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Tennessee State University - General Chemistry I OER; CHEM 1110

Course Expectation and pathway to success.

Course Syllabus

Course Information

OER Based General Chemistry I
Spring 2022
Course Number: CHEM 1120-06
Course Name: General Chemistry I
Credit Hours: 3
Class Days: T/R, 11:10 – 12:35 am, Boswell xxx
Instructor: Insert your name 
Instructor's e-mail Address: youremail@tnstate.edu
Instructor's Office: Boswell xxx
Office Hours: M, W, (11:00 AM-12:00 PM; 1:00 PM-2:00 PM) in office and R (1:00 PM-2:00 PM) in room xxx 

Course Description:

A comprehensive study of chemical principles designed for students pursuing a career in chemistry or other scientific areas. Material to be covered includes introduction to metric system and scientific notation, structure of matter, nomenclature, composition and reaction stoichiometry, types of chemical reactions, atomic structure, chemical bonding, reactions in aqueous solutions, gases and kinetic molecular theory, and thermochemistry.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Describe the scientific method
  • Describe and fully classify matter
  • Use dimensional analysis techniques to solve various types of problems
  • Express measurements using the metric system
  • Perform stoichiometric and theoretical yield calculations
  • Describe chemical compounds in terms of their nature, composition, formulas, and systematic nomenclature
  • Write and balance chemical equations
  • Understand and describe the structure of the atom, both nuclear and electronic
  • Draw and describe the molecular structure and molecular shapes of covalent compounds
  • Describe the major classes of chemical reactions and predict their products
  • Describe the properties and behavior gases at the macroscale and molecular levels
  • Understand and describe the basic principles energy, heat, and thermochemistry
  • Describe the set-up of the periodic table of elements and predict various physical properties based on the periodic table
  • Describe solutions and calculate solution concentration
  • Describe and apply simple bonding theories

Prerequisites and Co-requisites:

High school chemistry or CHEM 1000 and two years of high school algebra or MATH 1010. Students without any previous chemistry course should consider taking CHEM 1000 before taking this course.

Course Topics:

