General Chemistry, Sections 1 and 2

(A syllabus from Spring 1998 that is being reworked into the 1999 version)

Background exam is given the second hour of the class.  In my experience the foremost problem in the course is ability to handle comfortably arithmetics, algebra and word problems. Those who have difficulties passing the background test are very likely to struggle during the course. My advice is to drop CHEM 210 right away and take mathematics instead. CHEM 110, in general, will not remedy this problem.

A sample of an old background test:

The original text has been written using T³. Some of the text has been scrambled during the WP/HTML translation.
Background quiz, 13 January 1998
20 questions, 20 points total, 1 point each

Mathematical skills

1. Which of the following gives the answer x = 3?

a) 2x - 7 = x + 6

b) 2.5 x + 3 = 15 - 1.5x

c) 4x + 0.2 = 6.6

d) 5x + 9 = 2x + 30

e) 2.1x +1.3 = 5x - 3

2. Which of the following gives the answer x = 2 - 2y?

a) 3x + y = 27

b) 5x - 2y = 15

c) x + yz = 0.5

d) ax - y = bz

e) 3x + 6y + 4 = 10

3. Which of the following gives the answer y = 1 - 0.5x?

a) 3x + y = 27

b) 5x - 2y = 15

c) x + yz = 0.5

d) 3x + 6y + 4 = 10

e) ax - y = bz

4. Which of the following gives the answer z = !!!!-!?

a) 3x + y - z = 27

b) 5x - 2y = 15 + z

c) 3x + 6y + 4 = 10z

d) x + yz = 0.5

e) ax - y = bz

5. [H⁺][OH^-] = 10^-14; [H⁺] = 10^-13. Solve for [OH^-].

a) 10¹

b) 10^-13

c) 10^-27

d) 10²⁷

e) 10^-1

6. Which of the following yields the answer x = - y ?

a) ! + ! = 15

b) ! + ! = 0

c) ! + 3 = y

d) ! + ! = 1

e) ! + !₇ = !!!!

7. Substitute the values given into the equation and solve for the remaining unknown:

!!! = 2.0; b=3.0, c=15

a) 10/3

b) 3.0

c) 3/10

d) 2.24

e) 25

8. Substitute the values given into the equation and solve for the remaining unknown:

!!! = 2.0; a² = 4, b=3.0.

a) 72

b) 24

c) 18

d) 1

e) 9

9. Write an equation to express the following: In 7 years, Tom will be 1.5 times as old as Ann. T stands for Tom's present age, A for Ann's present age.

a) A + 7 = 1.5(T + 7)

b) A + 7 = 1.5T

c) T + 7 = 1.5(A + 7)

d) A + T = 1.5x7

e) 7 + T = 1.5A

10. A bit of multiple choice logic. Only one answer is correct. Which one is it?

a) e) is correct

b) this one is correct

c) b) is correct

d) c) is not correct

e) None of the above

11. If 20 % of a class averages 80 % on a test, 50 % of the class averages 60 % on the test, and the remainder of the class averages 40 % on the test, what is the overall class average?

a)     64

b) 60

c) 58

d)     56

e)     54

12. A full container holds 5/8 gallon of liquid. If the container is 4/5 full and then 25% of the liquid is lost due to evaporation, how much liquid is left in the container?

a) 1/4 gallon

b) 3/8 gallon

c) 1/2 gallon

d) 5/8 gallon

e) 3/4 gallon

13. In six years, Tony will be twice as old as he was 4 years ago. How old will tony be in 4 years?

a) 12 years

b) 14 years

c) 16 years

d) 18 years

e) 20 years

14. Julie's collection of 50 coins consists of dimes and quarters totaling $ 7.10. How many more dimes than quarters does Julie have?

a) 14

b) 20

c) 22

d) 26

e) 36

15. I have enough money to buy 45 bricks. If the bricks each cost 10 cents less, I could buy 5 more bricks. How much money do I have to spend on bricks?

