CHEM 1040 Syllabus
Course Syllabus
CHEM 1040 - Basic Chemistry
3 Credit Hours
Course Information
This course is an elective course (NOT a general education course) that prepares students for success in general chemistry. It is for students who require the general chemistry sequence, but need to build up the skills necessary for success in the general chemistry sequence. This course focuses on basic math skills and elementary chemistry principles needed in general chemistry courses.
Upon completion of this course, the students should be able to demonstrate the following:
- Write the number of significant figures in a measured value as well as the significant value in a series of computations.
- Compute the measured value from one SI (Standard International) unit to another.
- Given the percent of a solute, determine ppm (part per million).
- Recognize the linear relationship between two variables.
- Recall the chemicals symbols of the first 25 elements on the Periodic Table, as well as the number of electrons, protons, and neutrons for those elements.
- Identify the monatomic and polyatomic ions.
- Examine the isotopes of some common elements.
- Write the chemical formula of compounds.
- Name chemical compounds.
- Differentiate between physical and chemical properties.
- Solve among moles, mass, and number of species in a given sample.
- Identify the stoichiometry in chemical reactions.
- Determine the amount of one species in a reaction using the stoichiometry concept.
- Determine the oxidation number of element in different molecules or ions.
- Successfully mathematically convert from one unit to another using dimensional analysis.
None
The course will deal with the following topics:
- Law of conservation of mass
- Physical state and chemical constitution
- Measurement and significant figures
- SI (Standard International) units and derived units
- Units and dimensional analysis
- Structure of the atom
- Nuclear structures, isotopes, atomic masses
- Periodic table of the elements
- Chemical formulas
- Naming simple compounds
- The mole concept
- Mass percentages from the formula
- Determining formula of a chemical compound from mass percent or from molar mass and empirical formula
- Molar interpretation of a chemical equation
- Amounts of substances in a chemical reaction
- Oxidation-reduction reactions
Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements
Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."
Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.
Minimum software requirements can be found here.
Common applications you might need:
- To read a PDF file download the latest version of Adobe Reader here
- Don't have Microsoft Word? Explore an alternative OpenOffice here
- Accessing a PowerPoint file? Download the PowerPoint Viewer here
Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)
The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook
- Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
- Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
- Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.
Instructor Information
Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.
Participation, Assessments, & Grading
Quizzes: There will be one quiz at the end of each of the modules. There are total of ten modules ad ten quizzes in the course. These quizzes consist of multiple choice and short answer questions.
Homework: There will be one homework assignment at the end of each of the module, for a total of ten homework assignments. These homework assignments consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. Some of the more difficult homework assignments may be taken more than once; such information is posted with the homework assignment due dates.
Discussions: There will be five discussion assignments in the course. These discussion assignments are designed to help students in understanding the material of the course. Topics for each of the discussion assignments are explained in the content section of the course.
Module Tests: There will be three tests in the course. These tests consist of multiple choice and short answer questions.
Final Exam: The final exam is a comprehensive and proctored exam. The final consists of multiple choice and short answer questions. Each student will be required to follow the ROCC process for securing his or her own proctor. Click here to read that process.
Graded Assignments | Points |
10 quizzes @ 10 points each | 100 points |
10 Homework Assignments @ 10 points each | 100 points |
5 Discussions @ 8 pints each | 40 points |
3 Tests @ 190 points each | 570 points |
Final Exam @ 190 points | 190 points |
Total Points | 1000 Total Course Points |
860-1000 points | A |
740-850 points | B |
620-739 points | C |
540-619 points | D |
under 540 points | F |
A detailed list of lessons and the assessments can be found under the Content section of the course. Students are given two days to complete the homework and/or the quiz for each lesson. All homework and quizzes must be completed before students are allowed to take the test on those materials. The dates for each assessment will be located on the course calendar.
Students should take quizzes and tests on time, post discussion board messages on time, and communicate with the instructor as needed. Students are responsible for meeting all due dates and deadlines in the course.
Students should become familiar with the Class Calendar to determine when materials are due and adjust their study schedule accordingly. Once a deadline has passed, students will be “locked out” of the material.
Course Ground Rules
The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:
RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS
Read the document in its entirety here.
1. Standards of Conduct:
- Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.
2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:
- In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.
Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:
- an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
- to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
- or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.
Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution. Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.
In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.
Other Course Rules:
Students are expected to:
- Participate in all aspects of the course
- Communicate with other students
- Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
- Keep abreast of course announcements
- Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
- Address technical problems immediately:
- Observe course netiquette at all times.
Guidelines for Communications
Email:
- Always include a subject line.
- Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
- Use standard fonts.
- Do not send large attachments without permission.
- Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
- Respect the privacy of other class members
Discussions:
- Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
- Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
- Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
- Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
- Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
- Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
- Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Library
The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.
Students with Disabilities
Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.
Syllabus Changes
The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.