Course Syllabus

CHEM 2:

Introductory Inorganic Chemistry

______________________________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION:

CHEM 2 is a 4 unit, one semester course, that parallels a one-year high school course in Chemistry. It has 3 hours of lecture each week & 3 hours of lab; students should expect to work a minimum of 6 hours outside of class (2 hours of study outside of class for every 1 hour of lecture). The course is designed to prepare students for CHEM 1A. The prerequisite for CHEM 2 is Elementary Algebra (MATH152).

The key goal in this course is to develop an atomic level understanding of everything you can observe or measure. Rather than focusing on the memorization of facts and algorithms (while this may sometimes be necessary), the primary objective will be to make predictions and provide explanations. Specifically, you will be building knowledge of chemistry, and developing an understanding of the scientific process in general.

 

 Zerubba Levi, Chemistry Professor

Office: 614-A

E-mail: zerubba.levi@cabrillo.edu

Phone: (831) 477-3230

• Office Hours:
• Monday-Thursday: 8:20-9:20 am in 614-A
• If you can't meet during regularly scheduled office hours, please call or email me to make an appointment to meet outside of office hours.

• Lecture: meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9:30 to 10:50 pm in Room 609.

 _____________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION:

Materials and supplies can be purchased from the Cabrillo Bookstore (see website) or through an online supplier where available.

• Four green Scantron sheets (Form 882-E) for use on exams.
• A NON-PROGRAMMABLE scientific calculator. Cell phones may NOT be used on quizzes or exams.
• Safety glasses.
• "Introductory Chemistry" by Nivaldo J. Tro, 4th Edition, ISBN: 9780321687937 (Also available USED on Amazon.com for a substantially reduced price). THERE IS ALSO A COPY OF THIS BOOK ON RESERVE IN THE LIBRARY.

• Small-Scale Chemistry Laboratory Manual, By Wilbraham, ISBN: 9780131903609 (Also available USED on Amazon.com)

• iClicker Remote, THE REMOTES WILL BE SUPPLIED BY THE INSTRUCTOR AND ASSIGNED TO STUDENTS; students must return remote upon completion of the course for their final grade to be submitted. If remotes are lost, they must be replaced. ISBN: 9781464120152 (Also available USED on Amazon.com). Please note that the iClicker app for smart phones will not be used or accepted for this course (since the remotes will sometimes be used for Concept Checks).

______________________________________________________________________________________

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. ANALYZE major chemical reactions and PREDICT outcomes of simple chemical reactions from given reactants.
2. WRITE reactions with correct chemical names, formulas and balanced chemical equations.
3. SOLVE stoichiometry problems and unit conversion problems with appropriate conversion factors and significant figures.

______________________________________________________________________________________

ASSESSMENT & GRADING:

The complete listing of topics covered, textbook readings, assignments and due dates can be found on the course homepage. Course grades will be calculated as follows:

Course Component	Percentage of Grade
Exams	55 %
Quizzes & Homework	15 %
Participation	5 %
Laboratory Work	25 %

Extra credit (no more than 3% of course grade) will be offered from time to time for independent projects or completing surveys, and will be announced on the announcements page of this website.

Exams, quizzes, lab reports, or other course assignments may NOT be made-up, unless students can provide DOCUMENTATION of a medical illness or emergency that prohibited their participation in regular course work. 

Letter grades will be assigned according to the cutoffs below:

Letter Grade	A	B	C	D	F
Course Percentage	90.0-100%	80.0-89.9%	70.0-79.9 %	60.0-69.9 %	< 60.0%

 ______________________________________________________________________________________

• EXAMS: Three Midterm Exams (100 points each) and one comprehensive Final Exam (250 points) will be given, for a total of 550 points (55 % of total course grade). Each exam will consist of multiple choice questions (scantron needed) and free response questions. The exam questions will be closely tied to the lecture slides, iClicker questions, & quizzes. 

