CHEMISTRY 1211: FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY I 
A Course in the General Education Program Program 
 
Description: The General Education Program at KSU offers a common academic experience for all its students. In a series of interrelated courses in the liberal arts and sciences, it provides the opportunity for them to acquire the intellectual skills and knowledge characteristic of educated persons. Thus, it lays the foundation for success in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Whereas the major program contributes to a college education depth in a designated specialization, the General Education Program provides breadth by introducing and connecting a variety of disciplines.
 
Program Goals: The General Education Program at KSU has five goals. During the course of the program, students should achieve the following:
 
 
 
 
Course Description: CHEM 1211 is the first course in a two-semester sequence covering the fundamental principles and applications of chemistry for science majors. Course content includes electronic structure of atoms and molecules, bonding fundamentals, fundamentals of chemical reactions, and gas laws.
 
 
 
Chemistry 1211/01 - General Chemistry I 
Fall, 2004
 
 
Course Overview

 

This is the first chemistry course designed to start you off in your science-related career. The Learning Outcomes give you an idea of what you should have in your knowledge base upon successfully finishing this course. In order to accomplish these objectives, this course will provide you with a diversity of resources to aid in your learning process. These resources are specifically your instructor (Dr.Williams), the course lectures (two to three times per week depending on your section), a set of CD's (Thinkwell), a very basic text book (Schaum's Outline), a web based self graded homework utility (WebAssign), and a communication link (WebCT). There are other optional resources listed below, as well. The purpose is to give you the maximum chance for success in this course, but ultimately you have to supply the main resource¾the desire to learn. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a "weed out" course, and there are no grade quotas. It is the sincere desire of every member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry that you succeed in this course and in all other courses that you will take at Kennesaw State University. Success is in your hands, and ultimately you are responsible for that outcome.

 

 

I. Objective: General Chemistry I focuses on developing background and skills in some of the basic principles and applications of chemistry. Course content includes structure of atoms and molecules, bonding fundamentals, fundamentals of chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and thermochemistry.

 

II. Prerequisite: High school chemistry or Chemistry 1151.

 

III. Co-requisite: Chemistry 1211L, MATH 1113

 

Important: The University charges a $30.00 transaction fee for permission for late registration after the regular drop/add has ended. It is also important to understand that a lot of "W" grades on your transcript is very negative. You should decide during the "drop/add" period if you should stay in this course.

 

IV. Instructor: Dr. Daniel J. Williams (Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry)

 

E-mail: dwilliam@kennesaw.edu

Homepage:  science.kennesaw.edu/~dwilliam

Telephone: 770-423-6174 (Chemistry Dept.); FAX: 770-423-6744

Office: Room SC431. I will be pleased to see you if you need help during the semester.

Office Hours: Fall Semester

 

V. Book: This course uses a combination of “Schaum’s Outlines College Chemistry, Eighth Edition” and "Thinkwell Chemistry", which consists of a set of CD's (containing a lot of videos) and web access to their course web site, Harman and Yee, 2002

 

A. Using The Thinkwell Web Book in the online course General Chemistry I. 

 

First go to the particular chapter of the Thinkwell web site that you want to study, chapter 1 for example. Now choose a particular part of that chapter that you want to study, say "significant figures". Now click on "Notes" and read them (print if you wish also). Notice that a new browser page was opened when you clicked on "Notes", so you can close that new page to get back to where you were.

 

Now click on "transcripts" and read that material (print if you wish also). Now go to the video list and see if there is a CD video corresponding to this material. In this case, there is no video although there is a video on "The Scientific Method". If there had been a video then watch it.

 

Now use the "back button" on your browser to get back to where you were on "significant figures". Now click on "Thinkwell Exercise" for some problems to test your understanding of the material. I suggest that you do them one at a time, but that is up to you.

 

Insert the CD for the material and watch the video and other material on the CD.

 

If you feel good about your understanding using the Thinkwell web site on the topic, significant figures, in this case then go back to another section of the web book for another topic.

