CHEMISTRY 116          GENERAL INFORMATION                                     SPRING 2001

OBJECTIVES: Chemistry 116 is taught with five objectives in mind.
  1. To expand on the concepts presented in Chem 115.
  2. To show the relashionship that exists between physical and chemical properties in matter.
  3. To help you develop skills needed to solve chemical problems in both, qualitative and quantitative manner
  4. To provide a molecular world view, an outlook unique to chemistry and essential to an educated person.
  5. To prepare you for subsequent high level chemistry courses. 
LECTURES: MWF 9:30 - 10:20 in CB 203
INSTRUCTOR: Sergei Smirnov              e-mail:
Office: CB 293 W         Phone: 646-1547
Office Hours:                 MWF 10:30 - 11:30
                                     or by appointment
TEXTBOOK:  "General Chemistry," by Ebbing and Gammon, 6th Edition
LAB TEXT: Handouts
Laboratory Notebook (Hayden & McNeil is recommended)
CALCULATOR: You will need a calculator with exponential notation and logs. Alpha-numeric calculators are NOT permitted to be uesd on quizzes or exams.
PREREQUISITES: Eligibility to take Chemistry 116 is based on previous performance in Chem 115 or Chem 111. Either of those courses must have been approved with a grade C or better.
EXTRA HELP:
  1. Help will be available in the General Chemistry Assistance Room, CB-110. The schedule will be posted.
  2. A list of tutors, who can be hired for an hourly fee, is available in CB 100.
  3. Both your lecture instructor and laboratory TA have posted office hours.
  4. CHEM 116 Website: http://www.chemistry.nmsu.edu/studntres/chem116/
  5. General Chemistry Exercises Website: http://www.chemistry.nmsu.edu/studntres/exercises/
  6. Text Website: http://www.hmco.com/college/
EXAMINATIONS: Chemistry 116 exams will be given on the following days from approximately 7:00 to 9:30 PM. Make sure that you have the available time to take the exams. The exams will be a combination of essay problems and multiple choice. Exam keys will be posted next day.

Exam 1                   Wednesday, February 7, 7:00 - 9:30 PM
Exam 2                   Wednesday, March 7, 7:00 - 9:30 PM
Exam 3                   Wednesday, April 11, 7:00 - 9:30 PM
FINAL                    Friday, May 11, 8:00 - 10:00 AM

For each examination may need to bring a calculator. You may not share calculators during an exam. Electronic devices (other than calculators) are prohibited during an exam.
MAKE-UP EXAMS: No make-up exams will be given, unless you have a valid excuse (documented illness, death in family, conflicting University event). Students missing exams due to illness or emergency will be given an "excused" grade for the exam. Only one excused grade will be given during the semester; students missing a second exam will be dealt with on an individual basis. If you have a conflict, you must contact the instructor as soon as possible prior to the exam, in order to schedule the exam at an earlier time.
QUIZZES and
EXERCISES:		 In class quizzes will be given every other Friday. The homework assignments will not be graded but you can always turn them in with the quiz for evaluation of your skills. Periodically, some assignments will be given for the web - based quizzes. You will have two days (until next lecture) to complete it and submit the answers electronically. I encourage you to work in groups on your assignments but in class quizzes should be answered individually.
LABORATORY: Safety goggles must be worn whenever laboratory work is in progress. Goggles that will fit over most prescription glasses are available in the bookstore. Check with your laboratory instructor before purchasing goggles so that you will obtain acceptable ones. Contact lenses should not be worn in the Laboratory. Safety policy also requires that you wear shoes that cover your feet (no open sandals) and either long pants or a lab apron which protects your legs. In the event of an accident it is far better to spill caustics and acids on clothing than directly on skin. Any experiments unavoidably missed must be made up within one week. Laboratories not made up will result in a deduction from the laboratory grade. You must have permission from your Teaching Assistant before a lab can be made up. You may make up an experiment in any Chem 116 laboratory, provided that you obtain permission from the TA of that laboratory section. When a laboratory experiment is made-up, turn in the report to the TA in charge who will deliver it to your TA.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT: Please review the student code of conduct in your Student Handbook.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:   If you have or believe you have a disability that interferes with your performance as a student in this class, you are encouraged for academic reasons to discuss this on a confidential basis with the instructor and /or the Director of Disabled Students Program (phone: 646-6840, TTY:646-1918) and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator (tel. 646-7795). Appropriate accommodations may be provided for you.
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 (April 7). "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 hour exams .........................3 x 15% = 45%
Lab experiments & lab quizzes....................... 25%
Lecture quizzes/problem sets.......................... 10%
Final exam ..................................................... 20%
Total ............................................................ 100%

Students who are retaking Chem 116 may be excused from the experimental laboratory if their previous lab grade was 75 or better. A student desiring to be excused from lab must discuss this possibility with his or her lecture instructor before the end of the first week of the semester. Previous lab grades can be obtained from records kept in Room 100. Only the lecture instructor can excuse a student from the laboratory. Grades for students who have been excused from lab will be determined as follows.

Three hour exams .........................3 x 20% = 60%
Lecture quizzes/problem sets.......................... 15%
Final exam ..................................................... 25%
Total ............................................................ 100%

Previous lab grades will NOT be counted. Students who took the lab prior to the Fall 1997 semester must take the laboratory portion of the course.

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

90 - 100 A
80 - 89 B
70 - 79 C
60 - 69 D
< 60 F

You are visitor # since 12/27/01
Created 01/08/01; Last updated on 12/27/01