CHEM 100 Introduction to Chemistry

Class:MTWR 1500-1550, McCracken 3190
Prerequisites:MATH 110 or equivalent
Text:Zumdahl, Basic Chemistry, 4th Edition
Instructor
General Information
Topic Schedule
Assignments
Quizzes & Exams
Grading
Class Policies

CHEM 100 is a course intended to give students the skills essential to the science of chemistry. It consists of instruction in the fundamental principles and practice with the fundamental tools for solving chemical problems: matter and its description, nomenclature, chemical equations, stoichiometry, measurement units and conversions, and reactions. This course will not fulfill any curricular requirements for any chemistry major or minor at WMU. Its purpose is to prepare students for enrollment in the college-level sequence, beginning with CHEM 110, General Chemistry I.

All information in this syllabus is available at http://unix.cc.wmich.edu/~millerj/chem100

Instructor
Dr. John B. Miller
Office: Wood 3156, 387-2871
Lab: Haenicke 4450, 387-2951
john.b.miller@wmich.edu
Office Hours
TWR 1600-1700
or by appointment


General Information  homearrow

The class meets four days per week. These will generally be broken down into:


Topic Schedule  homearrow

The course topics will be covered in a significantly different order than that of the text. The first half of the material is descriptive, developing a model and establishing common principles and language. The second half of the materials is more quantitative.

Week

Dates

Topics(s)

Reading

Notices

1

1/5 - 1/6

Intro: Chemistry & Science

Ch. 1

2

1/10 - 1/13

Matter

Ch. 3.1-3.5, 4

Quiz #1

3

1/18 - 1/20

Atoms

Ch. 10

Quiz #2
no class MON
Wed prob session will be shortened

4

1/24 - 1/27

Bonding & Molecules

Ch. 11

Quiz #3

5

1/31 - 2/3

Chemical Nomenclature

Ch. 5

Quiz #4

6

2/7 - 2/10

Chemical Reactions

Ch. 6

Quiz #5

7

2/14 - 2/17

Aqueous Reactions

Ch. 7

Quiz #6

8

2/21 - 2/24

Calculations, Measurement & Units

Ch. 2, 3.6

Midterm (weeks 1-7)

9

3/6 - 3/9

Chemical Composition

Ch. 8

Quiz #7

10

3/13 - 3/16

Chemical Quantities

Ch. 9

Quiz #8

11

3/20 - 3/23

Gases

Ch. 12

Quiz #9

12

3/27 - 3/30

Liquid & Solids

Ch. 13

Quiz #10

13

4/3 - 4/6

Solutions

Ch. 14

Quiz #11

14

4/10 - 4/13

Acids & Bases

Ch. 15

Quiz #12

15

Thursday 20 April, 2:45-4:45

FINAL EXAM

Comprehensive (weeks 1-14)


Assignments  homearrow

Reading
Reading assignments should be complete before the topic is covered in class. Learning favors the prepared mind.

Homework
Suggested homework will be assigned on a regular basis. Homework is intended as a study guide. It will not be collected or graded. Many of the quiz and examination questions will be nearly identical to the homework problems. Student success is directly correlated to understanding and completing the assigned problems. A large portion of each Wednesday will be spent in working student-suggested problems.


Quizzes & Examinations  homearrow

Quizzes
Twelve short weekly quizzes will be administered, usually during the first half of class on Thursday. The two lowest scores will be dropped. It is to the student´s advantage to take all of the quizzes, regardless of how well-prepared you may feel; any points are better than no points.

Examinations
A midterm examination covering the first seven weeks of the course will be given on 24 February, the Thursday before Winter recess. A comprehensive final examination will be given at
2:45 on Thursday 20 April.


Grading  homearrow

Quizzes:500 points
 (12@50 points,
 two lowest dropped)
59 %
Midterm Examination:100 points12 %
Final Examination:250 points29 %
TOTAL:850 points
Approximate grading scale
A94-100%
BA88-93%
B84-87%
CB78-83%
C74-77%
DC68-73%
D60-67%
E0-59%

Current individual scores will be posted on the class web site (http://unix.cc.wmich.edu/~millerj/chem100/grades.htm).


Class Policies  homearrow

Make-ups
Make-up quizzes and examinations will generally not be permitted. Under the rare circumstances where a make-up might be granted, prior notification and consent of the instructor will be required.

Attendance
Attendance in class is important, as material is often covered in lecture that is complementary to the text. Missed announcements of schedule changes, etc., due to absence will not be grounds for making up a quiz.

Academic Integrity
Adeherance to the University Academic Integrity policy as explained in the Undergraduate Catalog is expected. No breach of this policy will be tolerated. Any offenders, explicit or complicit, will be dealt with in accordance with the established University procedures.