Chemistry 100 (Sect. 2063) Schedule - Summer 2001
Dr. Donald Robertson (DONinLA@pacbell.net)
Office Hours: MW 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. OC4502
Lecture: MTWTh 10:05 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. OC4526; Lab: TTh 1:00-4:50 p.m. OC4501

Text: Chemistry (7th Edition) - Karen C. Timberlake
Lab Manual: Foundations of Chemistry in the Laboratory (10th Edition) - Hein, Best, Miner, Peisen

Miscellaneous Information:

Special Needs: A student with a verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations. Contact one of the following: Your instructor; Disabled Students Program and Services (Loretta Bohl, ext. 6658 at the Oceanside campus, or Dean Marty Spring, ext. 7888 at tje San Elijo campus); or the Office of the ADA Coordinator (Carol Rodriguez at ext. 6866). Some lead time will be necessary, so please make arrangements as early as possible.

Chemistry 100 is the first semester general chemistry course for science majors. It introduces the fields of physical, organic and inorganic chemistry. Topics to be discussed include atomic structure, chemical bonding, common types of reactions, stoichiometry, thermochemistry and the properties of gases, solids and liquids. The objective of this class is to provide a theoretical and mathematical treatment of fundamental relationships in chemistry. Students will reinforce problem solving skills. Lab work consists of a variety of qualitative and quantitative experiments. The two-semester sequence of General Chemistry provides the background needed for further study in chemistry, biochemistry, biology and engineering.

Homework Problems: Assigned problems from the end of each chapter of the text should be solved. You don't need to solve all problems, but you should solve at least some for each section to obtain an understanding of the concepts. Homework is not graded but you are given credit for handing it in on time. Homework is due the lecture period after the lecture for the chapter is completed. Homework handed in late will receive no credit.

Lab Attendence: Chemistry is an experimental science, and lab attendence is mandatory. The laboratory section must be passed in order to pass the course. If you miss two or more labs, you are subject to dismissal from the class. Each lab experiment has a lab report that must be handed in for credit. You should fill in the lab reports as the experiments are being performed in the lab. Do not take notes and then transfer data to your report later. Lab Reports are due the next week at the beginning of the next lab period. Lab reports turned in after the beginning of the next lab period will be deducted 10%, if turned in that day. Lab reports turned in after this date will be deducted 50% as a late penalty, but lab reports cannot be turned in for credit later than one week after it was originally due (that is, two weeks after the lab was completed). Format for Lab Notebook and Lab Reports is online.

Additional Lab Information:

1. Chemical splash goggles must be worn by all students whenever anyone in the lab is working with chemicals. A limited supply of these is available in the lab room, but there are not enough to go around. If you don’t have goggles with you and cannot borrow a pair you have two options–go to the bookstore and buy a pair or don’t do the lab that day.
2. All students must sign a copy of the Lab Safety Rules before being allowed to work in the lab.
3. Come to lab prepared with chemical splash goggles, lab book (or handout), pen or pencil and calculator. Lab experiments must be read and understood before you come to lab.
4. Any Prelaboratory Questions must be solved prior to coming to lab.
5. You will often work with another person, who will be your lab partner. Experiments that are done in pairs will be done with that person. Some experiments may be done solo.
6. There will be no makeup labs. If you miss one lab, it will be the one dropped. If you miss more than one lab, you will forfeit the points.
7. Students who are absent for more than two lab periods any time during the semester may be dropped from the course or be assigned a failing grade.
8. During the lab you will fill out data and observations on the report sheets included with the experiment. Your data and observation sheets must be checked by the instructor and stamped before you leave lab for the day.
9. Each week’s lab and lab report is worth a total of fifty points. The minimum score for collecting and recording the data but not doing the rest of the lab report is twenty points. You are also graded on your lab notebook.
   
   • Lab reports are turned in on the report sheets included with each experiment. They may be done in pencil or pen. Please show your calculations, with units, to get full credit.
   • Lab reports will usually be due at the next lab meeting following the experiment.
   • You cannot write your lab reports with your lab partner. You must show the data that you personally collected. Do not share your actual data and observations with anyone other than your lab partner, unless you also want to share (split) your score. Both the sharer and the sharee will be penalized.
   • Write your lab partner’s name under yours on the report. Your partner is the person with whom you actually performed the experiment that day.
   • Some of the experiments include postlab questions. Please answer these and turn them in with your report. They will be worth ten points.
   • Most points on lab reports are lost as a result of missing or incomplete information. Check over your report before you turn it in to make sure that it is complete.
   • Late reports will be accepted up to one week after the experiment was due, with a penalty of 50%. No late reports will be accepted for the last lab.

