General Chemistry at Penn State

CHEM 112

SUMMER HOME PAGE

Instructor Info

Syllabus

General Information

Exam Schedule


 

Summer 2008

Chemistry 112 is the second course in a two-course sequence in General Chemistry.  The object of this course is to introduce you to some of the basic principles of chemistry with an emphasis on the relationships between the microscopic structure and macroscopic properties of matter.  We will also illustrate the use of these principles in a wide variety of examples from the life sciences, from engineering and technology, and from everyday life. While it is a continuation of Chemistry 110 (Chem 12), using the same text and building on the subject matter of Chemistry 110, it differs from Chemistry 110 in two important respects:

1. There are no required recitation classes. All of the class meetings will be of lecture size.

2. You will find much less carry-over of material from your high school chemistry course in Chem 112 than you did in Chem 110.

The format of Chem 112 places a larger responsibility on you to master the subject material of the course.

 INSTRUCTORS:

You are encouraged to discuss chemistry and this course with your instructor.  Meetings with your instructor can be arranged at the end of lecture, by telephone, or by email.  Simple questions or comments can also be sent via electronic mail.  For administrative questions and questions concerning exam scores contact the administrative assistant in 210 Whitmore.

 TEACHING ASSISTANTS:

TEXTBOOK AND OTHER MATERIALS:

1.  Required Textbook:  T.L. Brown, H.E. LeMay, and B.E. Bursten, Chemistry, The Central Science, 10th Edition, Prentice-Hall, 2006.

2.  Chem 112 Student Packet (required). Available at the Penn State Bookstore on campus. This packet has the General Course Information, Supplemental Homework Problems and Practice exams.

3. The Chem 112 web site contains a syllabus, links to lecture notes, supplementary reading assignments, and multiple choice homework problems. You will be responsible for printing out these materials. You are strongly advise to bring copies of lecture notes to lecture, so you can listen, think, and ask questions rather than spend all your time copying down what is written on the overheads. In addition to these required materials, sample exams from previous years are also available on the course Web page.  Please note that because of changes in the course old exams may not contain precisely the same collection of materials as this year’s exams.

4.  A suitable scientific calculator (one that handles numbers in scientific notation and provides log/antilog functions) is essential.  Calculators with text-storage capabilities (such as the TI-81) will not be permitted for use on exams and quizzes.

5. Optional Materials:  Hill, Student’s Guide to Brown, LeMay & Bursten and Wilson, Bursten & LeMay, Solutions to Black Exercises are optional; they are available in the bookstores if you wish to use them.

LECTURES:  Chem 112 meets for five lectures each week.  You should attend every lecture even if you think you already know the material.  You are responsible for all course material and administrative announcements covered in lecture, including problem assignments, syllabus changes, and exam locations. Always read the material covered in a lecture before the lecture. Reading both the textbook and trying problems assigned from the text prior to the lecture is essential.

HOMEWORK:  Homework assignments are given in the syllabus. The end of the Chapter homework problems should be done before lecture. The supplemental multiple choice homework problems can be done after lecture. These homework problems will prepare you for the graded on-line quizzes. Doing all assigned problems is essential to success in this course. If you have questions about the homework you can raise them during class or seek help in the Resource Room 211 Whitmore).

 WEB BASED HOMEWORK:

1. Basic Skills. There are 8 Basic Skills tests available on line. Detailed instructions for taking these tests will be posted. You will be allowed to take these tests as many times as you like, however, you must achieve 100% on these tests in order to receive credit. Deadlines for each of the Basic Skills Tests are given on the On-Line Quiz  Instruction page.

2. On-line Quizzes. There will be 9 Unit quizzes that you will be expected to do on-line. These on-line problems sets will be graded. Each quiz will be about 10-15 questions. After doing the assigned homework in the syllabus, you should be able to do these problems. You will have a limited number of attempts for each quiz so it is important that you do the assigned homework BEFORE attempting the quizzes. (Note: each quiz will be unique.) Your grade for each quiz will be the highest score of your total attempts. There will be a deadline for each problem set as well. Once the deadline has passed, you will not be able to access the on-line problem set.

