CHEM 1411-A2 Blinn College - Bryan Campus Fall 2009

Course Information Sheet

Course Description:

CHEM 1411 consists of the study of fundamental laws, theories and concepts of chemistry including quantitative relationships involving mass and energy, the structure and properties of matter and the chemical and physical changes it undergoes as well as the study of solutions. The laboratory component involves the application of the basic techniques and methods of chemical experimentation. Three class hours and four laboratory hours per week. Credit: Four (4) semester hours.

Prerequisites:

Two years of high school algebra with grades of "C" or better or concurrent enrollment in MATH 1314.

This course is a Core-Course in the 42-Hour Core of Blinn College. As such, students will develop proficiency in the appropriate Intellectual Competencies, Exemplary Educational Objectives, and Perspectives (www.blinn.edu/corecurriculum/)

Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes:

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

• Apply the methods and understand the meaning of chemistry
• Make use of scientific notation and understand the use of significant figures
• Identify chemical symbols, formulas, and balance chemical equations
• Name and identify inorganic compounds
• Distinguish between ionic and covalent compounds
• Predict the physical and chemical properties of the elements based upon the periodic table
• Calculate the number of moles or particles of a substance if given its mass or alternately calculate the mass of a substance if given the number of moles or particles present
• Describe the atom (Bohr and quantum models) and correlate the properties of an element based upon its electronic configuration
• Draw accurate Lewis structures for compounds
• Use Valence Bond, Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion, and Molecular Orbital Theories to describe the shape, properties, and polarities of compounds and ions.
• Balance oxidation-reduction (Redox) reactions
• Distinguish between Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and Lewis acids and bases
• Identify the strong acids and bases and predict the acidity or basicity of their salts
• Compare the properties of liquids, solids, and gases
• Describe how real gases differ in behavior from ideal gases
• Solve problems dealing with expansion or contraction of gases
• Identify intermolecular forces of attraction and correlate these with the physical properties of a substance
• Describe and distinguish between crystal types and crystal unit cell packing

In the laboratory the student should develop a working knowledge and be able to:

• Handle chemicals safely and dispose of them properly
• Locate and use MSDS sheets and understand the information they provide
• Use a Bunsen burner
• Determine densities, pH, and temperature (including specific heat) of materials
• Perform chemical reactions and interpret the results
• Determine the empirical and molecular formulas of compounds experimentally
• Perform acid/base and Redox titrations
• Identify unknown compounds based upon their chemical and physical observations

Required Textbooks and Supplies:

Lecture: Chemistry, 5 ^th Edition, by McMurray and Fay, Pearson/Prentiss Hall Publishing.
Simple scientific calculator. You cannot use your cell phone as your calculator in this course. The calculator cannot to be programmable nor can it have graphing capabilities (this includes the TI-83 and similar calculators). No calculators will be supplied during exams nor may you share a calculator during an exam.
Lab Manual: Chemistry 1411 Lab Manual, Cache House. Available at the Blinn bookstore.
Lab Eye Protection: You will need chemical safety goggles or impact resistant safety glasses with side shields for use in the laboratory. No goggles or safety glasses will be available to borrow should you forget your own.
Laboratory Notebook: The Official Laboratory Research Notebook , Jones and Bartlett, Publishing, any consecutively numbered (sets) carbonless copy notebook will work. It does need tear-out sheets. These are available in bookstores around the area.
Homework:Mastering Chemistry at www.masteringchemistry.com, Course ID MCCLEMENT09MW

You will also need to wear enclosed footwear (closed toed shoes). You will be dismissed from the laboratory if you fail to follow safety procedures, wear protective eye wear at all times, or wear sandals or other open toed footwear to lab. Missing a lab will result in a zero for the experiment (pre-lab questions will be graded if they had already been turned in) being performed that day. There are no make-up labs.

Lecture

During the semester you will be given five (5) exams during the class period and a Final Exam. There will also be homework assignments associated with each chapter covered. The completed homework sets are due before the exam covering those chapters. The laboratory will include 5 written lab quizzes. The homework assignments will be completed on Mastering Chemistry and your grade will be posted on eCampus. The exam dates listed on the schedule are tentative. Any changes in an exam date will be announced at least one (1) week prior to the exam and this information will be posted on eCampus. All exams are cumulative although the material covered since the last exam will be most heavily emphasized. The final is is cumulative, should you miss the final a grade of zero (0) will be awarded. The scheduled exams and Final will be in a multiple-choice format. You will need to bring a Scantron with you for these exams.We will cover chapters 1-10 and Chapter 18 this semester. This is the first semester of a two-semester course, skipping material is not an option.

Exams. Typically, there will be several versions of the exam being given so you will need to clearly mark the exam version and the exam number on your Scantron before you turn these in. The scheduled major exams may be short answer and or multiple-choice questions. No formula sheet will be provided. This means that you should be able to set up the formulas for all questions requiring calculations from memory. Practicing this will improve your exam performance. In general, the questions will either require you to recall information from the course, or will require you to calculate an answer. I will keep the exams and Scantrons -- you will be allowed to see your exam in my office, if you wish, after it is graded, but I will maintain custody of all test materials after the exam. The five major exams are worth 40% of your final grade.

The laboratory will have five (5) written quizzes. Each quiz will be worth 10 points for a total of 50 points or 5% of your final grade. These Lab Quizzes will involve theory and calculations associated with the lab that emphasize material covered in the lecture. You must know the formulas for the required calculations from memory.

CHEM 1411 has a common final. The Final Exam will be given on Saturday December 12 at 9:00 a.m. You have until the end of the semester to make certain that you have this day and time free. The Final Exam is comprehensive and is worth 20% of your final grade. Typically the final exam will have between 30 and 40 questions (typically between 30 and 40% of these questions will involve calculations). The final exam is not mandatory, if you miss the Final, you will be awarded a grade of zero for that exam. The final grade is based upon your percentage of the 1000 total points for the course. There is no make-up for the final exam. Showing up late, car trouble, forgetting, etc. are not excuses for missing the exam (a zero will be awarded).

The specific schedules for the Lecture and Exams, Laboratory Experiments, and Homework Assignments follow.

Lecture Schedule

Homework Schedule

Homework assignments will be posted on the Mastering Chemistry website. These will be completed online via Mastering Chemistry. Homework collection and grading will be handled by Mastering Chemistry. A code must be purchased in order to access this system. Further instructions are given at the web site: http://www.masteringchemistry.com. Homework will be graded on the following criteria:

The homework is worth 100 points or 10% of your grade in this course (equivalent to 1 letter grade). If you fail to submit your homework, you will receive a grade of zero for each chapter in that assignment. I need to know as soon as possible if you are having difficulty accessing Mastering Chemistry. You will receive a score for each Chapter Assignment. Your homework grade will be the average of these eleven (11) assignments. Your score on each section and the running average of your homework grades will be posted on eCampus This way you can assess your progress or lack thereof on the completion of your homework.

The Mastering Chemistry assignments follow the chapters in your text book. In the past there has been a very high correlation between exam grades. Therefore, the deadline for completing each group of chapters will be 6:00 a.m. the day of that particular exam. The table below is the list of current deadlines. Should an exam be moved, the deadlines would be adjusted accordingl.

Homework. There are Mastering Chemistry chapter assignments for each of the 11 chapters that will be covered. Mastering Chemistry is an interactive system, to receive full credit you will have to "demonstrate mastery" of a particular question set. There is no limit to your attempts. The questions are based upon those at the end of each chapter. The majority of questions which are chosen for these assignments are algorithmic. This means that the values and compounds change for the question. You do not get the same question again for a great many submissions and, even then, the actual values used may be changed. (While answering additional questions in that section may be good practice, you will not get credit for repeating the section or answering additional questions in a mastered section.) Plan to spend a significant amount of time on Mastering Chemistry (1 to 2 hours per night). Mastering Chemistry keeps track of your progress so you can work on the homework throughout the time (weeks) the assignment is active. Again, you cannot wait until the last minute to complete your Mastering Chemistry homework, you will run out of time. Mastering Chemistry records each visit you make to the program, so I will be able to monitor your usage of the system. Your points accumulated on your Mastering Chemistry assignment will be posted and kept updated on eCampus. You may choose to work on your homework as often as you wish/need (you will not have to re-answer previously completed sections). The homework must be submitted by the deadline listed above in order to receive credit. Your score for the homework component of your grade will be the average of the score achieven on each of the chapter assignments. Skipping a chapter will result in a grade of zero for that chapter. Failure to do the required homework will cost you one (1) letter grade.

This semester Mastering Chemistry has provided a set of questions that specifically re-enforce the material covered in each chapter. All of the computer labs at Blinn are available and should run Mastering Chemistry well. If you encounter any problem with any of the Computer Lab computers, let me know immediately so the lack of compatibility can be corrected.

I am available during office hours to assist you. I am happy to help you with any of Mastering Chemistry that you are having problems with. This does not mean that I will do all of your Mastering Chemistry homework for you (limit of 2 questions per day or class period). If you are having a problem with a few questions, I can assist, but I cannot work all of the problems with you.

Once again, each Mastering Chemistry section is open for several weeks. I will update your scores at least once a week so it will be quite evident what progress you are making. Waiting until the week (or days) before an exam and suddenly having computer or network problems or becoming ill are not an acceptable excuses for not being able to complete your homework assignment. If you have completed at least 75% of your homework before the weekend preceeding the exam, you may be granted an extension should problems arise. Again, any extension of deadline will be on a case by case determination (provided a substantial amount of work has already been completed on the assignment).

Bonus Points

There will be a very limited number of bonus points available this semester. These will be in association with the Texas A&M University Chemistry Open House. Volunteers are needed the evening of Friday, October 16 and the afternoon of Saturday, Octorber 17. Volunteers can earn up to 20 bonus points (10 points per session). Assistance is needed both days. Instructions for signing up for "work" will be available at those times.

Laboratory

The laboratory portion of the course will required you to collect data, make observations, do critical thinking, and report your results in writing. You will also be expected to be prepared for the experiment being performed that day. This means that you should have read the experiment, prepared your laboratory notebook for data entry, and have completed your Pre-Lab Questions. You are expected to be aware of all safety issues associated with the experiment to be performed. Finally, you are expected to be appropriatedly attired (covered from neck to knees) and have the safety glasses and enclosed footwear.

Tentative Laboratory Schedule

You will perform 12 experiments this semester. You will be graded on the Pre-Lab Questions (due at the start of the laboratory period), the experimental data sheet (due at the end of the laboratory period), the laboratory report and Post-Lab questions. The Report and Post-Lab questions are due on the date listed. The laboratory data sheet will also be used to assess attendance.

Because of space, time, and equipment considerations, you may work with a partner for the laboratory. In no case will you be allowed to work in a group consisting of more than 3 students.

You will be given five (5) Lab Quizzes (total 50 pts). These quizzes will be given on the same day as the Lecture Exam.

You will be performing 12 experiments this semester. If you miss a lab for any reason (illness, no eye protection, no shoes, etc.) OR if you are dismissed from the lab for removing your eye protection, a grade of zero will be awarded. THERE IS NO MAKE-UP FOR THE POINTS LOST FOR MISSING A LAB.

The laboratory component will make up 25% of your final grade. It is based upon your active participation in the laboratory activity. You should be prepared to run a laboratory experiment every day we meet in S226. Be aware that some days, I may choose to continue the lecture or to spend the laboratory time covering a problem set. A few of the experiments may be "dry labs" in which concepts and not experimental procedures are emphasized. Laboratory experiments and the reports for the experiments will be graded and will count towards a maximum of 240 pts of your final grade. These and the safety quiz (worth 10 pts) will be worth a maximum of 250 pts (25% of your final grade).

The laboratory schedule is outline above. The Pre-Lab Questions are due at the beginning of the laboratory period the date the experiment is listed and are worth a maximum of 5 pts. Any pre-lab questions turned in late, meaning after the beginning of the laboratory period, will be worth a maximum of 2 pts. Pre-lab questions turned in after that laboratory's posted report due date will receive a grade of zero (0). You will be graded on your reasoning and responses to the questions. Pre-lab questions typically deal with safety and some of the calculations you need for the experiment. The formulas and theory required to answer these questions are in the Discussion portion that precedes the Experimental Procedure in your lab manual.

Lab Data Sheets will be required for each "wet" lab. To receive credit for this, you must turn in the duplicate page BEFORE you leave lab that day . Each student must submit their own data sheet. Should you forget your laboratory notebook at home, you will be allowed to borrow the appropriate number of duplicated (consecutively numbered sheets from a friend in the lab). No notebook paper will be accepted for these data sheets. Without a data sheet, your lab report will not be graded. This copy of your data must be turned in before you leave the laboratory or you will not receive credit for attending that laboratory. The original (top sheet) of your data is to be used to complete your lab report and must be turned in with your report. If you are absent from lab (regardless of excuse) or forget to turn this in prior to leaving the lab, you will receive a grade of zero (0) for that Lab Data. Each student is required to turn in a copy of the data. The raw data on this form must match the data on your on the original (top page) turned in with your Laboratory Report. The copy of your data is worth 5 points. (A page turned with a name and no data receives a grade of ZERO.)

The Lab Data Sheet will also be used to establish your presence in the laboratory. For those days in which no additional data or data sheet is required, an alternate method will be used to document attendance (quiz or roll sheet). Again, NO DATA SHEET = 0 pts for the Data AND Report or potentially a loss of 15 points for that experiment.

Laboratory Reports and Post-Lab Questions are worth a total of 10 pts and are due on the date listed for that experiment (the combined score will be reported on eCampus). The lab report is worth a maximum of 5 pts of this total. The Post-Lab questions are also worth a maximum of 5 pts.

The data used on your Lab Report must match the data you turned in on your data sheet when you were in lab or a grade of zero (0) will be awarded for both the Report and Post-Lab Questions. You must show your work on the calculations involved in the use of this data. Simply copying down the 'raw data' you obtained in lab and then plugging in values for the data manipulations required without showing your work will result in a zero for the report. Also, nonsense equations or plugging in numbers that do not give the value you report will also receive a zero.

Post-lab questions are worth a maximum of 5 pts. Post-Lab questions will only be graded if you have successfully completed the report portion of the report. Post-Lab questions frequently require your response to "what would happen if some specific even happened as you were collecting your experimental data" and generally ask if your experimentally determined values would be high or low. An answer of "high," "low," or "no effect" will receive NO CREDIT unless a brief description of WHY is also given (use accepted sentence structure). Your reasoning as to WHY you gave the response must be given to receive any credit for the questions. Lab reports and post-lab questions that are turned in up to 1 week late will automatically lose 50% of the possible points. Lab reports more that one week late will receive a zero. [Illness, legal difficulties, etc. will be considered on an individual basis to extend this deadline for laboratory reports.] Each experiment is worth a total of 20 points.

Your grades will be posted immediately after the material is graded. Your graded Pre-Lab Questions, Lab Data Sheets, Lab Reports, and Post-Lab Questions will be returned to you as a single packet at the time of your exam. You may also come by my office to pick up your graded material once the grade appears on eCampus.

Lab reports are returned to you at the time of the Lecture Exam. Be aware, if I do no have a lab report from you before I return these experiments at the Lecture Exam, that grade automatically will become a zero. I will not accept a lab once I have returned graded labs to the class as a whole.

Grades and Grading

You are expected to use the computer to access eCampus and Mastering Chemistry for this course. All students at Blinn College have Internet access. Computers are available in the Learning Center and in the Open Computer Labs. Blinn will be providing students with a free e-mail account later this semester. I expect you to check eCampus and your e-mail for updates on changes in the class. The syllabus, Course Information Sheet, lecture notes, and homework assignments are available on course eCampus. You are responsible for all class material and any announcements that appear here. You are expected to visit eCampus or my Blinn webpage to access the notes, lecture PowerPoints, and homework assignments on a daily basis. If you are unfamiliar with eCampus, you may access it at https://ecampus.blinn.edu You logon to eCampus the same way you log onto BORIS. You will be able to check on your current standing in the course and your points to date by accessing this course (your section) on eCampus. I need to know immediately if you have difficulty accessing either eCampus or Mastering Chemistry.

Grading and Grading Policy. CHEM 1411 (4 hr credit) is divided into both lecture (3 hr) and laboratory (1 hr) components. For convenience, the course grade is based upon a 1000 pt scale. The lecture will count toward 75% of the final grade (750 pts) and the lab will make up 25% of the final course grade (250 pts). Your grades will be posted on eCampus so you will always know your standing in the course. I will also provide a section on eCampus entitled "How Do I Figure My Grade," this will be updated after each exam so that you will have a good idea of your current grade in the course.

Blinn Attendance Policy

The Blinn College Board of Trustees has enacted amandatory attendance policy which remains in effect for the Fall 2009 semester. All instructors at Blinn must strictly adhere to this attendance policy. Failure of a student to attend class can result in a student being administratively withdrawn from the course. Blinn College recognizes only two types of "excused" absences. Making up a missed exam or lab is allowed only in special situations. The general statement of the Attendance Policy follows.

Attendance.  THe College District believes that class attendance is essential for student success; therefore, students are required to promptly and regularly attend all their classes. Each class builds the foundation for subsequent class meetings. Without full participation and regular class attendance, students shall find themselves at a severe disadvantage for achieving success in college. Class participation shall constitute at least ten percent of the final course grade. It is the responsibility of each faculty member, in consultation with the division chair, to determining how participation is achieved in his or her class. Faculty will require students to regularly attend class and will keep a record of attendance form the first day of class and./or the first day the student's name appears on the roster through the final examinations. If a student has one week's work of absences during the semester, he/she will be sent an e-mail by the College requiring the student to contact his/her instructor and schedule a conference immediately to discuss his/her attendance issues. If the student subsequently accumulates a total of two weeks work of absences from that class, he/she will be administratively withdrawn from the class.

There are three forms of excused absences officially designated by Blinn College:  (1)  Observance of religious holy days:  The student should notify his/her instructor(s) not later than the 15th day of the semester concerning the specific date(s) that the student will be absent for any religious holy day(s); and (2)  Representing Blinn College at an official institutional function; and (3) official involvement in a high school activity for "dual credit" students. Other excuses will be considered and may be considered excusable at the instructor's discretion with verifiable documentation .  Missing lecture or lab or both (on the same day) will count as one absence.

In this class attendance will be taken by calling roll through the 12^th class day of the semester. After that time, attendance will be taken either by calling roll or by students signing an attendance roster. If you are not present when roll is called or when the attendance sheet is passed around (due to absence or tardiness) you will be counted as absent unless you come to me after class to check in. Be aware that simply showing up for the last portion of lecture will be considered to violate the attendance policy and will result in you being counted absent for that day. During the lab periods, the lab data sheet that is turned in after each lab will be used to assess attendance. For those days in which no data sheet is generated, an alternate method will be used to take attendance (quiz or roll sheet).

As additional clarification of the laboratory absence policy, students leaving the laboratory ("sneaking out") with out completing the experiment or attending complete lecture on those days that lecture continues in the laboratory will receive an unexcused absence (as well as a zero for that laboratory experiment).

If you miss class or lab, and you consider that this might be an excused absence, you will be required to fill out a form and provide documentation of your reasons. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE ABSENCE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY EXCUSED. Excuses will be evaluated on an individual basis.

New "W" Policy

The 2007 Session of the Senate of the State of Texas enacted a new W policy that will be followed by Higher Education within the State of Texas. This was signed into law and will be in effect beginning this fall. Briefly put, you are allowed a TOTAL of three (3) W's during your academic career. This is a cumulative total. Your W's accumulated to date will be tracked by all institutions you attend. After 6 W's all subsequent W's will be automatically entered as F's. (W's awarded this Fall will be the first ones counted, so prior W's will not count against you.) There is a list of exceptions when certain W's may be excused (most are not). Be aware of this. If you feel this semester (or any semester) is going to be particularly difficult, you need to seriously evaluate your situation and if necessary withdraw before W's come into effect (prior to 12th day of semester).

Make-up policy

The Blinn Attendance policy does affect making up missed graded assignments. At the discretion of the Instructor, you may be allowed to make-up missed material. The following policy for exams and, lab quizzes.

Make-up Exams and Lab Quizzes. If you miss an exam or the lab quiz, you may request a make-up. This does not mean that your request will be approved. To request a make-up for a missed exam or lab final you must follow this procedure:

• Notify me by e-mail (bclement@blinn.edu) or by eCampus that you have missed the exam. You must explain and provide documentation of why you missed the exam (form available on eCampus). This way there will be an electronic copy of your notification. (A scheduled doctor's appointment is NOT considered an excused absence.)
• You must notify me of your absence and provide this documentation within 2 days of your returning to class.
• IF your excuse is deemed to be valid and you have sufficient documentation, I will fill out the required form (your name, exam number, and instructions) and place a make-up exam for you at the Learning Center (room L258 in the Library Building). I will then e-mail you a reply that it is there and ready for you to take. This also generates an electronic copy of your notification.
• You will have 1 week in which to make-up this exam or Lab Quiz after it is placed in the Learning Center.
• Important!! The test will be removed from the learning center seven (7) days. If you have not taken the make-up by this time, a grade of zero will be awarded for that exam.

Make-up Labs.

There are no make-up laboratories. If you miss a laboratory or forget to turn in your data sheet, you will receive a grade of zero (in addition to be counted as absent that day). If you are removed from the lab for safety violation or not having eye protection or appropriate footwear, you will receive a zero for for the data and report portion of the experiment..

CHEM 1411 Common Final Exam.

The Final Exam for Chemistry 1411 (ALL SECTIONS) will be given Saturday, December 12, at the Blinn Campus Park Complex on the Bryan Campus. You have until December 12 to arrange for child care, rides, rehearsal dinners, reunions, etc. There is no make-up for the final. If you miss the final exam you will be awarded a grade of zero (exceptions will be only be made for those students who qualified for an Incomplete). Remember, your grade in the course is based upon 1000 points, missing the final exam will not lower the total points expected in this course.

Academic Dishonesty.

Blinn College does not tolerate cheating, plagiarism or other acts of dishonesty. Definitions of these acts and procedures for dealing with them are described in "Scholastic Dishonesty" in the Blinn College Student Handbook, copies of which are available at the information desk in the administration building.

The lecture room is crowded, therefore several versions of the exams will typically be given to cut down on the potential temptation of information transfer. Academic dishonesty during an exam or quiz will result in the test being confiscated and a grade of zero being awarded (with concurrent notification of this to your Academic Dean) a zero obtained this way on a quiz will not be dropped as a low score. Students caught either cheating themselves or assisting another student to cheat will also receive a zero on that exam and will also be prosecuted to the full extent of Blinn policy (see the Student Handbook).

Your data and your answers are expected to be your own on the Pre-Lab Questions, Lab Reports and Post-Lab Questions. If you use data other than that on the Lab Data Sheet or if the results you report do not match the data you collected, you will receive a grade of zero on the lab report.

SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY.

This is strongly emphasized. You will need some form of eye protection, safety goggles are strongly recommended. I will allow polycarbonate safety glasses provided you do not wear contact lenses. If you wear contacts, you are limited to GOGGLES ONLY. If you do not have your glasses/goggles with you when you come to the laboratory, you will NOT be allowed to peform the laboratory experiment. You are expected to put goggles or safety glasses on the moment you enter the lab and not to remove them until you leave the laboratory. I am well aware that they are cumbersome. These are for your protection and you do not have the option to decline to use them. You will receive one warning to put your glasses/goggles on. This first warning will be made the moment chemicals are brought into the room for you to use. The second warning that day will result in your immediate removal from the laboratory and the assignment of a grade of zero (0) for that entire laboratory experiment (prelab, report, and postlab). Sliding the glasses/goggles up to protect your forehead or hairline is the most common method of losing points. This will be rigidly enforced. A grade of zero received for a safety violation WILL NOT BE DROPPED AS A LOW GRADE.

IMPORTANT!! If you forget your glasses/goggles you will not be allowed to peform the experiment. Your options are to

1. Borrow a pair from a friend who may be on campus at that time.
2. Buy another pair from the bookstore.
3. Miss the lab (unexcused absence) and lose the points associated with that experiment.

You must wear enclosed footwear to the laboratory if a 'wet lab' is being performed. Enclosed footwear may be canvas, leather, steel toed work boots, or even plastic bags securely taped around your feet. If you come to the laboratory and chemicals are being used (other than ink, pencil, paper, and dry erase chemicals for a dry lab), you will be dismissed from the laboratory and receive a grade of zero (0) for that laboratory. There are NO MAKE-UP LABS, if you miss the experiment you automatically lose all points associated with that experiment. If we are doing a "dry lab" or continuing in lecture or review, you do not need to have your safety glasses on, you will not need enclosed footwear for dry labs.

Water bottles, drinks, or food in the laboratory is also an excellent method of getting removed from the laboratory for safety violations (along with loss of points for that experiment). Even if the bottle is closed, it should be in your backpack and not on the bench. Finally, unsafe laboratory practices (like mixing things just to see what happens) will also cost the offender(s) points.

You should dress defensively for the laboratory. You are almost guaranteed that you will ruin at least one piece of clothing in the laboratory. If you wish, you may purchase an apron or an artist's smock (lab coat) to protect your clothes. You may also wish to bring and wear rubber, latex, or nitrile gloves in lab. Gloves may help in preventing skin irritation, on the down side, gloves also tend to increase the unknowing transport of chemicals to your clothing and increase the occurrence of holes in your clothes.

Final Course Grade.

The course grade will be based upon five (5) exams (400 pts), laboratory reports (250 pts), homework (100 pts), lab quizzesl (50 pts) and a comprehensive final exam (200 pts). The exams and final are cumulative. You will have the opportunity to obtain up to bonus points from your lecture quiz total. It is impossible to tell if there will be a curve for the class however, 900 pts (90.0%) is a guaranteed A.

ADA Policy Statement.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the counselor in S157 or call 209-7251 to set up an appointment. The counselors will document your disability and provide you with the paperwork for these accommodations. It is the student's responsibility to initiate this contact and to provide the instructor with the appropriate paperwork before any accommodations can be authorized. These accommodations are not retroactive.

Classroom and Laboratory Conduct.

When you enter the classroom or laboratory, you are entering a learning environment. As such, disruptions due to inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Talking, reading the newspaper, text messaging, playing games (hand held devices or lap top computers) and other activities that disrupt or detract from the classroom or laboratory learning experience will not be allowed. Offenders will be dismissed from the class. A repeat performance will result in you being dismissed from the class and you will not be allowed to return until you (we) have had a conference with the division head. Again, I will not tolerate any activity that interferes with the opportunity of your fellow students to learn in this class. Any student dismissed from the classroom who refuses to leave will be removed by the Campus Police.

Eating and drinking are not allowed in Blinn classrooms. As previously mentioned, any visible food or drink container (even if it is sealed) is a safety violation in lab and will cause your immediate removal from the laboratory with a grade of zero being assigned for that experiment.

Blinn Civility Statement

Members of the Blinn College community, which includes faculty, staff and students, are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all aspects of campus life. Blinn College holds all members accountable for their actions and words. Therefore, all members should commit themselves to behave in a manner that recognizes personal respect, and demonstrates concern for the person.

This semester there is a zero tolerance policy for unacceptable behavior in the classroom. Examples of unacceptable behavior including chatting with your friends during lecture (a warning followed by removal from class), text messaging, use of cell phones (if you have a cell phone either turn it off or turn to it vibrate only when you enter the classroom), and playing games while in class or lab. At present I will still allow you to bring lap top computers into the classroom to view the PowerPoints or to take notes -- however if there is even a suspicion by me that you are also involved in a computer game will result in the loss of your right to have a computer in the lecture. Also working on homework assignments for other classes, reading newspapers (magazines or other material not associated with the class), working on puzzles (crossword puzzles, sudoku, etc.) are all considered unacceptable behavior and you will be asked to leave the room.

If a student is asked to leave the classroom because of uncivil behavior, the student may not return to that class until he or she arranges a conference with the instructor: It is the student's responsibility to arrange for this conference. (Subsequent classes missed because of not yet having a conference with the division head and instructor will be considered unexcused.)

Reading assignments.

You can expect to cover at least 1 chapter per week and should use this as a guideline to plan ahead. You should have read all of the topics to be covered in each lecture before coming to class. This material is considered to be fair game for the scheduled exams and the final.

Course eCampus.

A CHEM 1411 eCampus homepage has been created and can be found at the following Internet address https://ecampus.blinn.edu This site contains the course information sheet, homework assignments, PowerPoint lecture presentations, and additional lecture notes for the chapter being covered. Note: Simply studying the notes provided on eCampus will not be sufficient to ensure a good grade in this course.

Dropping the Course.

I cannot drop any student from the course. If you are failing the course, it is strongly recommended that you drop the course. You must initiate this action with the Office of Enrollment Services(signature and fee are required). If you should drop after the W date, you will automatically receive a WF (a WF is counted as an F when making GPA calculations) - depending upon your grades in the course, it may be possible to change your grade to a WP. A WP is not automatic and you will need to talk to me before this can take place. November 20 is the deadline to drop with a W.

Incompletes.

An Incomplete can only be awarded under very specific conditions. Specifically, Incomplete's are awarded only if 90% of the course work has been completed. This means that something has happened at the end of the semester (documented illness, family emergency, catastrophic accident, etc.) and you are missing an exam, the final, or a lab (or a combination of these). An Incomplete cannot be given for a crisis at the middle of the semester or for being late for the Final Exam .

An Incomplete requires a contract be written, approved, and signed by the student, the instructor, and the division head prior to the "I" being given. No paperwork, no Incomplete. If you fail to complete the missing work in the specified time a grade of F will be awarded. Incomplete's do not allow a student to retake the entire course to improve their grade.

This page was last modified 09/03/2009
bclement@blinn.edu