______________________________________________________________________________________

• HOMEWORK & QUIZZES: Homework assignments related to the daily readings will be assigned from the textbook. These problems will NOT be collected or graded, but still represent an important element of the course. As an incentive for completing the assigned problems, the reading and homework questions will be used to generate quiz questions.

• There are two types of quizzes in this course: 1) "Concept Checks" that occur at the start of EVERY lecture; and 2) Standard Quizzes that occur during lab time. Please see below for an explanation of each:

Quiz Grade	Maximum Points
Concept Checks (2.5 points each)	50
Standard Quizzes	Normalized to 100
Total (15 % of Course Grade)	150

 

• STANDARD QUIZZES: Announced at least two days in advance, these quizzes will consist of multiple choice AND free response questions, and will be administered during lab time. The goal of these quizzes is to prepare you for the questions and format of the exams. The quiz questions will be closely related to the lecture slides, iClicker questions, and helpful links from the course website. At the end of the course, the total points possible for the standard quizzes will be normalized to 100 points.

• CONCEPT CHECKS: At the start of EACH lecture (~26 lectures total), a multiple choice quiz question will be given. You will have 5-10 minutes to work INDIVIDUALLY and respond with your personal iClicker remote. Responses will be graded for accuracy (2.5 points for a correct answer).  These are called Concept Checks because they are based on the reading and lecture slides from the PREVIOUS class period. These graded questions provide incentive for reviewing the lecture material on a daily basis, and serve as a low-stakes check-in on your understanding of the material.
• Please note that Concept Checks cannot be made up in the event of an absence. If you arrive late, you will NOT be given additional time for the quiz question. 

______________________________________________________________________________________

• PARTICIPATION: For full participation credit, a maximum of 50 points (5 % of the course grade) will be awarded as follows:

•  In lecture or lab, students will sometimes be asked to work in small groups (3-5 students per group) to solve multiple choice questions requiring critical thinking, and knowledge of chemistry. Each student will then submit their answer individually. Answers will be submitted and recorded with the iClicker remote response system. These responses will not be graded for accuracy. Answering ALL of the iClicker questions for a given lecture or lab period will be worth 2 points. By responding to iClicker questions, students can receive a maximum of 50 points (which represents full credit for participation).
• You are not allowed to enter responses for another student who is absent from class; if this behavior is observed, all students involved will receive a 0 for their participation grade.

______________________________________________________________________________________

• LABORATORY WORK: The laboratory is a major and essential part of this course. Attendance in lab is REQUIRED. Laboratory work is intended to familiarize you with basic laboratory techniques, encourage exploration of the process of scientific inquiry, and illustrate concepts of chemistry.
•  There are no make-up experiments. A missed experiment will earn 0 points. Safety glasses or goggles are to be worn at all times. The Cabrillo College laboratory safety rules will be enforced at all times. Students who refuse to obey these rules will be asked to leave the laboratory.
• We will be using exercises from the required lab manual as well as handouts which I will provide throughout the course. 
• While working on an experiment, students will record their experimental data and observations in their lab manual. After the data collection is finished, students must proceed with the analysis of their experimental data and their calculations.
• For each experiment, you must read and understand both the background information and the procedure BEFORE coming to the laboratory.
• You must arrive to lab on time. If you are late for the period, you may not be allowed to perform the scheduled experiment. 
• Each report is worth 20 points (including 2 points for safety and cleanup), and is due at the START of the next lab period. At the end of the course, the total points possible for all of the reports will be normalized to 250 points (25 % of the course grade).
• Assignments turned in after the start of the lab period are late and will be deducted 30%. An additional 30% will be deducted each additional lab period the assignment is late. Assignments more than 3 lab sessions late will not be accepted.
• For some experiments, you may be collecting and sharing data with a partner. HOWEVER, you must do your own calculations and formulate your own conclusions for each experiment. Please refer to the section on Academic Integrity below for more information.