EXAMINATIONS:  There will be two mid term examinations during the semester and a comprehensive final examination during the final exam period. 

Three midterm  examinations 

Exam 1: Monday 6/2 at 12:45 pm

Exam 2: Monday 6/16 at 12:45 pm

Final: Monday   6/30 at TBA

The dates and times for the mid-semester exams are fixed; one of the time options will be during regular class time so  there will be no conflict exams offered.

The final exam will be given at the time set by the University in its final exam schedule.  Locations for all exams will be announced in class, and posted on the web. Results of exams will be posted in the same location.  You should bring to each exam your calculator, some #2 pencils, an eraser, and your student I.D. card.  A periodic table and data sheet will be provided with each exam.  Be sure you know your correct section number and student I.D. number and that you enter these correctly on your exam answer sheet.

MAKE-UP EXAM:  A student having a legitimate excuse for missing any of the three scheduled tests will be provided with a single make-up opportunity near the end of the semester.  This make-up test will cover the material of all midterm exams.  It is your responsibility to obtain permission from your lecturer to take this exam and to respond to the in-class request to sign up for this exam; this will be made shortly after the second exam.

GRADING:  Your course grade will be completely determined by your homework, cooperative quizzes, three mid-semester exam grades and your final exam grade.  These will be weighted as follows:

Basic Skills                                  5.0%          10 points
Unit quizzes                               17.5%          35 points
2 mid-semester examinations;   22.5% @     45 points
Final examination                      
(comprehensive)                        32.5%          65 points
                                                   100%        200 points

These minimum summary scores will be needed to receive the following letter grades:

        A/A- :               88           176 course points
        B+/B/B- :         77           154 course points
        C+/C :             66           132 course points
        D :                   55           110 course points

These grade cuts are absolute and immutable. If you are grieving because you came close to a grade cut, you will find it much more rewarding to complain to your friends and family than to your instructor. 76.98% is still a C.  The +/- ranges will be only one or two points above and below the main grade cutoffs. Do NOT ask your instructor for anything more specific regarding these cutoffs.

CHEMISTRY RESOURCE ROOM:  The Department operates a Resource Room, 211 Whitmore Lab, which provides free help to Chemistry 112 students.  It will open early in the semester and its hours of operation will be announced in class. The Chem 112 TAs will be available in the Resource Room on a regular basis. You are strongly encouraged to make use of this service as soon as you discover any need for help.  Delay may put you too far behind to catch up.

GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY:

Chem 113 is a 1-credit laboratory course that complements Chem 112. If you need the laboratory component (not all majors require it), we recommend that you take it concurrently with Chem 112. The first day of Chem 113 lab will begin with an introductory lecture. Signs will be posted on the first floor of Whitmore giving the location of the lecture. Please bring the following items with you on the first day: (1) Lab Manual, "Penn State Version of Chemtrek,"; (2) Chem 113 Packet (analogous to the Chem 112 Packet); (3) Lab Kit (this zip lock bag contains a variety of lab related items from pH paper to a blank lab notebook, it is sold only in the Penn State Bookstore); (4) Eye Protection (regular eyeglasses are not sufficient). If you took Chem 111 recently, then you only need to purchase the Chem 113 packet, and a new notebook. Get additional information by calling the Undergraduate Chemistry Office at 865-9391.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: All Penn State policies regarding ethics and honorable behavior apply to this course. Academic dishonesty, including any form of cheating, is regarded as a very serious offense and may result in a failing grade in the course.  In an examination or quiz setting, unless the instructor gives explicit prior instructions to the contrary, violations of academic integrity shall consist of any attempt to receive assistance from written or printed aids, from any person or papers or electronic devices, or of any attempt to give assistance, whether the student doing so has completed his or her own work or not. Other violations include, but are not limited to, any attempt to gain an unfair advantage in regard to an examination, such as tampering with a graded exam or claiming another's work to be one's own. Failure to comply will lead to sanctions against the student in accordance with the Policy on Academic Dishonesty in the Eberly College of Science. (http://www.science.psu.edu/academic/integrity/)