NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: CHEM 1411 General Chemistry I

Course prefix, number, and section number:  CHEM 1411.0500

Semester/Year of course:  Fall 2023

Semester start and end dates: 8/28/23-12/16/23

Modality:Face to face/Synchronous

Class meeting location, days, and times: Mon and Wed 9:30 FM-MSU 227

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Mon 11:00 FM-MSU 213

Semester credit hours: 4

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.

Course prerequisites: Math 1314 (College Algebra)

Required course materials: Chemistry, A Molecular Approach, by Nivaldo J. Tro, 6th edition, Pearson Education, Inc. (either hard copy or e-book:  MasteringChemistry online access code; carbonless copy lab notebook.

Required supplies:  Notebook paper, pens, #2 pencils and eraser, and a scientific calculator.  (TI 30X IIS recommended; TI 84 Plus is great, but a graphing calculator is not necessary.)

Name of instructor: R. Jill Willi

Office location: Flower Mound-MSU Building 222

Telephone number:972-899-8353

E-mail address:jwilli@nctc.edu         

Office hours for students: M 9am-9:30, 12:00-2:00pm; T 9am-9:30, W 9am-9:30, R 9am-9:30, 12pm-2:00.

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:

4           Graded Exams

1           Final Exam

~14       Lab Grades

~10       Classwork, Homework & Quizzes

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

80% Lecture Grade and 20% Lab Grade. 

The lecture grade (80%) will consist of:

Four exams = 40%

Final exam = 25 %

Classwork, Homework and Quizzes = 15%. 

Late work policy: reduced credit for late work before graded assignments are handed back; no extra credit in this course

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.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

•           Honesty in completing assignments is essential.  Cheating, plagiarism, or any other kind of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate sanctions that may include failing an assignment or exam, failing the class, or suspension or expulsion.  A report WILL be filed with the college.

•           If cheating or collusion is suspected, a conference between the suspected parties, the instructor, and the appropriate dean will be scheduled and notation made in the student’s file.

AI Writing and Acceptable Use: Submitting work generated by ChatGPT or any other AI language tool on assignments is considered academic dishonesty, even if cited as a source.  Instructors use AI detectors to enforce this policy.  The writing assignments in this course require generating new knowledge, rather than just recombining existing information.  AI does not generate original research, and the information may contain factual errors. 

AI may be used in brainstorming, or developing a research question.  Generally speaking, students are not authorized to use artificial intelligence and related products like large language model applications to produce work for this class EXCEPT on assignments that the instructor has identified and for which the student will have received significant guidance on the appropriate use of such technologies.  Students should not, however, construe this limited use as permission to use these technologies in any other facet of their coursework. Students who submit AI generated content as original work will be subject to the same disciplinary actions listed above in the college's academic integrity policy.

Attendance Policy: Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.  It is your responsibility to sign in.  If you do not sign in, you will be counted absent.  You are expected to attend class regularly and punctually.  Students who are tardy or absent in chemistry class usually find it very difficult to keep up.  Do not fall behind.   If you miss class, it is your responsibility to catch up.

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:  Nov 6, 2023.

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

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

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