Professor:  Dr. R. David Pace

Additional Materials:  Calculator

Lecture Course Objectives:  To introduce typically non-science majors to the amazing world of the chemical sciences in a way that challenges them to exercise critical thinking in current issues facing mankind as we enter the 21^st century. Fundamental experimental and theoretical concepts in chemistry will be taught as a basis for examining environmental and social challenges facing chemistry. The fundamental objectives are the development of an appreciation of chemistry as a science, confronting various opinions on chemistry in society, and developing a position on controversial chemical issues. The laboratory component of this course will expose the student to the design of chemical experiments and to the interpretation of laboratory-generated data.

Office Hours:   MWF 10-11 AM and TR 9:30-11 AM  You may come by at times other than these specific times. If I am available, I will be more than glad to speak with you about any problem or concern that you may have. However, I would prefer to have no visitors M, W, F 7 – 9 AM unless the matter is urgent.

Suggested Problems:  All problems (labeled as "Your Turn") that appear within the body of the chapters are "suggested" along with the ones appearing at the end of each chapter. We may work some of these in class. You should work all of them in your exam preparation activities.

Class Attendance:  Lecture and laboratory attendance is mandatory. The word "attendance" in the preceding sentence means being in class for the entire lab or lecture period. There are several corollaries:

Exams:  Exams will be given on the day shown in the Lecture Schedule. At least one week’s notice will be given if an exam date must be moved. It is understandable that an isolated an extreme circumstance may conflict with an exam date. Making up an announced exam will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Arrangements must be made in advance if at all possible. Out of fairness to your peers, such circumstances must be rare and due extreme illness or family emergency. Athletes or other students on official college business during a scheduled exam period MUST make advance arrangements to make up the missed exam.

Quizzes:  Quizzes will be given approximately every other class period (specific dates shown in the Lecture Schedule). Each quiz will cover the material discussed in the previous two lectures. You will have 10 minutes in which to take the quiz. There will be 1 to 4 questions/problems on each quiz. You will be allowed to drop your two lowest quiz scores. A missed quiz will result in a grade of zero unless arrangements have been made in advance. Extreme personal situations (e.g., illness or family emergency) must be rare and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For cases of personal illness, some form of medical documentation must be provided. Lyon College staffs a full-time Registered Nurse.

Introductory Remarks:  The laboratory component of CHEM 100 is part of the lecture course. Therefore, the laboratory grade will flow directly into the overall course grade (see page 1 of this syllabus). Laboratory attendance is not optional. If you miss a laboratory meeting, you must literally be either in the hospital or on the way to the hospital. Again, some form of medical documentation must be supplied to excuse a medical absence from the lab. It is impossible to allow one student to make up a lab at their convenience. There are two lab sections of CHEM 100L. If you must miss a lab, you first need to inform me of why you must miss the lab. Then, you will have ONE chance to make it up at the very next meeting of CHEM 100L. Otherwise, you will be assigned a grade of zero for that lab. It is understandable that circumstances may work in your life that you may have to miss ONE lab and be unable to make it up. If you must miss and CANNOT make it up in the above fashion, you will be given a grade of zero. At the end of the semester, I will drop the lowest laboratory grade. This policy is no license to arbitrarily miss one lab. Policy abuse will be handled according to the Lyon Honor Policy. I will consider each case individually. In cases of family emergencies such as death or life-threatening circumstances, miss the lab and get with me at your first available opportunity.

Weekly Assignments:  You must complete the data sheets that accompany each experiment. These sheets will be used to record real-time data (that means recording data as you acquire it). You will be asked to make observations and record your thoughts. "Post-lab" questions that appear at the end of each lab will be assigned the day of the lab. All materials must be turned in prior to leaving lab.

Breakage Fee:  Lyon College follows the honor code relative to the breakage of laboratory equipment. If you break a piece of equipment or glassware, report it to the instructor and record the item along with your name on the ‘breakage sheet’ clipboard located in the front of the lab. Laboratory breakages will be reported to the business office and can be paid at the cashier’s window in the Nichols building.

Lab Safety:  The most important issue in CHEM 100L is SAFETY. SAFETY GLASSES ARE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES after the pre-lab lecture. One warning for not wearing safety glasses will be given, then expulsion from the lab with a grade of zero for that day. You will be expected to conduct yourselves in a professional manner at all times. Horseplay will be dealt with swiftly and severely. Horseplay participants will be expelled from the lab for the day and assigned a grade of zero for that lab. I do not expect to have to enforce this particular rule, but I take lab safety very seriously. On the lighter side, here are some general rules:

January 14 Classes begin

February 12 Last day to drop and receive "W"

March 1 Mid-term grades

March 4-8 Spring break

March 29-

April 1 Easter Holiday

April 2-5 Registration for Fall 2002

April 16 Honors Day

April 25 Classes end

April 26 Reading Day

April 29-May 2 Final Exams

May 3 Baccalaureate

May 4 Commencement

 

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