Cheating: You are expected to abide by the MiraCosta College Honor Code. Cheating includes the copying or exchanging of information during exams or quizzes or plagiarism (copying another's work and turning it in as your own). If you are caught cheating you will be removed from class, disciplined by the Dean of Students and you may fail the course.

COURSE GRADING POLICY:

Exams (425 pts): Four exams will be given, but only three of these exams will be counted towards your final grade. If you miss an exam, that will be the exam you drop.  Missed exams cannot be made up or taken at a different time (a missed exam due to medical emergency, or other legitimate causes, may be made up at the discretion of Dr. Robertson).  If you believe the exam is missed for a legitimate reason, please contact Dr. Robertson before the exam. Dr. Robertson will be the only judge of whether the exam can be made up. Exams will include material covered in lecture. There may be times when a specific question was not covered in class, but if you learn to apply what you know from lecture, the application of this knowledge to these questions will allow you to answer these questions. If you have concerns about exam grades, please return it to me and I may regrade it, but I have the option to regrade the entire exam.

Quizzes (100 pts): Quizzes will be given during the first part of lab, when exams are not scheduled.  Quizzes may be unannounced.  Quizzes will cover material mostly from the previous lecture, although any previously covered material may be included.  Quizzes are used to assess your understanding of the material and to help you prepare you for regularly scheduled exams. Missed quizzes cannot be taken late or made up. One quiz will be dropped, and this will be the lowest score, or a missed quiz.  You will get credit for one quiz (50 points) when you send me your E-mail address, so that I can communicate with you during the semester.  The Safety Quiz, given during the first lab period, will also be counted.

Homework (25 pts): Homework problems are not graded, but you are given credit for handing homeowork in on time. Homework is due the lecture period after the lecture for the chapter was completed. Homework handed in late will receive no credit.

Lab (250 pts): You must pass the lab in order to pass the course. Your lab grade will depend on your preparedness, technique, safety, lab notebook and your written reports, including any assigned problems. You can drop one lab. Since labs cannot be made up, a missed lab will be the one dropped. If you miss other labs, you will forfeit the points for that lab. Lab reports, including lab exercises, are worth 150 points.  There will be a lab exam, based on the experiments we did during the semester, worth 100 points. You will also be graded on how you do the experiments, your preparation, and you laboratory demeanor.

Final Exam (200 pts): A comprehensive final exam covering all lecture material must be taken to pass course.

Final Grade: Your final course grade will be based on the weighting described above.  Letter grades will be assigned as shown:

A 90% B 80% C 70% D 60% F <60%

Preparation and Study Time Required: Depending on your background, how easily you grasp the material and how effectively you listen, take notes, and study, the time you will need to spend outside the class will vary. A good estimate is at least 1-2 hours outside studying for each hour in lecture. The amount of time you need to spend depends upon how well you use your time, and your preparation. If you are struggling, you probably need to study more. I look forward to teaching you. I hope you enjoy learning chemistry. I'll be glad to discuss concerns or suggestions regarding this class or related topics. I encourage you to set goals for yourself, stay current in the class. Read the chapter prior to lecture.

Attendence and Drops:  It is your responsibility to drop the class if you do not wish to continue enrollment.  If you do not officially drop the class, but just stop attending, you will receive an "F" when grades are turned in.

Office Hours: I will hold office hours from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday (immediately after lecture) in OC4502.  Please feel welcome to come in if you have questions about the class lecture, laboratory, anything related to chemistry or just to chat for a while.  I will be available at other times, but you will need to make an appointment. 

Online Course Information: Important class information, including grades, review information, sample quizzes and exams, and other useful chemical information is online at http://home.pacbell.net/doninla .  If you forget this URL, you can go to my web pages from the MCC Chemistry Homepage.  You can E-mail me at: DONinLA@pacbell.net  

You will get credit for one quiz (50 points) when you send me your E-mail address, so that I can communicate with you during the semester.

Thanks for being in the class.