Triton College – Fall 2004 Semester
General Chemistry I (CHM 140-001) Fall 2004

Course Syllabus (Detailed)

Instructor: Dr. Preet-Pal S. Saluja


Faculty Information

Instructor: Preet-Pal S. Saluja, Ph.D. (Please address me as “Preet”)
Office: S-219
Office Hours*: Mondays 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Tuesdays 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesdays 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursdays 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Fridays 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Fridays 11:30 am - 12:30 am (in emergency situations)
• Additional help available by appointment: I will also be available for “Real Emergency Situations” and special need situation. I recommend that you make an appointment to meet at mutually convenient time/place ( I am very cooperative).
Mailbox Location: S-209 (Science Department Office)
Office Phone: 708-456-0300, x3016
E-mail Address: psaluja@triton.edu and psaluja2002@yahoo.com

Course Identification

Credit Hours: 5
Contact Hours: 7
Location: Mondays and Fridays 8:00 am – 9:50 am (Lectures in S-202)
Wednesdays 8:00 am –10:45 am (Labs in S-210)

Prerequisites: High school chemistry or CHM 110; placement at MAT 110 level
or admission to an Allied Health Program, placement at RHT 101 level.

Course Description: The purpose of Chemistry 140 is to introduce students to general inorganic chemistry. Students will learn to solve chemical problems involving the metric system; demonstrate proficiency in naming inorganic ionic and covalent compounds and writing their formulae; explore various chemical reactions, including displacement reactions, acid-base reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions; explain and solve problems using the principles of Thermochemistry and their application to energy conversion process; understand basic concepts of the electronic structure of the atoms; describe and explain the periodic properties of elements; describe the basic concepts of chemical bonding as derived from Lewis structures, hybrid orbitals, and molecular orbitals; predict the behavior of solutions from the nature and concentration of their components; explain and solve problems using solid, liquid, and gaseous states of matter and predict the products of their interaction; and appreciate the importance of chemistry in relation to other sciences, to modern technology, and daily life. This course is intended for students majoring in chemistry, chemical engineering, or other science programs.

Required textbooks, references, and other Materials
Textbook: Brown, T.L., LeMay, Jr., H.E., and Bursten, B.E., Chemistry, The
Central Science, 9th edition, Prentice Hall (2003).
Lab Manual: Manno, Larry, Laboratory Manual for General Chemistry I, (2003)
Safety Goggles: Protective 123 Douglas (chemical splash-proof and shatter-proof)
goggles can be purchased in the bookstore for a nominal cost
(under 4 dollars. While in the lab, it is mandatory the student must
wear safety goggles at all times (including times when you are
performing calculations/computations)
Calculator: You will need any inexpensive scientific calculator of your choice.
It should contain a common logarithm (log x), key, a natural
logarithm (ln x) key, and exponent capability (exp or EE) key.

Grading Policies and Procedures
The grading system used for the course is the point accumulation system for various components of the course. You will be graded on a total of four examinations (three regular and one cumulative final), approximately 12lab experiments and selected lab reports, quizzes, short writing assignments, and/or a special project. Following criteria will be used for weighting of major components of this course:

Overview of course components and weightage

Course Components Weightage
Examinations
Total 3 exams (each exam is worth 10%) 30%
Final cumulative examination 20%
Quizzes: chapter quizzes, sub-topic quizzes, challenging problems 20%
Reality check/take-home assignments/writing assignments 10%
Laboratory work (pre-lab, experiments, presentation, and reports)# 20%
# Breakdown of 100 points for each experiment
(Please see detailed syllabus)

Examinations: Students must not make travel plans during final exams. All students must attend their scheduled final exam (scheduled on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 from 7:00-8:50 a.m.). NO EXCEPTIONS. During exams, you must remain in your seat at all times. You may not leave the room for any reason, other than real emergency.