 

B. Using Schaum’s Outlines College Chemistry Eighth Edition.

 

This is a supplemental no-frills textbook that gives very basic concepts and more example and practice problems for the units described below. It is simply another source of information for those who prefer having hard copy in hand. Look at the topics covered in the individual units shown below and find the corresponding chapters. Review those chapters with example problems to reinforce your understanding of the material.

 

C. Using WebAssign for the Homework Problems. 

 

Go to WebAssign to see the homework problems assigned for the course. You have to purchase a key from the Bookstore that will contain a code for you to use in WebAssign, which has the web site WebAssign. When you get to the web site enter as a student and for the user name enter your NetID#, the same one you use to log into WebCT. For the institution name enter kennesaw and for your password enter all digits of your KSU number including zeros. After entering the site you will be asked for the code from the key that you bought at the Bookstore. You are allowed five chances to take each homework assignment and the last entry is the one that will be recorded as you final grade. The due dates are on the WebAssign page for that particular assignment.

 

D. Using WebCT for the Course. 

 

We will use WebCT as a communication link specifically through the discussion board. Other course resources are linked here, as well. This is where you may ask questions or, if you like, answer questions some of your colleagues may have asked. Your instructor will be monitoring the board regularly and will clear up any misinformation without embarrassing anyone for their attempts if they are not correct. Activity on the discussion board counts as part of your participation in your final grade.

 

Test scores will also be posted on WebCT as well as any supplemental material used in lecture. We do not use the email function within WebCT. Please do not attempt to contact your instructor through WebCT's email. 

 

E. This process of using different sources for the course may seem complicated at first, but once you get used to this method, it should become routine. If you don't start working through the process on day one, then you probably will have trouble putting it all together.

 

VI. Supplemental Instruction (SI) 

(See Dr. Dan Williams with questions): General Chemistry I is a difficult course for most students. In a desire to help more students succeed, the Department is beginning a Supplemental Instruction (SI) program for CHEM 1211.  Session times and locations will be announced in class and posted on WebCT. The sessions will be led by chemistry majors who will also be attending some of the same lecture sections that you attend so they will be familiar with the methods of presentations by our faculty members. Attendance is optional, but studies of similar programs at other universities have shown that grade improvement by students attending these sessions is remarkable. One instructor noted that those students who attended at least seven sessions or more passed with a C grade or better and showed significant improvement on the California Exam. It's very much worth your time to attend. Please accept our offer to help.

 

VII. Software is available in the Science Computer Lab (SC 246,248): Chemical Bonding, Introduction to General Chemistry, Molecules-3D (model building software), MathCad, An Introduction to Lewis Structures, VSEPR Theory, Orbitals and Electrons

 

 

VIII. Grading Scheme

 
 
60%
 
Unit Exams (12% Each)
30%
 
Final Exam
 
5%
 
WebAssign
 
5%
 
Participation
 
 

 
Letter grades will be based upon following scale:
 
 
A
 
>90%
 
B
 
80.0-89.9%
C
 
70.0-79.9%
D
 
60.0-69.9%
F
 
<60%
 
 
 
Grades of I "I" grades are awarded only when the student has done satisfactory work up to the last two weeks of the semester, but for non-academic reasons beyond his/her control is unable to meet the full requirements of the course. (Page 40 of KSU catalog)
 
California Exam Policy See Mr. Ben Huck or Dr. Dan Williams with questions): The American Chemical Society California Exam, which was administered during the first week of class will be re-administered at the end of the semester. The time and place will be announced. One bonus point will be added to your final grade in the lecture course (CHEM 1211) by taking the exam twice, once at the beginning and once at the end of the semester (time and place to be determined). You can qualify for two additional bonus points if you score higher than 70% on the second offering of the CA Exam.
 
IX. Studying Read ahead in the “Outline” and using the Thinkwell CD’s and web site. Study. Get a good night's sleep before each test. Students have found the Thinkwell CD’s extremely helpful.
 
