SYLLABUS
Fall, 2005

Chemistry 100:  General Chemistry I

Instructor: Dr. Ed Vitz                         Office:  315 Boehm Hall

Office Hours:  TH 9-11;  M 2-3;   Other times by arrangement--please call.or email

Phone: 610.683.4443                                     email:   vitz@kutztown.edu

web:  http://faculty.kutztown.edu/vitz/

Text: Kotz, J.C. , P.M. Treichel, and G. Weaver, “Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity,” Thomson/Brooks/Cole, 2006. ISBN 0495089699. The text includes a “Personal Responder” (looks like a TV remote control) that is required for the course (see below).

Study Guide: The study guide with problem solutions is available at the Library Circulation Desk. 
Lab Text:  Vitz, E., “LIMSport: Computer Data Acquisition and Reduction for the General Chemistry Laboratory,” Kutztown University, 2005.

Course Features: 

General Chemistry is designed for science majors who have some knowledge of algebra and usually have previous experience in chemistry, although little previous knowledge of chemistry will be assumed.

**Web Site:  Browse to http://faculty.kutztown.edu/vitz/chm100/100home.html.  Here you will find a copy of this syllabus, the course schedule, links to the Textbook homepage with practice quizzes and other resources, and links to the laboratory homepages and to the WebCT online resources. 

**WebCT: Lecture slides and some lecture homework assignments will also be accessed in WebCT.  To logon to WebCT:
WebCT Login ID: Use your KU ID: see http://www.kutztown.edu/infotech/news/upgrades2005/unc05.shtml
Web CT Initial Password:  Same as your Login ID.  Change your password by clicking on the “Password” icon in WebCT when you first login.

**Course Schedule:  A schedule of course topics, reading assignments, homework assignments, and electronic homework (iLrn) assignments, quizzes, and tests is attached.  Students should skim the sections of the text and iLrn assigned on the schedule before lectures, then review and complete the exercise assignments shortly after the corresponding lectures.  The assigned text problems will not be collected (see iLrn below), but you will not do well on quizzes and tests if you do not thoroughly understand the assigned readings, and doing text problems will increase your understanding. The quizzes and tests which are listed on the schedule, will have questions similar to those assigned for homework. 

**Personal Response System (PRS): All lectures will be interactive, including occasional questions that students answer by selecting keys on a “personal responder” similar to a TV remote. Attendance at each lecture will be recorded by PRS responses, and extra credit will be assigned for correct responses to PRS questions.

**Electronic Homework (iLrn) Assignments: The homework assignments for each topic on the course schedule are completed by going to the iLrn site, http://www.ilrn.com. When you visit for the first time, click on “First Time Users” and enter the access code that was supplied with your textbook. It will have the form KTGC06C-xxxxxxxxxxxxx. Then enter your email address, select Kutztown University, and make up a password to complete your registration. Individually-graded Electronic Homework assignments should be completed without consulting other students or instructors about specific problems (general questions and discussion is encouraged).  Evidence of other students doing your work can lead to zero credit in this part of the course.  Your scores will be automatically recorded when you complete assignments on any networked computer, and for credit, you must complete the assignments by one week after the assignment date on the Schedule (starting dates and due dates for each assignment are given at the iLrn site.  You must finish all assignments, but you have unlimited attempts to do so, and only your highest score counts. Attempts after the due date may lower your score, since there is a 10%/day penalty.

Merely getting the right answer to a homework problem is not the goal: Learning the concepts is the goal. Answers are actually provided for you on pp. A36 and A56 of the text, in the answer manual on reserve at the library, and during the electronic homework sessions.  You should know why these answers are correct, but to learn the concepts you should also

(1) try alternative solutions to correctly solve problems, 

(2) try alternative solutions which incorrectly solve problems, and know why they’re wrong, and 

(3) visualize how the solutions might be applied in the laboratory, home, or industry (this will help you recognize when the problem solution is appropriate).

**Study Guide:  Copies of the Study Guide and Answer Book are available at the Library at the Reserve Desk next to the Circulation Desk on the Main Floor of the library.

**Supplemental Instruction:  Three optional but highly recommended periods per week of help sessions, practice quizzes, and tutoring will be led by an upper-class Chemistry Major.

**Extra Credit will be used as a reason to “boost” grades that are close to the next higher letter grade at the end of the semester. Extra credit effort proves that you deserve the next higher grade. If 80 is a “B”, 78 or 79 is a “C” unless you give evidence during the semester of deserving the higher grade.

1. PRS (personal responder system) correct responses will count as extra credit.

2. CAI (Computer Aided Instruction) Programs:  You may earn extra credit as well as increase your scores on tests by viewing computer programs in the Chemistry Laboratory, or by browsing to URLs linked on the CHM100 home page, and writing reviews.  On the lab computers, the “Mastering Chemistry” series provides fundamental skills and prerequisites, while “Comprehensive Chemistry” has video simulations and a variety of materials on topics for this academic year.   “Chemland” has interesting simulations. You will have to choose programs that are relevant to current course topics, and take notes on what the program directs you to do for extra credit.

3. Attendance: A small extra credit bonus will be awarded for attendance, which will be recorded daily by PRS. Lectures will include demonstrations and a different order of presentation from the text, so attendance will be necessary for earning good grades.

**Calculator:   Obtain a LCD calculator with log functions and scientific (exponential) display.  You are encouraged to use it during exams and quizzes. If you have a calculator with memory, we reserve the right to clear all data before quizzes or tests.

**Tutors:   If you have difficulty, student tutors will be available at the Ability Development Center, 150 Beekey Hall (call ext. 3-4208).

**Laboratory: You must attend one three-hour laboratory session weekly. You must have a written excuse for absences in order to make up a missed lab; otherwise you will receive a zero for the missed session. You must arrange with your instructor to make up a lab within one week of missing it. You need to supply your own safety goggles (available in the bookstore or hardware stores), and a lockable storage drawer will be supplied in the laboratory for your equipment. Students will not be allowed to work in the laboratory without goggles.

    The laboratory (Boehm 320) will be open for CHM 100 students to work on CAI and iLrn except when CHM101 labs are in session, as follows:

        M-F 2-5 PM;  H, 8-11 AM, M,T,W 6-9 PM

Instructors will often be available in the lab before the official session begins.

Grading:

Component Weightings: Grade Assignments
    Test I and II:  32% A 90-100%** ** of highest score

    Final Exam:  28%  B 80-90%

    EHW:  7% C 70-80%

Lab:   25%  D 60-70%

   Quizzes:  8% F <60%