CHEMISTRY 115                                              FALL 2008

GENERAL INFORMATION

OBJECTIVES: Chemistry 115 is the first half of the two semester General Chemistry course designed for science majors. If you are uncertain whether you have been properly placed in this class, please talk to your professor or advisor.

Lab is a co-requisite for all students except for those repeating the course. Those repeaters opting not to retake the lab are cautioned that their grade will be determined exclusively by quiz and exam performance.

The course is taught with the following objectives in mind:

  1. To show the relationship that exists between physical and chemical properties in matter.
  2. To help you develop skills needed to solve chemical problems in both, qualitative and quantitative manner
  3. To provide a molecular world view, an outlook unique to chemistry and essential to an educated person.
  4. To prepare you for subsequent high level chemistry courses. 
LECTURES: MWF 9:30 - 10:20 in CB 111
INSTRUCTOR: Jeremy Smith               e-mail:jesmith@nmsu.edu
Office: CB 293 W       Phone: 646-3346
Office Hours:             TuTh 3:00 - 4:00 pm or by appointment
TEXTBOOK:  "Chemistry. The Central Science" by Brown, LeMay and Bursten, 10th Edition
LAB TEXT: - "Laboratory Experiments " by Nelson and Kemp, 10th Edition, bundled with the textbook.
- Laboratory Notebook (Hayden & McNeil is recommended)
CALCULATOR: You will need a scientific calculator with exponential notation and logs.
PREREQUISITES: Eligibility to take Chemistry 115 is based on eligibility to take MATH 190, and an ACT composite score of 22 or higher.
EXTRA HELP:
  1. A list of tutors, who can be hired for an hourly fee, is available in CB 100.
  2. Both your lecture instructor and laboratory TA have posted office hours.
  3. CHEM 115 Website: http://www.chemistry.nmsu.edu/studntres/chem115/
  4. General Chemistry Exercises Website: http://www.chemistry.nmsu.edu/studntres/exercises/
EXAMINATIONS:

There will be three midterm examinations, and one final, comprehensive examination. Midterm examinations will be given during regularly scheduled class time, and will be 50 minutes in duration. The final exam will be on Monday, December 8, from 8:00 – 10:00 am . Examinations may include short answer questions, essay questions, and problem solving. The exams will not be of the multiple choice variety.

Exam 1                   Monday, September 22
Exam 2                   Friday, October 10
Exam 3                   Monday, November 17
FINAL                    Monday, December 8, 8:00 - 10:00 AM

You must bring a scientific calculator to the exam. You may not share calculators during an exam. Electronic devices (other than calculators) are prohibited during an exam.
MAKE-UP EXAMS: If you have a valid excuse (documented illness, death in the family, conflicting University event) for missing any of these exams, you must inform the instructor as soon as possible prior to the exam. Makeup exams will be given for excused absences only.
HOMEWORK and
WORKSHEETS:

Part of your grade is based on daily homework assignments and in-class worksheets. You may work together on all these assignments, but you are individually responsible for understanding the material.

Web-based quizzes will be periodically assigned. You will have two days (until next lecture) to complete it and submit the answers electronically.

LABORATORY:

Safety goggles must be worn whenever laboratory work is in progress. Goggles that will fit over most prescription glasses are available at the bookstore. Check with your laboratory TA before purchasing goggles, so that you will obtain acceptable ones. Contact lenses are prohibited in the laboratory.

Proper attire is required for conducting experiments. No tank tops, no short pants, no sandals, no hats are to be worn during the experiment; persons with long hair should have it restrained during the experiment. For safety reasons, all cellphones, iPods and other electronics must remain switched off while you are in the laboratory. I will personally inspect the labs from time to time to see that these rules are enforced.

Your grade from the lab will contribute 20% to your overall grade, and will be based on a combination of experimental results, lab reports, lab quizzes, or participation in lab discussions.

Only valid excuses (documented illness, death in the family, conflicting University event) will be allowed for missing labs. There will be no make-up lab sessions offered.

PLAGIARISM:

Plagiarism is the use of another persons work without acknowledgement, making it appear to be your own. Any ideas, words, pictures or any other content taken from another source must be acknowledged in a citation that gives credit to the source. This is irrespective of the origin of the material, including the Internet, other students work, unpublished materials, or oral sources. Both intentional and unintentional plagiarism are considered instances of academic misconduct.

It is the responsibility of the student to know, understand, and comply with the policy. University policy on plagiarism.
DISABILITIES and DISCRIMINATION :  

If you have or believe you have a disability and would benefit from any accommodations, you may wish to self-identify by contacting the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office located at Garcia Annex (phone: 646-6840). If you have already registered, please make sure that your instructor receives a copy of the accommodation memorandum from SSD within the first two weeks of classes. It is your responsibility to inform either your instructor or SSD representative in a timely manner if services/accommodations provided are not meeting your needs.

If you have a condition which may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency or which may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss any concerns with the instructor or the SSD Coordinator.

Feel free to call Jerry Nevarez, Director of Institutional Equity, at 575-646-3635 with any questions you may about NMSU's Non-Discrimination Policy and complaints of discrimination, including sexual harassment.

Feel free to call Michael Armendariz, Coordinator of Services for Student with Disabilities, at 575-646-6840 with any questions you may have on student issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All medical information will be treated confidentially.

WITHDRAWALS & "I" GRADES: Students are sometimes confused about the requirements for a grade of "Incomplete", assuming it is a "late W". No withdrawals from individual courses are allowed after the mid-point of the semester (October 15). "I" grades can be given only after the mid-point of the semester. To receive an "I" the student must be passing the course with a C grade or better at the midpoint of the semester and then be prevented from completing the course successfully due to illness or a family crisis. The student must provide documentation that the illness or family emergency makes it impossible for the student to complete the course with a passing grade.
GRADE:

Three midterm exams ..................................36%
Final exam....................................................24%
Laboratory................................................... 20%
Homework/Worksheets............................... 20%
Total .......................................................... 100%

The letter grade for the course will be given based on the standard percentage scheme:

> 85 A
75 - 84 B
65 - 74 C
55 - 64 D
< 55 F
EXERCISES: The exercises assigned below are given as a study guide. You will not be expected to turn these problems in unless your lecture instructor specifically requests it. They are also meant to be a minimum of problems required to succeed in the class - we encourage you to do additional problems as you have time. Nonetheless, chances are that if you work out these problems, your grade will improve.

Last updated on 08/20/08