  • Essential Ideas
    • Classify matter as an element, compound, homogeneous mixture, or heterogeneous mixture with regard to its physical state and composition
    • Perform basic unit calculations and conversions in the metric and other unit systems
    • Use dimensional analysis to carry out unit conversions for a given property and computations involving two or more properties
  • Atoms Molecules and Ions
    • State the postulates of Dalton’s atomic theory
    • Write and interpret symbols that depict the atomic number, mass number, and charge of an atom or ion
    • Explain the relation between mass, moles, and numbers of atoms or molecules and perform calculations deriving these quantities from one another
  • Electronic Structures and Periodic Properties of Elements
    • Use appropriate equations to calculate related light-wave properties such as period, frequency, wavelength, and energy
    • List and describe traits of the four quantum numbers that form the basis for completely specifying the state of an electron in an atom
    • Derive the predicted ground-state electron configurations of atoms
    • Determine formulas for simple ionic compounds
  • Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry
    • Derive names for common types of inorganic compounds using a systematic approach
    • Draw Lewis structures depicting the bonding in simple molecules
    • Predict the structures of small molecules using valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory
  • Advanced Theories of Bonding
    • Define and give examples of σ and π bonds
    • Determine the hybrid orbitals associated with various molecular geometries
  • Composition of Substances and Solutions
    • Calculate formula masses for covalent and ionic compounds
    • Determining empirical and molecular formula
    • Describe the fundamental properties of solutions
    • Calculate solution concentrations using molarity
    • Perform dilution calculations using the dilution equation
    • Define the concentration units of mass percentage, volume percentage, mass-volume percentage, parts-per-million, and parts-per-billion (ppb)
    • Perform computations relating a solution’s concentration and its components’ volumes and/or masses using these units
  • Stoichiometry of Chemical Reactions
    • Derive chemical equations from narrative descriptions of chemical reactions
    • Write and balance chemical equations in molecular, total ionic, and net ionic formats
    • Define three common types of chemical reactions (precipitation, acid-base, and oxidation-reduction)
    • Classify chemical reactions as one of these three types given appropriate descriptions or chemical equations
    • Identify common acids and bases
    • Predict the solubility of common inorganic compounds by using solubility rules
    • Compute the oxidation states for elements in compounds
    • Explain the concept of stoichiometry as it pertains to chemical reactions
    • Use balanced chemical equations to derive stoichiometric factors relating amounts of reactants and products
    • Perform stoichiometric calculations involving mass, moles, and solution molarity
    • Explain the concepts of theoretical yield and limiting reactants/reagents
    • Derive the theoretical yield for a reaction under specified conditions
    • Calculate the percent yield for a reaction
  • Gases
    • Define the property of pressure
    • Define and convert among the units of pressure measurements
    • Describe the operation of common tools for measuring gas pressure
    • Calculate pressure from manometer data
    • Identify the mathematical relationships between the various properties of gases
    • Use the ideal gas law, and related gas laws, to compute the values of various gas properties under specified conditions
    • Use the ideal gas law to compute gas densities and molar masses
    • Perform stoichiometric calculations involving gaseous substances
    • State Dalton’s law of partial pressures and use it in calculations involving gaseous mixtures
    • Define and explain effusion and diffusion
    • State Graham’s law and use it to compute relevant gas properties
    • State the postulates of the kinetic-molecular theory
    • Use this theory’s postulates to explain the gas laws
    • Describe the physical factors that lead to deviations from ideal gas behavior
    • Explain how these factors are represented in the van der Waals equation
  • Thermochemistry
    • Define energy, distinguish types of energy, and describe the nature of energy changes that accompany chemical and physical changes
    • Distinguish the related properties of heat, thermal energy, and temperature
    • Define and distinguish specific heat and heat capacity, and describe the physical implications of both
    • Perform calculations involving heat, specific heat, and temperature change
    • Explain the technique of calorimetry
    • Calculate and interpret heat and related properties using typical calorimetry data
    • State the first law of thermodynamics
    • Define enthalpy and explain its classification as a state function
    • Write and balance thermochemical equations
    • Calculate enthalpy changes for various chemical reactions
    • Explain Hess’s law and use it to compute reaction enthalpies
    • Describe the energetics of covalent and ionic bond formation and breakage
    • Use average covalent bond energies to estimate enthalpies of reaction

Specific Course Requirements:

Computer/mobile device with internet connection to use in classroom is necessary. A basic scientific calculator is necessary for this class.

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks and Ancillaries:

Good news! The textbook for this class is available for free online! If you prefer, you can also get a print version at a very low cost.

Your book is available in web view and PDF for free. You can also choose to purchase on iBooks or get a print version via the campus bookstore or from OpenStax on Amazon.com.

You can use whichever format you wish. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device. If you buy on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on openstax.org so you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.)  

Textbook Title: Chemistry: Atoms First from OpenStax 

Edition #: 2nd 

Author(s): Paul Flowers, Klaus Theopold, Richard Langley, Edward J. Neth, andn William R. Robinson

Publisher: OpenStax

Year: 2019

ISBN-10: 1-947172-63-8 

ISBN-13: 978-1-947172-63-0 

https://openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-atoms-first-2e (Book is embedded in this course shell) . 

Ancillary Materials:

Homework: available for free online! ChemVantage All assignments will accessible in elearn, however, you can practice anytime online.

Common applications you might need:

  • To read a PDF file download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

Web Resources:

Student Resources:

  • Technical support information can be found at the TSU Help Desk.
  • Virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. To access virtual tutoring, visit TutorMe.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located at TSU Student Resources.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information.

A student can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours of a student's email to the instructor unless notified of extenuating circumstances such as instructor illness.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading


Grading Procedures:

Letter grades for this course will be assigned based on the following scale.