TUTORING: Free tutoring is available at the Academic Success Center (ASC), X-3361, R-100. ASC hours are:
Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-10:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am- 9:00 pm
Saturday 8:30 am- 4:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 am- 4:00 pm
Extra Credit - Constructive periodic feedback(s) worth 0.5%
You can earn up to a maximum of 1% (as an extra credit), if you choose to provide periodic feedback reports and/or comments on our class meetings (lectures, laboratory experiments, and various course-related activities) for the 2nd , 5th , and 14th weeks, and a status report in the 14th week. Students must keep all their handouts and graded materials (quizzes, in-class work, and take-home assignments) in a neatly organized folder to present to the instructor on pre-announced dates. Your final letter grade (A/B/C/D/F) for the entire course will be determined by dividing the total number of points earned by you during the semester by the maximum points possible. Letter grades will be determined using the percentage ranges given below:
A 90-100%
B 80- 89%
C 70- 79%
D 55- 69%
F <55%

You will be assigned a letter grade of “F” if you miss the more than 3 lecture classes or more than 2 lab classes or do not participate in more than 2 quizzes or more than 2 reality checks regardless of the grade you accumulate. There is no extra credit or late work after the end date for the class. There is no make up work for missed classes or missed labs. The midterm date for this is Friday, October 22, 2004. The last date to withdraw from the course during Fall 2004 semester is Saturday, November 20, 2004.

Core Value Objectives. Please see attached page 6 for a list of core values and its
discussion during the course.

Classroom Policies/Procedures:
General Information is included in the “Student Handbook”.

Withdrawal: Students who do not withdraw officially from a course may receive a grade of "F" depending on the course progress or course attendance, which will become part of the student's permanent record. The withdrawal date for this semester is November 20, 2004.

Attendance: Due to the nature of a laboratory science course, attendance is strongly urged since credit for laboratory work can be given only to those students who have performed and completed the laboratory assignment. Students WILL NOT be permitted to make up labs.

All students are expected to arrive at class on time and remain in lecture and lab until all activities and lectures are completed. All students who miss up to the equivalent of two regular semester weeks of class (five days if the class meets three days a week as is the case with our CHM 140-001) will be dropped from the class, and consequently, will automatically receive a grade of F for the course. Students must drop the course officially prior to November 20, 2004 to avoid receiving this unpleasant “F” grade.

Cheating and Plagiarism: The college policy will be followed. Any appearance of cheating will result in a zero for that activity and may result in failure for the course. Evidence of plagiarism will result in a reduced grade or zero for the activity for all people involved in the plagiarism.

Student Conduct:
• Each student is responsible for adhering to the Code of Student Conduct as stated n the general catalog.
• Cell phones and pagers should be tuned off prior to entering classrooms and labs.
• During lecture and lab instruction time, talking among students is not acceptable.
• Attend all lectures and labs.
• Read the assigned lecture and lab material BEFORE the relevant session.
• Be an active participant I both lecture and lab.
• Take careful and thorough notes in both lecture and lab.

Safety:
In addition to Safety contract, which you will sign, following points are re-emphasized.
• Wear Safety Goggles in the laboratory at all times.
• Students should wear appropriate lab clothing at all times in the laboratory. This includes long pants, shirts with sleeves, and closed shoes (Sandals and open-toed shoes are not allowed in the lab). Students with long hair need to tie it up or wear a ponytail. Loose or baggy clothing or jewelry must be secured
• No eating, drinking, smoking or using tobacco products in class.
• Students should consider a lab coat or smock for laboratory to protect clothing.
• Students who intentionally misuse laboratory equipment or conduct themselves in such a way as to endanger others may be dismissed or withdrawn from the course. This includes not wearing lab safety equipment or coming unprepared to class.
• The lab table should be cleaned and washed at the beginning and the end of each lab period.
• Students are expected to help take out and put away some lab equipment or models. You will be instructed when help is needed and expected.
• Lab stools should be pushed under the lab tables at the end of each lab. Chairs should likewise be pushed in. All garbage and equipment should be stored or thrown away as appropriate.
• Broken glassware and chemical spills should be reported to the instructor. Red phones in the hallway will dial the operator or the police for emergencies.

Incomplete Policy:
An incomplete grade will be given only in cases of prolonged illness, accident or a death in family or a real emergency situation (at the discretion of the instructor). You will be asked for appropriate verification of such. Incomplete grade will not be given due to missing exam or lab scores or to prevent a low grade.

Students with Disabilities:
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability, you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodation or services: contact the Center for Students with Disabilities, X 3854 (Name of the Director is Deborah Ford).

Religious Holidays:
If religious observance interferes with your adherence to class schedule, it is your responsibility to inform me (your CHM 140-001 instructor).

Course Schedule/Calendar:
Please see attached “Tentative Lecture, Examination, and Laboratory Schedule“along with the remarks and additional information on the cover page.