CH 117 Section 002: Honors General Chemistry
Fall 2009
4 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Dr. John Vincent
Core Designation: University Honors, Natural Science
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the basic facts and principles of chemistry. Some of the topics included are: wave mechanics, atomic structure, chemical periodicity, molecular structure, covalent bonding theories, molecular orbitals, gas laws, kinetic molecular theory, and enthalpy changes.
- Enable students to better understand how to solve complex scientific problems and make use of the scientific method
- Enable students to address problems in chemistry using both qualitative and quantitative approaches
- Enable students to think in three dimensions, especially with regard to molecular structure
- Enable students to improve use of mathematics skills in solving scientific problems
-Enable students to gain enough background and information to make more informed decisions about critical issuing in the news
-Enable students in a laboratory setting to make observations, analyze data, and use the scientific method
Chapter 1: Matter and Measurement
Chapter 2: Atoms, Molecules, and Ions
Chapter 3: Stoichiometry: Calculations with Chemical Formulas and Equations
Chapter 4: Reactions in Aqueous Solution
Chapter 5: Thermochemistry
Chapter 6: Electronic Structure of Atoms
Chapter 7: Periodic Properties of the Elements
Chapter 8: Basic Concepts of Bonding
Chapter 9: Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theory
Chapter 10: Gases
Tentative Lecture/Exam Schedule
Oct. 19 6
1 Wednesday Aug. 19 1 10 Oct. 21 6
Monday Aug. 24 1 Oct. 26 6
2 Wednesday Aug. 26 1 11 Oct. 28 7 Exam 3
Friday Aug. 28 2 Oct. 30 7
Monday Aug. 31 2 Nov. 2 7
3 Wednesday Sept. 2 2 12 Nov. 4 7
SEPTEMBER 7 LABOR DAY Nov. 9 9
Friday Sept. 11 3 Nov. 13 9
5 Wednesday Sept. 16 3 14 Nov. 18 9 Exam 4
Friday Sept. 18 4 Nov. 20 10
Monday Sept. 21 4 Nov. 23 10
6 Wednesday Sept. 23 4 15 Thanksgiving
7 Wednesday Sept. 30 5 Exam 2 16 Dec. 2 10
Monday Oct. 5 5 FINAL Friday, Dec. 11
8 Wednesday Oct. 7 5 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM
OCTOBER 9 FALL BREAK
Exams 1 – 4
9 Wednesday Oct. 14 5 from 2:30 - 3:50 PM in
Friday Oct. 16 6 1092 (Old 150)
CH 117 LAB SYLLABUS
Lab Manual: Laboratory Manual for Chemistry: A Molecular Approach by Vincent and Livingston
Week of : Experiment:
Aug. 24 Check-in and Exp. 1 – Laboratory Basics: Accuracy and Precision
Aug. 31 Exp. 2 – Components of a Mixture
Sep. 7 No Labs – Labor Day
Sep. 14 Exp. 5 – Equivalent Weights and the Periodic Table
Sep. 21 Exp. 9 – Chemiluminescence: Glow stick in a beaker
Sep. 28 Exp. 10 – Atomic Spectra and Exp 12. – Flame Test – Flames and Smoke Bombs (Part A only)
Oct. 5 No Labs – Fall Break
Oct. 12 Exp. 11 – Reactivity of Group 1 Metals
Oct. 19 Exp. 4 – Conservation of Mass and Reaction Types – Copper Recovery Cycle
Oct. 26 Exp. 13 – VSEPR and Molecular Models and Molecular Models and Structures (Handout)
Nov. 2 Computational Chemistry (Handout)
Nov. 9 Exp. 14 – Simulating the Shroud of Turin: An Inquiry-based Experiment
Nov. 16 Exp. 8 - Styrofoam Cup Calorimetry: Atomic Weights
Nov. 23 No labs – Thanksgiving
Nov. 30 Check-out
Laboratory Coordinator: Erica Livingston
1433 Science and Engineering Complex (SEC)
Office: 348 - 4208
Email: elivings@gp.as.ua.edu
ACT Card is REQUIRED at the stockroom window – bring it with you to EVERY lab
Failure to Checkout: $25 charge on student account plus the cost of any missing or broken glassware. All students, including those who withdraw from the course, must check out of lab by the last meeting of their lab section.
Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Exam 4 HW Lab Final TOTAL
100 100 100 100 100 150 150 700 points
(Drop lowest score)
Grading Scale
A = 90 – 100 B = 80 - 89 C = 70 - 79 D = 60 - 69 F < 60
+/-’s will be given at the instructor’s discretion.
A. Exams
You must bring your ACT card, driver's license, or other photographic identification to all exams in order to receive a grade. No programmable calculators, language translators, pagers, cell phones or similar electronic devices are allowed. You must use the Casio FX-260 (
Homework assignments will be submitted on the Web using MasteringChemistry. The due dates are listed on the Web site. MasteringChemistry access can be purchased with the textbook at the Supe Store or on the Internet. The course code for this section is Fall2009CH117002.
C. Laboratory
Laboratory sections will start meeting the first full week of the semester or the week of August 24th. More than two (2) absences in laboratory will result in failure of the entire course (grade F).
It is the near-universal experience in college chemistry that students who attend class faithfully
make higher grades than those who do not. A recent study in the Department of Chemistry
found that every student who earned a grade of D or F in general chemistry had a large number
of absences. This is, in part, because some of the problems presented in class show up on
exams and on assigned homework problems. Thus, you are strongly advised against
missing class. The following sentence is quoted from the 2008-2010 Undergraduate
Catalog: “Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are registered.”
A. Homework
Homework assignments will be submitted on the Web using MasteringChemistry. The due
dates are listed on the Web site. MasteringChemistry access can be purchased with the
textbook at the Supe Store or on the Internet. The course code for this section is
Fall2009CH117002.
B. Laboratory Manual
The lab manual is “Laboratory Manual to Accompany Tro Chemistry: A Molecular Approach”
By John B. Vincent and Erica Livingston. Chemistry is a “hands-on” science. The experiments
have been designed to assist the student in learning fundamental chemical principles. The
experiments will serve as an introduction to the basic laboratory operations and skills needed in
the practice of chemistry. Each student must purchase a lab manual and enroll in a lab
section. Other safety rules will be explained during your first laboratory.
C. Calculator
You must use the Casio FX-260 (
calculator is available at the Supe Store for ~$10.00.
Will be announced if applicable.
Students are strongly encouraged to take all regularly scheduled exams. However, should you have to miss one of these exams it will become your drop grade. If you miss a second exam and can provide a written, reasonable excuse, you will be permitted to use your score (calculated as a percent) on the final exam as a makeup score for the test you missed. In essence this would make your final exam worth 250 points. This is really not a very good option– so every effort should be made to take these exams as scheduled. No make-up exams will be given.
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.
The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
EXTRA HELP
is loaded with helpful materials. Please visit the center to determine if the available
materials might be useful in your study of chemistry.
Review Sessions - Depending on demand, review sessions may be
scheduled prior to exams.
Office Hours - The course instructor has designated office hours, during
which they expect to help any students who want extra instruction. Do not
overlook this resource. Office hours are M 3-5 PM.
This time will be used for exams, with the remaining dates being used for recitation sessions. These sessions will be used primarily for solving end of chapter problems and general review. There is a strong probability that some of the problems worked in the recitation section will appear on exams.
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