______________________________________________________________________________________ 

SCHEDULE & IMPORTANT DATES:

CHEM 2 is a 16 week course (including the week of Final Examinations). The complete listing of topics covered, textbook readings, assignments and due dates can be found on the course homepage. Please be advised that it is your responsibility to ensure your schedule is open during exam times listed below. It is also your responsibility to submit to the Admissions Office the necessary paperwork for adding and dropping a course; failure to do so can result in you not being officially enrolled or having an "F" grade appear on your permanent record.

Important Course Dates 

Lecture Quiz 1	Thursday, September 12th
To receive course refund, withdraw by:	Saturday, September 14th
To drop without a "W," withdraw by:	Sunday, September 15th
Midterm Exam 1	Thursday, September 26th
Deadline for pass/no pass grade option:	Saturday, October 5th
Midterm Exam 2:	Tuesday, October 22nd
Midterm Exam 3:	Tuesday, November 19th
Last day to drop without letter grade:	November 23rd
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAMINATION:	Thursday, December 19th, 1-3:50 pm in Room 615

The above schedule is subject to change. It may be changed as the class progresses to allow for the extension or abbreviation of certain material. Please see the course calendar for an up-to-date listing of exam times and assignment deadlines.

______________________________________________________________________________________

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS:

If you are serious about being successful in this course, I highly recommend you read and adopt these study tips discussed in this link. This advice could very well apply to any course or subject you choose to learn.

Below, I've outlined some of my own thoughts on learning, as well as highlighted valuable resources we have available at Cabrillo.

• INDEPENDENT STUDY: To thoroughly learn the concepts of chemistry (or any subject for that matter), you must be an actively engaged and dedicated learner. This means you must do more than simply listen to an instructor in lecture, review lecture slides, and watch videos. To improve your independent study skills, I would encourage the following practices:
• After reading a page or paragraph in the textbook, try to explain the concept IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Science textbooks are not like fictional literature. It may sometimes be necessary to re-read, and re-re-read a section to understand the material. When you can't understand a complex sentence break it down into smaller pieces and try to understand each of the components. Ask questions about how something could be proved or tested. Reading in this way can be slow and frustrating, but it will help lead you to a deeper understanding than if you just skimmed the material. 
• Try to arrange your schedule so you can read the assigned textbook sections BEFORE coming to lecture. This way you have already been exposed to the terminology and concepts before I try to explain them as best as I can. Studying chemistry can be like learning a new language, and you need practice reading it on your own.
• After lecture, spend the time going over practice problems. Try to work through questions without reference to the lecture slides, readings, or an answer key. Only when you are stumped should you consult external materials. Remember, you are trying to train yourself to solve problems independently. That being said, group work can be a powerful component to learning and retaining new concepts.

• GROUP STUDY: You will often be asked to make study groups during lecture and lab time.  I recommend forming study groups to work outside of class time as well. Success in science and math is increased by active study and discussion with peers. Take group discussions as an opportunity to listen to how other people understand and explain concepts; this can lend new perspective. At the same time, try to offer your own explanations for difficult concepts. Trying to teach material to others can solidify your understanding or can help you pinpoint areas that you still don't entirely grasp.

______________________________________________________________________________________

CAMPUS RESOURCES:

• OPEN ACCESS COMPUTER LAB: Students may use the Open Access Computer labs for word processing, Internet access, and printing. The Open Access Labs are located in the Library, the Aptos CTC (Building 1400) Watsonville CTC (Room WatA310) and the Watsonville ILC (Room WatA210).

• MESA Center is in the 800 Building, phone: (831) 479-5785. They have free tutors, workshops, internet access and food! Study for your Math, Science, and Engineering at the MESA lab with your fellow classmates in a comfortable, casual atmosphere.

