hourly and final exams.  In the past, students have commented that these weekly quizzes are one of the best ways to keep up with the material. 

 

Homework:  The Chemistry department will be using the Aktiv computer homework package.  This offers an automatic graded homework that you will use on-line.  Homework will constitute ~10 percent of your grade.  Short assignments will be generally be posted immediately after each class and will be due at the beginning of the next class (with the possible exception of Fridays when you will have a quiz over the weekend).

 

Grievance Policy and Religious Holidays:

Here is a link to the college’s grievance policy in case we have any disagreement.  Here is a link to that law: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28B.137  and the relevant passages are pasted below.

 

“In accordance with the College’s Religious Accommodations Policy, I will provide reasonable accommodations for all students who, because of religious observances, may have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments, or required attendance in class. Please review the course schedule at the beginning of the semester to determine any such potential conflicts and let me know by the end of the second week of class about your need for religious accommodations.  While I am happy to provide such accommodations, I understand that asking a faculty member for assistance can be intimidating; if that’s the case, you can contact your academic advisor or Adam Kirtley, Whitman’s Interfaith Chaplain, for support in making this request. If you believe that I have failed to abide by this policy, here is a link to the Grievance Policy, Grievance Policy | Whitman College  where you can pursue this matter.”

 

COW (chemist or chemical of the week):  From time to time you will have a short Internet assignment to report on a chemical or chemist of interest to our course.

 

 

 

Overall Grading:  Grades will be based on the following basis:

 

The grade scale to the right is tentative and I reserve the right to adjust final grades up if the median is lower than a B-. Your grade will be calculated based on:

• 10% of your Homework average score
• 10% COW (Chemist/Chemical Of the Week)

• 10% of your Quiz average score       
• 70% of your Exam average score (1, 2, 3 & Final)        

Your homework is a low-risk practice opportunity that contributes to your overall grade. However, in order to make it low risk, it is a small percent of your final grade (10%) and you are allowed 3 tries to get each answer correct—but you will lose points for wrong answers. In contrast, the COW assessments, quizzes (5-10 minutes in class) & exams (on paper; plan for ~2 hrs), are designed to evaluate how well you can apply the content and skills to new situations—the assessment problems will NOT be exactly the same as the homework problems, but you will use the same problem-solving skills you practiced in the homework.

 

Academic Integrity/Honesty Policy:  A very clear policy is given in your student handbook.  I adhere to the College's policy of Academic Honesty, which you have or will sign in the present of your advisor.  This means that cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty, as defined in the policy, will not be permitted in this class and that the penalties stated in the policy will apply.  Cheating of any type (on quizzes or exams, conducting dry labs, or when the lab reports of two students are too similar) will guarantee you a trip to the Dean's office and depending on the severity of the offense, an “F” in the class and expulsion from college.

 

Exam Schedule:  It is difficult to fairly evaluate your knowledge of the material in an hourly exam.  Remembering back to my college years, I always hated timed exams since they add an unneeded (and unwanted) element of pressure.  Exams can be taken from 12:00 to 4:00 on selected Friday afternoons (given in the daily schedule above).  They will consist of discussion, short answer, true/false, and mathematical problems.  Exams will be prepared as a one-hour test (if you perfectly understand the material), but you may have the complete four-hour period.  It usually takes me 20 minutes to perfectly work an exam. IN CASES OF OFF CAMPUS TRIPS (THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE), EXAMS MUST BE TAKEN PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED EXAM TIME.  Exams will be closed book, closed cell phone, closed neighbor, closed Internet, closed iPod, and closed notes.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU TO MISS ANOTHER CLASS TO TAKE MY EXAM. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL LOSE 20% ON YOUR EXAM GRADE WHEN I HEAR FROM THE PROFESSOR, AND LIKELY EARN AN “F” FOR THAT DAY’S PARTICIPATE IN THE MISSED CLASS.

 

Keys to Earning A Good Grade:

-           use multiple forms of learning as discussed in class

-           come to every class

-           read the textbook before coming to class

-           work the suggested homework problems in the text

-           come to the tutors (or me) for help when you do not understand something