NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: General Chemistry I

Course prefix, number, and section number: CHEM 1411.0403

Semester/Year of course: Fall 2024

Semester start and end dates: August 26, 2024 – December 14, 2024

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

Class meeting location, days, and times: Tuesdays 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm in COR Room 364

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Tuesdays 2:00 – 4:30 pm in COR Room 363

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

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:

Registration in this course gives you access to the eBook Chemistry:  A Molecular Approach 6^th Edition by Nivaldo J. Tro with Access Pearson/MyLab and Mastering.  You do not need to purchase a separate textbook or access code.  We are participating in the Inclusive Access Program where the materials are available in Canvas on the first day of class. Students are charged a discounted price for the required materials through their account after enrolling in a course using Inclusive Access textbooks. The cost for these materials will be billed directly to your student account. Information on how to access the materials or opt-out of the program will be provided to you via email. You will receive an email with additional information prior to the start of the semester at the student email address (.edu domain) that is issued by the College/University. If you wish to opt out of the Inclusive Access materials you may do so through the link in your canvas course or you can contact the bookstore at nctc@bibliu.com. You must be opted out before the "Last Day to Drop (without grade of W)" noted on the academic calendar. If you opt-out, you will be responsible for purchasing course materials on your own at the higher opt-out price.

Details on how to access your courses materials are located in your Canvas course.

Scientific calculator (You do NOT need a graphing calculator.)

Computer access with reliable Internet access to complete online homework

Name of instructor: Amy Whiting

Office location: Corinth Room 334

Telephone number: 940-498-6213

E-mail address: awhiting@nctc.edu

Office hours for students:

Monday (on campus) 10:00 am – 11:00 am; 3:00 – 3:30 pm

Tuesday (on campus) 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Wednesday (on campus) 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Thursday (virtual) 1:30 – 3:30 pm 

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 in Canvas.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments:  4 Major Exams                         40%

                                                Lab Reports                             20%

                                                Homework and Quizzes          20%

                                                Final Exam                               20%

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

Late work policy:  Assignments are expected to be turned in on the due date as stated on Canvas or in class. A period of two days will be permitted to accept late work, with penalty, for homework, in class assignments, quizzes and lab reports. After that time, no late work will be accepted nor credit given for.

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 makeup 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 20% of the final course grade.

While there may be instances when being late is unavoidable, no over-time can or will be permitted for test-taking.

Extra credit is not given, nor should be expected, for 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. 

Honesty in completing assignments is essential.  Cheating, plagiarism, or any other kind of academic dishonesty on any assignment 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. Consequences for academic dishonesty include that a grade of zero (“0”) on any assignment that might otherwise be eligible to be dropped (lowest lab or homework grade, etc) shall forfeit the right to said privilege. The zero shall stand and will count as part of the grade calculation. This includes an exam grade or final exam grade as well.

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.

Artificial Intelligence Policy: This course assumes that all work submitted by students will be generated by the students themselves, working individually or in groups. Students should not have another person/entity do the writing of any substantive portion of an assignment for them, which includes hiring a person or a company to write assignments and using artificial intelligence tools.

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 illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the 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.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.

Class Attendance:  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.  Students 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. If a student misses a class, they should contact the instructor to find out what material or assignments were missed.

Excessive absences may result in a student being dropped from the course with no credit awarded. Excessive absences will be defined as more than 2 consecutive weeks or 12 hours of class time. A student who enrolls in this course and fails to attend must drop the course to avoid receiving an “F”.  Students may or may not be dropped automatically.

A student must pass the lab component of the course to receive a passing grade (D or higher) in the overall course. Passing is defined as average of 70 or better.

The instructor also retains the right to dismiss any student who exhibits verbal or nonverbal behavior that is distracting or disruptive to the learning environment.

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: November 4, 2024

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 and chemical instrumentation.
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

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.

AI STATEMENT

Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.

When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.

Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

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

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