Tentative!!! Principles of Chemistry I – CHY 113K

Syllabus for Fall 2011



Instructor: Lucille Benedict                               

Class Day/Time: M & W 8:45 am -10:00 am                                    

Location: Sci. Building, Rm. 165                                        

Office Hours: M & Th  10:00 – 11:30

E-Mail: lbenedict@usm.maine.edu                     



Course Description:

A presentation of fundamental principles of chemical science. These principles will be presented in quantitative terms and illustrated by examples of their applications in laboratories and in ordinary non-laboratory experience. This course and CHY 114 (normally taken concurrently) provide the basis for further study of chemistry. Prerequisite: satisfaction of USM math minimum proficiency requirements.



Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course you should be able to...

  1. •Describe basic chemistry concepts, and utilize these concepts to draw conclusions and problem solve basic chemical problems.

  2. •Use quantitative and qualitative scientific reasoning to understand and discuss current scientific issues and advances.

  3. •Understand chemical properties, and apply this knowledge to determine the properties of specific molecules.

  4. •Appreciate the applicability of chemistry to your major and your everyday life.



Course Requirements:

Required

  1. •Book- Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity, 8th Edition by Kotz, Treichel and Townsend (ISBN-13: 978-1-133-35871-8)

    (The USM bookstore has a great package deal on the text, OWL, the two highly recommended       books below)

  1. •Subscription to OWL (online web learning, http://www.cengage.com/owl/)

  2. •Calculator that adds, subtracts, multiplies, divides and does calculations using exponents will be necessary for the course.


Highly Recommended

  1. • Essential Algebra for Chemistry Students, by David W. Ball (ISBN-13:978-0-495-01327-3)

  2. • Survival Guide for General Chemistry, 2d Edition by Charles H. Atwood (ISBN-13: 978-0-495-38751-0)

  3. • Molecular Models (PacSci Student Molecular Model Set, available at www.target.com or www.amazon.com)


Assessment of Performance

Collaborative Class Notes

As a class you will be creating a set of notes that will provide you with another tool to use for studying. Your contributions to these notes will be graded and count towards your course grade. These notes will be created using google documents. You can gain access to the google documents through your university e-mail.  For more information on using google documents see this helpful website.



Online Homework

Weekly homework assignments will be given throughout the semester using the OWL homework program. For information on how to sign up for OWL visit the registration and log in page.

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Examinations

There will be four exams, three in class exams and a final. Make ups are only allowed if you have contacted the instructor BEFORE the exam, and must be taken before the next class meeting. For all exams (including the final) you will be allowed to have a “cheat sheet.” One 8 x 11” piece of paper with as much as you can fit on it. Each cheat sheet will need to be handed in with your exam.



Grading

  1. • Collaborative Notes and Class Assignments (~10%) – 60 points

  2. • Homework (~20%) – 120 points (10 points each)

  3. • Exams (~50%) – 300 points (100 points each)

  4. • Final Exam (~20%) – 120 points


Hint: to calculate your grade add up all of the points you have received so far and divide by the total number of points you could have gotten (600) and multiply by 100%.



Additional Help

Office hours will be on Mondays and Wednesdays, I will also be available via blackboard collaborate (http://tinyurl.com/EL-LB-guestjoin) during these times. Please feel free to stop by my office any other time if the door is open, call my office, or e-mail if you have questions. Tutoring may be available for this course; see me for more information.



Students with Disabilities

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please inform me during the first week of the semester, after consulting with the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities, 237 Luther Bonney (780-4706).  For problems with writing or study skills, make an appointment at the Learning Center, 253 Luther Bonney (780-4228) or the Counseling Center, 106 Payson Smith (780-4050).



Academic Integrity

All students are expected to follow the academic integrity policies that have been implemented by the University. If you need to review the policy you can visit the website for the Office of Community Standards (http://www.usm.maine.edu/ocs/).