 
X. Withdrawal: The last day to withdraw without academic penalty is October 18, 2004. Grades of "W" look terrible on your transcript. Be sure to minimize the number of "W's" by determining quickly in the semester if you need to drop the course.
 
A Note From the Department Chair (Dr. Leon Combs): Some general "fatherly" advice: "W" grades on your transcript are a negative factor in evaluating your academic performance. Some professional schools go through a transcript, substitute “F” for every “W”, and recalculate the GPA. For all students, and especially for anyone serious about a professional school of any kind, we would recommend that your transcript should show no more than four "W" grades. Even if you have only four "W's" when you graduate, you should have an excellent reason for each one of them (sickness, death in the family, etc.).Please take your academic experience very seriously, and have a frank discussion with an advisor about your strengths and weaknesses so that you do not waste time in an area where you are not likely to be successful. Your instructors will do what they can to help all students succeed, but each student has to do their part in the learning process. It is very important to understand that a lot of "W" grades on your transcript is very negative. You should decide during the "drop/add" period if you should stay in this course rather than waiting until later in the semester when you will get a "W" if you withdraw then.

 

 

XI. Other Important Dates:

 

September 4- 6:
Holiday - NO CLASSES
October 18:
Last Day to Withdraw Without Academic Penalty
Nov. 24 - 28: 
Fall Break - NO CLASSES
 
 
XII. Test Policy and Dates
 
There will be five 45 minute unit exams. Topics covered by each unit exam are found in the sections listed for each unit. There will also be one two-hour final exam which will consist of five sections corresponding to the material covered by each unit exam. If you take all of the unit exams, and you make a higher score on any or all of the corresponding sections of the final exam, those scores from the final will replace your unit exam scores and be used to calculate your average. For example, you score 65 on the Unit II exam and 85 on Section II (the corresponding section) of the final, your grade for both the Unit II exam and Section II will be 85. The substitution will not be applied for the reverse situa­tion, i.e., if you receive 85 on the Unit II section and 65 on the final Section II, both scores will remain as is. Unit exam scores will not be substituted for the corresponding section on the final. You may replace all five of your scores. If you do not take all of the unit exams then the grade you make on the part of the final exam covering the material on the missed unit exam will be substituted by the grade from the corresponding part of the final exam. There will be no make-up exams.
 
All exam materials will be supplied. Calcu­lators may be used during the exam, but may not be passed to another student during the exam. Make sure your calculator batteries are fresh. YOUR INSTRUCTOR IS NOT A SOURCE OF EXTRA CALCULATORS. DO NOT ASK.
 
Exams are always graded and returned the next scheduled class day. This is where they are also reviewed. One percentage point per day is deducted from your participation grade for each review period you miss even if you were absent for the actual exam. Review sessions are taken as seriously as exam days by your instructor. These are not days to be missed.
 
Exam Schedule
 
Unit I Exam
Monday, September 13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unit II Exam
Monday, October 4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unit III Exam
Friday, October 22
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unit IV Exam
Wednesday, November 10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unit V Exam
Monday, December 6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Final Exam
Wednesday, December 15
 
 
8:00am-10:00am
 
 
 
 
XIII. Material to be covered (topics from the Thinkwell web site (http://www.thinkwell.com) 
 
UNIT I: 
1. In Introduction to Matter and Measurement
2. Atoms, Molecules, and Ions
 
UNIT II: 
3. Stoichiometry
4. Reactions in Aqueous Solutions
 
UNIT III: 
5. Gases
6. Thermochemistry
 
UNIT IV: 
7. Modern Atomic Theory
8. Electronic Configurations and Periodicity
 

UNIT V: 

9. Chemical Bonging: Fundamental Concepts
10. Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theory
 
XIV. Academic Integrity Statement: Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “informal” resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.
 
XV. Syllabus Agreement Form: Once you have read this syllabus and understood it, please link to the agreement form and under "Statement of Agreement" make a statement to the effect that you have read and understood the requirements of the course.