CHEM212-001, Fall 2009

Lect. Tu, R  1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

S & T-1, Rm 131

Dr. G. L. R. Weatherspoon

Office Hours: 3:00-4:00 p.m. Tu, R 

Science & Tech-1, Rm. 343

REQUIRED BOOK FOR LECTURE COURSE:   Chemistry:  The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change, 5th edition (2009); Silberberg; McGraw-Hill publishers.

This is the second of a two semester chemistry course for science majors that builds on fundamental principles mastered in the first semester of the course. A passing grade of at least "C" should have been earned in Chem 211 before attempting to pass this course. A review of Chem 211 concepts (mathematical operations, trends in the periodic table, laboratory experiments) should take place before the first class meeting.  Please feel free to discuss any aspect of the course with me during office hours or during a scheduled appointment. Due to time constraints and duties besides this course drop-in attempts for office hours and assistance are strongly discouraged. Do not expect to dominate the entire period reserved for office hours and be considerate of others when you do show up for office hours. An additional aid provided by the Chemistry Department is the tutoring center, Rm. 2002-A of SUB-II, which is open during the week and staffed by students who have been successful in the subject matter.   Periodically announcements concerning the tutoring center and all General Chem sections will be posted electronically.  To maximize your performance in the course requires daily practice and class attendance.  If you honestly do not have the time or inclination to work at chemistry daily and attend ALL of the scheduled classes, DROP NOW and save the tuition.

Positive classroom participation will be considered during tabulation of final grades. Students should come to class prepared to work problems on the board. Paced learning, rather than last minute cramming, will prove beneficial to your performance in the lecture and laboratory portions of this course. "All-night cram sessions" and doing just enough to hopefully get by are the primary reasons for the high "F" rate in chemistry.  

The successful student will make use of the many learning aids available: discussions, study groups and work sessions with fellow students, actively participating in class, working textbook problems. Keep in mind that lecture is a learning aid used to clarify concepts and does not control how much you learn---you do.   Your textbook also lists a very useful study aid that may be accessed via the internet.

Departmental seminars are usually held each Thursday.  Speakers and locations will be posted throughout S&T-1.  Attendance is strongly recommended, especially for chemistry majors.  Chemistry and biochemistry majors should also consider joining the local student affiliate chapter of the ACS (GMU Chemistry Club) as well as ACS.

Grading :

• The final grade in this course will be based on a percentage of points earned relative to total possible points. Listed below is the tentative point distribution for examinations, quizzes and the laboratory grade. However, an absolute grading scale cannot be determined until all scores have been compiled and evaluated. In order to optimize your overall performance use the following scale as a rule of thumb, keeping in mind that the scale is subject to change during the course of the semester: 100-90% (A); 89-80% (B); 79-70% (C); <69% (D or F). DO NOT RELY UPON A "CURVE"; MAXIMIZE YOUR OVERALL PERFORMANCE IRRESPECTIVE OF A "CURVE".   The university-wide  undergraduate grading scale will be used.  
   

Hourly exams:

• A valid GMU ID is required for all exams.  Other forms of ID will not be accepted.   GMU ID cards that do not clearly show the face and identification number will not  be accepted.   Presentation of an ID card once your Scan-Tron form has been turned in and you exit the examination area will not be accepted for the exam(s).

• Students are responsible for providing their own calculators, pencils, and Scan-Tron forms for examinations. You should be very familiar with your calculator prior to exam dates.  PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATORS WILL BE ALLOWED ONLY DURING ANNOUNCED QUIZ and EXAMINATION PERIODS.  CALCULATOR SHARING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED DURING TESTING PERIODS. Small computers are also not allowed during examination periods.  Use of such will be considered an honor code violation and dealt with accordingly. Three exams  (oldexam1, oldexam2, oldexam3)and a final cumulative exam will be given during the semester. All exam scores will be used in determining the final grade.  Makeup exams will not be given.  It is your responsibility to schedule your plane/train travel around the listed exam dates and times.

• All cell phones and communications devices are to be turned off, properly secured and stored away BEFORE the exams begin.   If I find (see or hear) a cell phone on a student during an exam, the student will receive an automatic "F" for the course, since this is an honor code violation.   The matter will also be referred to the Honor Committee.  If another student observes the violation it will also be reported to the Honor Committee and result in a grade of "F" for the course.   Any student who has knowledge of, but does not report, a violation may be accused of lying under the Honor Code (  or refer to pages 30-31 of the 2007-2008 GMU Catalog).

• If you are caught cheating during an exam your exam will be confiscated and you will be asked to leave the room immediately. A grade of "F" will be recorded and the matter referred to the Honor Committee with recommendation of prosecution to the fullest extent.

• Exam policy

• PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED FOR THE FINAL EXAM.   It is your responsibility to secure a basic non-programmable calculator and familiarize yourself with it prior to the final exam period.

• The final examination can only be rescheduled by the COS Assistant Dean.

Quizzes:

• The quizzes will be administered during the semester using a computerized quiz program.  The quizzes are not optional/extra credit work and count toward your final grade.  Computer generated and administered quizzes will be taken in Room 2002-A of SUB-II at your discretion during the normal hours of operation.  Deadlines will be posted  on the General Chemistry Webpage and in the table below.   Refer to the tables for updates in deadlines.    The first deadline is September 11, 2009.   Programmable calculators will NOT be allowed for computerized quizzes---departmental policy applicable to all General Chemistry sections!!!   This will eliminate confusion for the quiz monitors AND you will already have a non-programmable calculator that you are familiar with before the final exam period.

Laboratory:

• A passing grade must also be obtained in the laboratory portion of the course.  It is critical that you understand the theory and experimental concepts of the first part of General Chemistry in order to be successful in the second part of the course. All students enrolled in the lecture must take the lab concurrently, since the laboratory score is integrated into the lecture grade.  Failure to do so will automatically result in an "F" for the course.

• Due to the large number of students enrolled in Chem 212, all students officially enrolled in the lab must be present at the start of the lab period throughout the drop period. Late-shows will be dropped from the lab and their slot assigned to a student on the waiting list.

• Each laboratory instructor will assign a score according to the percentage of total points earned throughout the semester by the student.  It is your responsibility to  work through the example problems provided in the lab manual as well as the practice problems.    

• Lab grades will be normalized, if necessary, to the common laboratory mean score for all Chem 212 lab sections combined if the individual laboratory section average is ±5% from the combined laboratory mean.  Normalization is performed to ensure equity in lab scores for all students enrolled in Chem 212. 

• Students who completed Chem 212 laboratory in a prior semester, and who scored above the section average, may waive the lab requirement.   Those who previously earned a score below average must retake the entire lab course. Lab waiver forms can be obtained from the Chemistry Department’s main office (Rm. 343, S&T-1). The form must be completed and submitted to the Chemistry Department  by September 3, 2009 .

Homework:

• The problems at the end of the chapters are provided for your benefit in order to develop critical problem solving skills necessary in this course. Do not quit after working the easier problems. The more challenging problems incorporate several concepts and will better prepare you for quizzes and exams. Selected problems will be worked in class on a "time permitting basis." You should reserve a separate spiral bound notebook for working out the problems and bring the notebook to the instructor’s office hours or the tutors when seeking help. You should be able to demonstrate that you have put forth a reasonable effort toward mastery of the material before seeking help. Do not get discouraged and spend excessive amounts of time on a single problem. Move on to those you can solve and budget your time wisely.

• Online homework is not optional and will count toward your final grade.

• Colligative mole fraction and Vapor Pressure

• pH scale w.r.t. biological systems

Contact

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