a) $ 100

b) $ 50

c) $ 45

d) $ 40

e) $ 35

16. If i = -1 , simplify !-!-! :

a) !-!!!

b) !-!!!

c) !-!-!

d) !-!-!

e) --!!-

17. It costs $ 100 to produce certain amount of fruit. For how much must the fruit be sold, to realize a 20 % profit of the selling price?

a) $ 80

b) $ 120

c) $ 125

d) $ 135

e) $ 180

18. Five oranges cost three dollars. What is the price of seven oranges?

a) $ 2.17

b) $ 7.00

c) $ 4.20

d) $ 5.30

e) $ 1.05

19. How many three-cent stamps are in a dozen?

a) 4

b) 3

c) 12

d) 36

e) 60

20. Simplify 81^3/4 :

a) 60.75

b) 108

c) 27

d) 350.5

e) 132860

SYLLABUS

CHEMISTRY 210 Section 1 and 2 Fall 1999

08:00-08:50 M, W, F - Section 1
11:00-11:50 M, W, F - Section 2

Faraday 143

TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Petr Vanýsek; Office, Faraday West 418

OFFICE HOURS: 15:00-16:00 Monday, 15:00-16:00 Wednesday. Other times by appointment. I will help you with your problems but come to see me with questions and problems already at least partially prepared. Do not expect me to give you your own make-up class. Be prepared to share the office or the time with other students.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABORATORIES: Dr. D. Ballantine, Jr., Faraday West 424.

DATE CHAPTER/TOPIC

January 12 Ch. 1 The scientific approach

13 Background quiz (math skills, 20 extra points, does not count toward the class average)

14 Ch. 1

15 Quiz 1

16 Ch. 2 The components of matter

Last day to drop the course

No classes the week of 19-23

26 Ch. 2

27 Ch. 2

28 Ch. 2

29 Recitation

30 Test I Chapters 1 and 2

February 2 Ch. 3 Stoichiometry

3 Ch. 3

4 Recitation

5 Quiz 2 Ch. 3

6 Ch. 3

9 Ch. 4 Types of chemical reactions

10 Recitation

11 Quiz 3

12 Ch. 4

16 Ch. 4

17 Recitation

18 Quiz 4 Ch. 5 Gases and the kinetic-molecular theory

19 Ch. 5

23 Ch. 5

24 Recitation

25 Quiz 5 Ch. 6 Thermochemistry

26 Ch. 6

March 2 Ch. 6

3 Recitation

4 Test II Chapters 3-6

5 Ch. 7 Quantum theory

Last day to withdraw from the course

SPRING BREAK

16 Ch. 7 Atomic structure

17 Recitation

18 Quiz 6 Ch. 7

19 Ch. 8 Many-electron atoms

23 Ch. 8 Periodic table

24 Recitation

25 Quiz 7

26 Ch. 8 Structure and reactivity

30 Ch. 9 Chemical Bonds

31 Recitation

April 1 Quiz 8 Ch. 9

2 Ch. 9

6 Ch. 9

7 Recitation

8 Test III Chapters 7-9

9 Ch. 10 Molecular shape

13 Ch. 10

14 Recitation

15 Quiz 9 Ch. 10 Hybridization

16 Ch. 11 Intermolecular forces

20 Ch. 11

21 Recitation

22 Quiz 10

23 Ch. 11

27 Ch. 12 The properties of mixtures

28 Recitation

29 Quiz 11 Ch. 12

30 Pre-final review

May 6 Final test, 10:00 - 11:50

__________

TEXTS: M. Silberberg, "Chemistry, The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change", Mosby, St. Louis 1996.

H. A. Neidig, Program editor, "Modular Laboratory in Chemistry", Chemical Education Resources, Palmyra PA 1994. (For the laboratory part)

Recommended materials: A calculator with scientific notation, logarithms, goniometric and statistical functions (You probably have one already. Just check that you know how to use your own calculator. Each has its own idiosyncrasies that you have to master. Do not borrow somebody else's calculator immediately before a test unless you know how to operate it. Needless errors and lot of frustration is created if a calculator "deceives" you.).

