142 Syllabus

Description: Three hours lecture, two hours discussion, and four hours laboratory per week, (5 units). The principles and applications of general college chemistry. Designed for liberal arts, physical education and some baccalaureate nursing majors. A “C” or better in Chemistry 2A or high school chemistry are prerequisites for Chemistry 1A (General Chemistry), or for Chemistry 16, (Principles of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry). CHEM 2A and CHEM 16 can be used as prerequisites for BIOL 15 (General Physiology), and BIOL 16, (General Microbiology).

Recommended: Reading Level 1. The Math Prerequisite is recommended to have been accomplished within the previous 2 years.

Supplies: 1. Ebbing and Wentworth, Introductory Chemistry, 2nd Edition; Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998.

2. Lab text: Murow & Stedjee, Experiments in Basic Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.

3. Calculator: Your calculator should have the following function; Exponential notation (EE or EXP on most calculators). Logarithms are not required for CHEM 2A, but are required for CHEM 1B, (LOG and LN for common and natural logarithms on most calculators).

4. Lab coat or apron covering the chest and down to the knees, UVEX goggles and a combination lock. The goggles must completely enclose the area around the eyes.

6. Optional. A three ring binder to save homework, quizzes, test, lab reports. Note, graded lab reports must be returned to the instructor at the end of the semester.

Assistance: See us as much as needed. I want to help you be successful in Chemistry 2A. You can schedule times for assistance, or drop by. I encourage scheduling time, because if I am busy when you drop by, I cannot work with you. The learning center has computer software to help with math skills.

Attendance: State law requires instructors to maintain attendance records. It is in you interest for success in this course to attend all lectures and labs. If you are absent 18 or more hours (2 weeks), you may be dropped. If you are dropped you still need to go through the withdrawal process (see below). You are responsible for assignments given or any work missed during absences.

Withdrawal: See page 18 of the BC 1998-99 Catalog. If you decide to discontinue in the course for ANY reason, please make an official withdrawal. To withdrawal, you need to

2) Check-in your lab equipment to the stockroom and take your lock, apron, and goggles,

"STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWING FROM ANY CLASS OR CLASSES IN WHICH THEY NO LONGER WISH TO BE ENROLLED. NON-ATTENDANCE DOES NOT RELEASE THE STUDENT FROM THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

STUDENTS WHO FIND IT NECESSARY TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COLLEGE ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN ALL CHECKED OUT SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, (such as lab equipment), AND LIBRARY BOOKS; AND PAY ALL FINES AND DEBTS OWED THE COLLEGE.”

If you fail to officially withdraw from a class you are no longer attending, you will receive an "F" on your permanent transcript, you may be ineligible for future class registration at Bakersfield College, and a hold may be placed on your grades and transcripts.

Performance Objectives: Lists of performance objectives are given to you for each unit. The purpose of these objectives is to let you know what you are expected to learn to be successful in this course. They may prove helpful in preparing for tests and quizzes.

Evaluation: Points will be given for quizzes, tests, homework, lab reports, etc.

There will be four tests and a comprehensive final. Homework will be given weekly. Each lab experiment will have a written report.

Quality counts in all written work. Spelling, neatness, and grammar will be considered in all work.

Grading: Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade based on the percentage of total number of points you attain.

Make‑Up: No make‑up exams or quizzes will be given. If you are absent for a test or quiz, and if your absence is for either a death in the family or for sickness, you must consult with the instructor the first day you return to school after the absence if you wish to be excused for the absence. Un-excused absences result in a zero recorded for the missed work.

Lab make-up. If you are absent for a lab, and if your absence is for either a death in the family or for sickness, you must consult with the instructor the first day you return to school after the absence if you wish to be excused for the absence. A make-up experiment must be completed within ONE WEEK after returning to school. (Chemicals are often discarded after experiments, therefore the next available opportunity to complete the experiment may be the next semester). Labs not made-up result in a zero recorded for the missed work.

Cheating:[ii] “Cheating is defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain or aiding another to obtain academic credit for work by the use of any dishonest, deceptive means.”

“Every instructor has the responsibility and authority for dealing with such instances of cheating and plagiarism as may occur in class. An instructor who determines that a student has cheated or plagiarized has a range of many options which may be as severe as giving the student a failing grade for the assignment. Furthermore, the student may face other penalties as stated in the college’s Student Conduct Policy. Finally, it must be understood that a student who knowingly aids in another student’s cheating or plagiarism... is as guilty as the other of the offense.”

Lab Work: All lab work must be completed by you and handed in for evaluation. Lab reports are due at the beginning of the class period one week after the experiment is performed, unless told otherwise. Unsafe behavior may result in grade reductions. Copying of another student's lab report can result in zero credit for both the copier and the copied students. The graded lab reports are to be turned in at the end of the semester. Not turning in lab reports will result in a failing grade for Chemistry 2A.

Homework: All assignments, (lab reports, homework, test) should have your Name, due date, and title (for example, Chapter 1 & 2 homework, Lab Report # 9, etc.) in the upper right corner, as shown below.

Homework and test problems should have the answers boxed and easy to find. All calculations in homework, lab reports, and test require units and Dimensional Analysis. Problems requiring written responses should be answered in complete sentences. If I can not easily find and understand your answer, it is wrong. Neatness, correct spelling and grammar count in the grade.

Late Assignments: Assignments such as homework, lab reports, etc., will not be accepted late. Assignments are due before class starts on the due date.

Class/Lab Behavior: Any bigoted, racist, or sexist comments, may result in the student being expelled from Chemistry 2A.

1. To help you to understand the nature of science as both a process (way of thinking) and a product (knowledge).

2. To help you to bring into sharper focus the fundamentals of chemistry through an understanding of selected chemical concepts and principles.

3. To enlarge your knowledge and understanding of chemistry so that you may read and interpret both general and special chemical processes concerned with your vocation and avocation.

4. To help you to develop your ability in the solution of mathematical problems that are pertinent to an understanding of chemistry.

5. To help you, through the use of laboratory experiments and exercises, to correlate theories and problems, to observe accurately, and to draw correct conclusions on the basis of your experimental data.

6. To help you to apply knowledge of basic safety procedures in the handling of chemicals and equipment according to established safety guidelines.

Chemistry Definition: Chemistry is a study of the properties, structure and changes that occur with matter and the energy changes that occur with chemical and physical processes.

[i] Bakersfield College 1998-’99 Catalog, p. 18.

[ii] Bakersfield College 1998-’99 Catalog, p. 15-16.