NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title:  General Chemistry I

Course prefix, number, and section number:  CHEM 1411 0100

Semester/Year of course: Fall 2022

Semester start and end dates:  8/22/22 – 12/10/22

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid):  Hybrid

Class meeting location, days, and times:  GNV 410 - Tuesday 9:30 am – 10:50 am

Lab meeting location, days, and times: GNV 404 - Thursday 9:30 am – 12 pm

Semester credit hours: 4 (48 hrs. lab, 48 hrs. lecture)

Course description: Fundamental principles of chemistry for majors in the sciences, health sciences, and engineering; topics include measurements, fundamental properties of matter, states of matter, chemical reactions, chemical stoichiometry, periodicity of elemental properties, atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, solutions, properties of gases, and an introduction to thermodynamics and descriptive chemistry.

Basic laboratory experiments supporting theoretical principles presented in lecture; introduction of the scientific method, experimental design, data collection and analysis, and preparation of laboratory reports.

Course prerequisites: MATH 1314 College Algebra

Required course materials:  Modified Mastering Chemistry Access Code for Chemistry: A Molecular Approach and access to the textbook. The access code for Modified Mastering is required and must be purchased by the student by the end of the first week of classes.  This is available directly through the Canvas course.  The student may select to have an e-text or hard copy of the textbook.             Chemistry:  A Molecular Approach 6^th Edition by Nivaldo J. Tro

Student Lab Notebook – Carbonless sets – check with instructor before purchasing

Scientific calculator (recommended TI-30XIIS)

Computer with reliable internet access

Name of instructor: Jaime Noles

Office location: GNV 408

Telephone number:  940-668-7731 ext. 4930

E-mail address: jnoles@nctc.edu – Canvas Inbox is the best method of contact

Office hours for students:  Tuesdays 8:30 – 9:20 am, 1 – 2:30 pm, other times by appointment

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments:

             15%     Homework/quizzes (various/weekly – lowest 1 dropped)

             30%     Lab Grades (12-15 – lowest 1 dropped)

40%     Major Exams (4)

15%     Final Exam (1 comprehensive – required)

Final grade scale:  A = 90-100%      B = 80-89%     C = 70-79%      D = 60–69%    F = <60% 

Late work policy: 

Late work/make up work is NOT accepted for homework, quizzes, and lab grades.  In the event of a missed exam, the student must contact the instructor prior to 5pm the day of the exam in order to determine IF the absence is valid to the instructor and documentation can be provided, otherwise, your right to take the exam is forfeited. If it is determined that a student can make up the exam, it must be completed at the time determined by the instructor and within 2 days of the original exam or prior to the next lab/class period, whatever comes first. The exam may be in a different format from the original exam. No more than 1 exam can be made-up during the course.  If it is not possible to make up the exam, then a zero will be recorded. If you do poorly on an exam or miss an exam, your final exam grade can be used to replace your lowest (1) exam grade at the end of the semester.  The final exam cannot be dropped.  The final exam is a required exam that counts as 15% of the final course grade.

No Extra Credit is given.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy:

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  Consequences may include:

1)  The student will receive a failing grade (“0”) on the assignment. If the assignment is within a group in which the lowest assignment is dropped, the assignment will not be able to count as a dropped score. It will count as part of the grade.

2)  A “Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form” will be submitted regarding the incidence.

3)  Student may be dropped from the course with a failing grade (letter grade of “F”).

Attendance Policy:

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which

they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to sickness or emergencies which are approved by the instructor, or due to

participation in an approved college-sponsored activity (which requires written

approval from the appropriate Dean or Director).  The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reasons given for absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Students may be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been unjustifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course's objectives.  Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories may be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.  Students with absences of more than 9 contact hours may be dropped from the class.

This is a hybrid course and consists of both on-campus class/lab as well as online assignments and videos.  Students are required to attend on-campus class/lab and complete defined online weekly assignments.  Lab assignments will only be accepted for students that attended the lab in-person that week.  Students absent from lab, will receive a zero for the lab that week.  Students should attend class regularly to stay current on material and deadlines.  Always check Canvas before coming to class, in case of a change. 

The missed exam policy is covered above under “Late work policy”.

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: Monday, Oct. 31, 2022

Student Learning Outcomes:

Lecture Learning Outcomes

1.  Define the fundamental properties of matter.

2.  Classify matter, compounds, and chemical reactions. 

3.  Determine the basic nuclear and electronic structure of atoms.

4.  Identify trends in chemical and physical properties of the elements using the Periodic Table.

5.  Describe the bonding in and the shape of simple molecules and ions.

6.  Solve stoichiometric problems.

7.  Write chemical formulas.

8.  Write and balance equations.

9.  Use the rules of nomenclature to name chemical compounds.

10. Define the types and characteristics of chemical reactions.

11. Use the gas laws and basics of the Kinetic Molecular Theory to solve gas problems. 

12. Determine the role of energy in physical changes and chemical reactions.

13. Convert units of measure and demonstrate dimensional analysis skills. 

Lab Learning Outcomes

1)  Use basic apparatus and apply experimental methodologies used in the chemistry laboratory. 

2)  Demonstrate safe and proper handling of laboratory equipment and chemicals. 

3)  Conduct basic laboratory experiments with proper laboratory techniques. 

4)  Make careful and accurate experimental observations. 

5)  Relate physical observations and measurements to theoretical principles. 

6)  Interpret laboratory results and experimental data, and reach logical conclusions.

7)  Record experimental work completely and accurately in laboratory notebooks and communicate experimental results clearly in written reports. 

8)  Design fundamental experiments involving principles of chemistry. 

9)  Identify appropriate sources of information for conducting laboratory experiments involving principles of chemistry. 

Core Objectives:

Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, Empirical and Quantitative Analysis

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS