CHEM 002: General Chemistry I

Fall 2010 Course Syllabus

General Information
CHEM 2 is the first semester of a two-semester lower-division general chemistry sequence.
Specific topics covered include stoichiometric calculations, types of chemical reactions, the
properties of gases, thermochemistry, an introduction to chemical equilibrium, basic concepts of
atomic structure and atomic orbital theory, the periodic properties of the elements, and
chemical bonding. The concepts and quantitative skills introduced in lecture are supported by
a laboratory section, with the experimental procedures conducted in the laboratory designed to
reinforce the material covered in lecture.

Meeting Times and Locations

Lecture sections: (fill in times and rooms)
Lab sections: (fill in times and rooms)

Prerequisite
Pass chemistry placement exam or complete CHEM 1 with C- or better or score 3 or better on
chemistry AP exam.

Text (Required)
“Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change”, 5th ed. by Martin S. Silberberg,
published by McGraw-Hill, 2009; ISBN 978-0-07-304859-8.

Other Required Items

Clicker
Basic scientific calculator
Four #882E scantron forms
Approved laboratory safety goggles
Laboratory notebook (must be bound with numbered duplicate pages).

Course Instructor
Mark Vidensek, mvidensek@ucmerced.edu. Office hours: M 2:30 – 3:30 pm and F 2:30 – 3:30
pm, AOA-174.

Laboratory Instructors/ TAs

Fill in TA names, contact info, office hours and rooms

Course Web site

The CHEM 2 web site is part of the UCMCROPS course management system and will be
automatically available to all students enrolled in the course
(https://my.ucmerced.edu/uPortal/render.userLayoutRootNode.uP). This web site contains the
course syllabus, announcements, lecture slides (when posted), laboratory procedures,
homework assignments and exam keys; this information is located under the “Resources” tab.
You will find assigned grades under the “Gradebook” tab.

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 CHEM 002: General Chemistry I
Fall 2010 Course Syllabus

Student learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• determine molecular formulas from data, identify common types of reactions, balance
chemical equations, and use stoichiometric relationships, the limiting reagent concept,
and % yields to calculate product and reactant quantities;
• make qualitative predictions and carry out quantitative calculations for the relationships
among pressure, volume, temperature, and amount of material for gases;
• analyze the energetics of chemical reactions;
• explain the basic concepts of quantum theory and simple theories of chemical bonding,
and be able to explain and make predictions about atomic and molecular properties;
• perform basic chemistry laboratory techniques, use common laboratory instruments,
record data and observations accurately, and describe sources of error and uncertainty
in experimental data.
Accomplishment of these outcomes will be assessed through in-class quizzes, exams, and
graded laboratory reports.

Relationship to program learning outcomes for the Chemical Sciences major

CHEM 2 focuses primarily on fundamental knowledge and skills. This course introduces
you to some of the major concepts and theoretical principles in chemistry. You will also learn
how to carry out basic laboratory procedures in a safe manner and with proper technique. To a
lesser extent, you will be introduced to scientific methodology—how a scientist integrates
fundamental knowledge and skills into scientific inquiries. The laboratory reports you prepare
will involve basic scientific communication skills. Finally, you should gain some
understanding of scientific ethics and the role of chemistry in society by learning how to
handle data in the laboratory as well as through some of the examples of chemical applications
given in the textbook and discussed in lecture.

Structure of the course and expectations

You are expected to read each assigned chapter of your text before the chapter is covered in
lecture. Unless informed otherwise, you are responsible for all material in assigned chapters,
even if the material was not specifically covered in lecture. Chapters 2 through 11 and a part of
chapter 17 will be covered.
Homework will be assigned from each chapter. The assigned homework problems will be
included at the end of selected laboratory experiments and will be due with those laboratory
reports.
There will be eleven laboratory experiments. Writeups for each experiment are posted on
UCMCROPS.
There will be ten quizzes. The material covered by the quizzes will be representative of the
lectures, laboratories, homework and assigned reading materials. Quizzes will be administered
during lectures.
There will be three midterms and a final. The material covered by the midterms will be
representative of the quizzes, lectures, laboratories, homework and assigned reading materials.
The final will be cumulative. The exams will be recorded on Scantron form 882E.

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 CHEM 002: General Chemistry I
Fall 2010 Course Syllabus

Exam Schedule:
Midterm 1 date and time
Midterm 2 date and time
Midterm 3 date and time
Final TBA on Registrar’s CROPS Site

Attendance and behavior

Students are expected to attend lecture and laboratory sessions; this is highly advised since
graded assignments will be administered during these sessions.
Behavior that is disruptive to other students, or interferes with their attempt to follow
the lectures, laboratories, or discussions, will not be allowed. This includes, but is not limited
to, talking (except when you are specifically asked to discuss a question among yourselves),
listening to music, operating electronic devices that make any audio sounds or blocking another
student’s view. Students will not be allowed to use computers during lectures or discussions,
and cell phones must be rendered inaudible while class is in session. Violators of these policies
will be asked to leave the classroom/laboratory.

Late and/or missed assignments

No quizzes or exams will be taken late. If you miss a quiz or exam, it will count as a zero.
Only two exceptions will be made: illness of oneself or the death of an immediate family
member. Late and/or missed assignments, not classified as above, will be assigned zero points;
documentation from a health care professional may be requested to substantiate the
classification.
If you know ahead of time that you will have a conflict with an assignment, you may be able
to make arrangements to execute the assignment (i.e. lab, quiz or exam) early. Please see the
instructor at least one week ahead of time.

Late and/or missed laboratory experiments and homework

No laboratory experiments will be performed by students outside of their assigned
laboratory section. Missed laboratory experiments and assigned homework will count as a
zero. Late laboratory reports and/or homework will not be accepted. Late laboratory reports
and/or homework will count as zero.

Re-Grading
If you feel an assignment (i.e. quiz, exam, laboratory or homework) was graded incorrectly,
please bring it to the instructor’s or your TA’s attention by the next class/lab meeting. The
entire assignment will be regraded, so your score could go up or down. Graded assignments
may be photocopied before returning them to students. Any student who attempts to cheat by
altering a graded assignment and returning it for re-grading will receive a zero for that
assignment and may be subject to further disciplinary action.

Course grading

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 CHEM 002: General Chemistry I
Fall 2010 Course Syllabus

All assigned course letter grades in CHEM 2 will be based on the absolute point scale shown
below.

Point distribution: Possible points

Quizzes (10 @ 10 pts each) 100
Laboratory Reports/Homework (12 @ 25 pts each) 300
Midterms (3 @ 150 pts each) 450
Final (1 @ 150 pts) 150
Total Points: 1000

Points scale: Corresponding grade

1000 - 900 A
899 - 750 B
749 - 550 C
549 - 450 D
449 - 0 F
(Note: + or – grades may be assigned.)

Students with disabilities

UC Merced is committed to ensuring equal academic opportunities and inclusion for
students with disabilities. I would respectfully request that my students with disabilities
discuss their situation with Disability Services to assist them in obtaining any appropriate
academic accommodations they may require. Requests for such accommodations are to be
made during the first three weeks of the semester, except for unusual circumstances. Students
with disabilities are encouraged to register with Disability Services Center (KL 109;
disabilityservices@ucmerced.edu) to verify their eligibility for appropriate accommodations.

Policy on academic honesty

There will be no communication of any form (written, verbal, electronic, etc.) between
students or between students and the outside world during quizzes or exams. You may not
look at another student’s paper during quizzes or exams. The only items you may use during
quizzes and/or exams will be a pencil or pen and a calculator.
Bring a photo ID of yourself to each exam. Students not in possession of their photo ID at
exam time may be prohibited from taking the exam and will be assigned a score of zero for the
exam.
Students may discuss homework assignments and laboratory reports among themselves.
However, each student must obtain and report his or her own laboratory data unless students
were specifically instructed to work together. Each student must turn in his or her own
independent work on homework assignments and laboratory reports.
Any student found to have violated academic honesty in this course will be assigned zero
points for the assignment and may be subject to further disciplinary action.
All students should be familiar with the UC Merced policy on academic honesty at
http://studentlife.ucmerced.edu/what-we-do/student-judicial-affairs/academicy-honesty-policy.

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