Programmable calculators are acceptable during tests as long as they do not contain in any of their storage devices the course material subject to the testing. You cannot share a calculator during a test. Computers (laptops, notebooks, etc.) cannot be used during tests.

Have a calculator and a pad for calculations ready for each class period. The lecture will be always interspersed with your active participation.

For tests and quizzes it is assumed that everybody has a calculator, pencil No. 2 (for computer grading forms, if such are used), a pen (only answers written in permanent ink can be reconsidered if you suspect an error in grading of an essay question or expect reconsideration for partial credit), and substantial knowledge to answer correctly the questions.

Helpful for those insecure in mathematics are the following books: Miller, Lial, Schneider; Fundamentals of college algebra (MATH 110 book); Dorothy M. Goldish: Beginning mathematics for beginning chemistry, 4th Ed., Macmillan, New York, 1990.

SCHEDULE: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, - lecture, Tuesday - participatory recitation, every Wednesday - a quiz or a test (usually, take a note of some exceptions). The test will take 50 minutes, the quiz only about 10 min. On the day of a quiz there will be a lecture as well.

PARTICIPATION: Attendance in this section is mandatory. Each period there will be several occasions to take part in solving a problem. A person will be randomly selected to answer. Everybody has to be prepared to speak up or be considered absent. Those who are planning to miss a significant number of classes should consider dropping this course.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is mandatory. Each 3 documented absences will result in the loss of 50 points from the student's score. That corresponds to lowering the class score by one letter grade! The presence will be taken randomly, by calling on project participants, by giving quick easy pop quizzes or by passing a sign-up sheet. If you come in late or leave early and you were not counted, you were absent. It is your responsibility to make sure your name is on the sign-up sheet. In practice, a student can probably miss a session without being noticed. However, you are all expected to be in the class for every period. Your participation is essential for the in-class learning process of everybody else. (Absence for a test or a quiz will not count towards the 3 demonstrated absences. Missing the written work costs enough points already.) You are responsible for everything said and handed out in class whether you are in or not.

EXAMS AND GRADING:

Hour tests (3) 50% (300 points)

Comprehensive final test 33% (200 points)

Laboratory 17% (100 points)

TOTAL (600 points)

There will be 11 quizzes, each worth 10 points. The sum of the quiz grades (up to 110 points) will substitute for the hour test with the lowest score, if the quiz sum is higher. A minimum grade of 60% in the laboratory is required to pass the course. Bonus credit may be available through taking computer aided practice. Watch for a specific announcement in the class.

NOTE THAT TAKING THE FINAL TEST IS REQUIRED.

In general, cheating means presenting or using work which was not done entirely by you and, in the case of in-class examination, it includes also presenting or using your work which was written outside the classroom. You may not talk or pass notes to each other on any subject. Having other materials with you within reach during test or sharing calculators is cheating as well. Keep what you may need for the test within reach and keep what you should not have with you in your closed packs or do not bring it in.

THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP TESTS OR QUIZZES

Note that the rule of replacing the worst test with the quiz score is your insurance against missing a test. Similarly, since even with one missed quiz the total may add up to a happy 100 points, there is a built-in provision for missing a written work. Hence, there will be no-makeups for any reason. Do not inquire. Those who take all the tests and quizzes are not curve busters for those who miss one. All are graded on their own merit. There is not a curve in the class.

Your class percentage will be calculated as the sum of all the points earned, divided by 6. The grades will be as follows:

A Outstanding competence 90% and more

B Above satisfactory competence 80% to 89.99%

C Satisfactory level of competence 70% to 79.99%

D Marginally satisfactory competence 60% to 69.99%

F Unsatisfactory level of competence < 60% (or <60% in lab.)