Assigned Grade
% Range Assigned Grade
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
0-59 F

 

Graded Items

Description Points
3 One-Hour In-Class Exams  45%
Reading Check 15%
Full Chapter Homework Assignments 15%
Class Quizes  5%
Comprehensive Final Exam 20%
Total Points 100%

Assignments and Projects:

There will be reading assignment before each class. After reading the assigned topics you will take a quiz. These quizzes are graded and you will have three (3) attempts for each quiz. However, if for any reason should you need additional attempts, please ask your instructor. These are due before each class meeting. You are strongly encouraged to seek help on topics/problems that you found difficult or unclear. You can seek help in the classroom, by meeting your instructors in their office hours, or taking advantage of our tutoring center (see "Student Resources" above). During the class we will introduce a topic, discuss it and see its application in predicting properties using calculations. In other words, you will see and work on problems similar to ones that usually appear in test/quiz questions. There will be pop quizzes in class. After the class you will develop skills to complete homework assignments. These are longer assignments and you should continue working on it on a daily basis, after the class, when it is still fresh in your memory. Homework assignments will have strictly enforced due dates.

Before class activity: reading and taking the comprehension quiz
During class activity: interacting with the topics and problems that applies the concepts learned, pop quiz possible.
After class activity: Answer questions from the relevant homework assignment. 

There are three one-hour class tests, These are positioned at roughly every one third of the semester. These are based on the activity completed, before, during and after classes. This course does not have a formal midterm exam. Your midterm grade will be calculated by taking a percentage of the points you have earned relative to the points possible at that point in time. Your midterm grade should be viewed as a progress report. However, the final grade will be calculated based on the grade scheme shown above.

The course has a comprehensive final exam that will take place during the final exam week. Final exam is two (2) hour long, and it may be scheduled for a time slightly different than the class meeting time. You are responsible to make accommodation for the final exam. Your instructor will be able to let you know the exact date and time for the final exam once the final exam schedule for this semester is published by the university. You can also find it at: Final Exam Schedule (tnstate.edu) 

Class Participation:

Class participation is vital for a subject like chemistry. At any point, if you feel lost/hopeless, you must meet your instructor and frankly discuss your difficulty. The sooner and the more detail you can discuss, more effective help you will receive. Remember, it is all in the mindset. We here believe in "Growth Mindset". It simply means, everybody can learn, everybody can grow. We urge you to believe the same way.

Late Policy:

If you are late to class, you will miss important content. Because you are late, you will not even know what you missed. But no worries, you will notice, most students seem to have a clear idea about something and you do not. Now your job is to clarify this by reading book, seeing your instructor, or taking help from the tutoring center.

Course Ground Rules

1. Standards of Conduct: 

Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments, and actions.

2. Academic Integrity / Academic Honesty:

Academic honesty and integrity lie at the heart of any educational enterprise. Deliberate violations of academic honesty and integrity are not tolerated and are prohibited. Such violations include, but are not limited to, an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam, to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person, or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions, which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Actions outlined in the Tennessee State University Student Handbook under the Code of Student Conduct will be followed for incidents of academic misconduct.

3. Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course.
  • Communicate with other students.
  • Learn how to navigate in eLearn.
  • Keep abreast of course announcements.
  • Use the assigned course management (eLearn) e-mail address rather than a personal e-mail address.
  • Address technical problems immediately: Contact Technical Support.
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.
  • Access the Academic Calendar.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, HTML, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members.

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather than starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of others' ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in discussions.
  • Respond to discussion topics or questions in a thoughtful, helpful, timely, and thorough manner.

Library

The TSU Library is available to all students enrolled in Tennessee State University. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, inter-library loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments. 

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the The Office of Disability Services. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the Disability Services Office. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with the disability services office and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor. Eligible students will be given an accommodations letter and should provide their instructor with a copy of it.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) in a course announcement.