MESA is a nationally recognized program that has been assisting students in preparing for careers in math-based fields for over 40 years at certain high schools, universities, and community colleges in California. Cabrillo's MESA Program has its home in the MESA Study Center, now located in the new STEM Center on the top floor of the 800 Building. There the following services are provided to ALL Cabrillo students:

• Academic Excellence Workshops where participating students meet twice a week to sharpen skills and improve understanding for selected math, physics, or engineering courses;
• A study center equipped with computers, science-related software, and a small reference library of science and math books;
• Drop-in and group tutoring in math and sciences provided by math and science professionals and by students, and
• The opportunity to be a member of a supportive community of students all working toward transfer in a science, engineering or math major.

To those students who qualify for MESA membership, there are many more services and opportunities that are offered to ensure their successful transfer in science, engineering and math majors;

• Academic counseling by a designated MESA counselor to establish and update education plans,
• Scholarships, internships, leadership retreats, summer research programs;
• Field trips to industry sites, science museums, and prospective transfer universities;
• Long-term calculator, computer, and locker checkouts;
• Sponsored student travel to professional conferences and
• Free printing and copying in the Center.

To qualify for MESA membership, students must be working toward transfer in a math, engineering or science major; they must be eligible for financial aid and they must have some educational obstacle, such as being the first in their families to attend college. To find out more, come by the MESA Study Center in the STEM Center in the 800 Building, call (831) 479-6503, or use our website shortcut: www.cabrillomesa.org.

• THE MATHEMATICS LEARNING CENTER: The Math Learning Center (MLC) is a free drop-in math tutoring service for Cabrillo College math students and students taking courses having math prerequisites. The MLC was created to help students develop an ability to tackle math problems on their own. By logging into the MLC database, students may request and receive help within minutes. Some of the ways in which students receive help are:
• clarifying and applying basic math concepts
• test taking and study skills
• understanding applications
• problem solving skills
• interpreting solutions
• organizing information
• analyzing errors
• connecting new knowledge to existing knowledge
• using resources (books, notes, calculators, Internet, computers and mobile devices)
• building confidence

When requesting help, individual tutors go to where students are studying. There is no line to wait in and students are helped in the order in which they request help. To reduce waiting time, each student is often helped with one or two problems before the tutor moves on to the next student. This gives students an opportunity to apply what they just learned to similar or new problems on their own; however, there is no limit to the number of times students may request help. Students may see how busy the MLC is by visiting the webpage: www.mlc.polyhedraldesign.com.

In addition to tutoring, students may use their Cabrillo Library Card to check out calculators, laptops*, textbooks, textbook videos, various learning software packages and a biofeedback system for managing math anxiety. These materials are available for use in the MLC. Also provided are exam review sessions and study sessions when coordinated with the instructor. To use the MLC during the semester, please visit the Center in room 1074 and register for services. For additional information about the MLC, call (831) 477-5696 or visit the website at www.cabrillo.edu/services/mlc.

• FOR DSPS ACCOMMODATIONS: As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accommodations are provided to insure equal opportunity for students with verified disabilities. Students needing accommodations should contact the instructor as soon as possible with documentation from the Learning Skills or DSPS offices.  For more information, please contact Disabled Student Services, Room 810, phone: (831) 479-6379, or the Learning Skills Program, Room 1073, phone: (831) 479-6220.

______________________________________________________________________________________

CONDUCT & ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: If you are late to lecture or need to leave early, please be courteous enough to do so quietly. Any unauthorized use of cell phones and computers (including emailing, texting, surfing the web, and playing games) during lecture or lab is considered disrespectful towards the instructor and other students. If phone or computer use becomes distracting to other students or to me, I will ask you to leave the classroom. 

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty in accordance with the Cabrillo College Academic Integrity Policy. If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing at any time, then your violation will be reported and you will receive an F for that assignment or assessment (0 points). If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing a second time, you will receive an F for the course.

Any smart phones or other electronic devices (other than calculators) shall not be visible during any quiz or test. Failure to have devices out of sight will forfeit your grade for that assessment, and may lead to disciplinary action.