Chemistry 210 (Sect. 1230) Schedule - Fall 1999
Dr. Donald Robertson (DONinLA@pacbell.net)
Office Hours: TTh 10:00-12:00 OC4502
Lecture: MW 10:30-11:45 p.m. OC4809
Lab: MW 12:00-2:50 p.m. OC4505

Text: Organic Chemistry (4th Edition) - Seyhan Ege
Study Guide: Organic Chemistry (4th Edition) - Ege, Kleinman, Zitek
Lab: Experiments in Organic Chemistry - Jonathan S. Nimitz
Molecular Modeling Kit

Office Hours: I will hold office hours from 10:00-12:00 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in OC4502.  Please feel free 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 .  You can come in unannounced during my regular office hours.  

Homework Problems: You should solve most of the in text problems.  In addition, the problems listed below, from the end of each chapter, should be solved.  Use the study guide to check for accuracy. You don't need to solve all problems, but you should solve most of them, to understand the concepts better. Homework will not be graded, but you are given credit for handing it in on time.  Homework is due the lecture period after the last lecture for that chapter.  Homework handed in late will not receive credit.

Miscellaneous Information:

Chemistry 210 is the first semester of a two-semester organic chemistry course for science majors. Lab work consists of a variety of experiments designed to acquant you with standard organic chemistry procedures and reactions.  You are expected to read the assigned material prior to attending lecture.

Homework Problems: Problems from the end of each chapter should be solved. You don't need to solve all assigned 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 that chapter was 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).

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. Your highest three exams will be counted towards your final grade. If you miss an exam, it cannot be made up. The exam missed will automatically be the exam dropped.  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 weeks that no exam is scheduled and may be unannounced.  Missed quizzes cannot be taken late or made up.  At least one quiz will be dropped, and this will be the lowest score, or it will be your missed quiz.

Homework (25 pts): Homework is not graded, but will be given credit when handed in on time.

Lab (250 pts): Your lab grade will depend on your preparedness, technique, safety, lab notebook and your written reports, including any assigned problems. You must pass the lab in order to pass the course. There will also be a mid-term lab exam and there may be a final lab exam at the end of the semester.  Both exams will cover experiments and techniques peformed in the lab.  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.

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 according to the following percentages.

Percentages required for letter grade

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 I turn in the grades.

Online Course Information: Important class information, including grades, review information, sample quizzes and exams, and other useful chemical information can be viewed online at http://home.pacbell.net/doninla

You can E-mail me at: DONinLA@pacbell.net

Thanks for being in the class.