Syllabus: Chemistry 201A General College Chemistry I Cuesta College Spring 2021 5 units
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Syllabus: Chemistry 201A General College Chemistry I Cuesta College Spring 2021 5 units
Welcome to Chemistry 201A! I hope that students will find that the information presented in class is interesting, thought-
provoking, and leads to an improved knowledge of the chemistry all around us. Let’s work together to ensure your success and
to help your scientific skills improve throughout the semester. Unleash your inner chemist!
This Welcome Letter has a course schedule and outlines the expectations, policies, required materials and other information
needed for you to be successful in this course. This class is an online (DE) class with one synchronous meeting each week. This
live weekly meeting is time for community building, problem solving, small group work, explanations, discussions, and
assessments.
Dr. Greg Baxley gbaxley@cuesta.edu Office: West Zoomania
Please feel free to call me Greg or Professor/Dr. Baxley. Pick your version!
Contact: Email (gbaxley@cuesta.edu) is the best way to contact me, but please send all content questions about HW or course
material to Piazza, a discussion forum in Canvas. Questions are usually answered within 12 hours, usually much faster!
Live Zoom Class Time: 10:00−11:50
Student Help Hours: TBA
Is Distance Learning for You? You CAN succeed in an online class, but before you enroll in a distance learning class, make an
honest assessment of your level of personal discipline and ability for the independent learning style that an online course
requires. While there are mandatory class meetings with lecture and group work, much of the time you will be working on your
own and teaching yourself with the help of computer software, internet forum discussion questions, tutorials, and videos. Please
take the following exploratory self-assessment survey and evaluate for yourself. I am here to help you learn with study tips,
motivation, and in-depth explanations, and I'll catch you if you stumble. Are you a disciplined, self-motivated, and online-savvy
student? If so, let's learn some chemistry!
Prerequisites: Math 127 or intermediate algebra, AND Chem 210 (grade of “C”) OR passing 1 yr HS chem
Required Supplies: (please see me if financial obstacles prevent you from purchasing these items)
a. Chemistry, A Molecular Approach, N. Tro Prentice Hall, 2019 5th. Older 4th ed. or 3rd edition are OK, or buy the
e-text through our Canvas class for about $120.
b. Mastering Chemistry Online HW, $75 through Canvas or free with new 5th edition text or e-book. Purchase
online through Canvas only, not direct from Pearson.
c. If you're on the Cuesta bookstore site, buy the $201 option which has both the text and Mastering
d. If you buy used or rent, buy the Mastering code through our Canvas site once the semester starts.
e. A non-programmable scientific calculator for exams and quizzes with Exponential notation (EE or EXP on most
calculators,) and logs (LOG and LN). No TI-8X series calculators for exams or quizzes.
f. Chemical splash goggles. Goggles must completely enclose the area around the eyes, without perforations
on the outside. These will be used for 3 At-Home kitchen chemistry experiments.
Necessary Computer Equipment/Skills.
Electronic devices: computer or tablet with a webcam and modern software/apps, preferably not a phone, and internet
access. Specific requirements are at http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.html
Computer skills required are downloading and printing documents, using your Cuesta email account, accessing your Canvas
account, posting discussion questions, watching videos, and using an online HW system. Essential technology in general is at the
Cuesta College technology site. The course Canvas site will be available starting the weekend prior to the first day of class.
We will use Proctorio for exams and quizzes, which requires a device with a camera that can also access a different app at the
same time (not an iPhone). If you need a laptop with webcam, let me know. Cuesta has some Chromebooks to loan out.
Participation. Students must activate their Canvas and online HW accounts to complete assignments that will be due on
Sunday, January 24 (beginning of 2nd week of semester)
Attendance/Drop/Withdraw Policy: I urge you to attend the Zoom sessions each week. Consider them mandatory. Students
will be dropped if their Canvas and online HW accounts are not activated or not used for any period longer than 14
consecutive days. Students cannot earn a C or higher if 3 or more labs are missed. If you decide to withdraw, you must do
so according to Cuesta’s drop policy. http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/acad_policies/dropcourse.htmlLinks to
an external site.
If you miss an exam, please contact me as soon as possible (prior to the exam is best). I can only accommodate make up exams
for certain circumstances. Make up exams may be given during finals week.
Withdrawal: If you discontinue the course for ANY reason, you are responsible for making an official withdrawal. I promise not
to drop any student without 2 attempts at contacting them. Please contact me before you drop.
Helpful Navigation Tips:
• If you need to find information about due-dates, worksheet keys, files to download, check the Canvas Page.
• If you have questions about homework problems, course material, lab experiments, use Piazza, linked in Canvas.
• For most homework assignments, access Mastering Chemistry through Canvas.
Course Description: This is the 1st semester of a one-year course in chemistry for science majors. In this class, you will gain a
technical perspective for current issues, develop problem solving skills, and learn about how the behavior of stuff you see can be
explained with knowledge of the world of atoms. Real-world examples and hand-on learning will be emphasized.
Do you like a challenge, practice good study habits, and have a positive attitude? If so, this class is for you!
However, this class is a heavy load, and constitutes a part time job, so be aware of your class/workload. Most successful
students report that they need to study about 8-10 hours outside of the 7 hours in class just for Chem 201B alone. Having more
than 30 hours of combined class-time and work may lead to increased stress and reduced success.
Coursework Assistance: Help is available! I am here to help you learn and enjoy the course material. If you are having trouble,
please ask for assistance. If you cannot Zoom to office hours, please use Piazza, the online discussion forum in Canvas, for
questions. I encourage relevant questions during live lecture and lab periods.
Free tutoring is available through the student success center. If you need help or want an informal study group, this is a great
resource to visit online. Drop in and ask a question, or stay and work with friends. See this link for the schedule of free chemistry
tutoring. https://www.cuesta.edu/student/resources/ssc/index.html
Assistance, part 2: Nationwide, 36% of college students face challenges in securing safe housing or affordable food. Cuesta
College has programs that can help, including an on-campus food pantry (open daily) and a food bank distribution site (3rd
Tuesday of the month). If you experience food or housing insecurity, please contact the Student Support Resolution Coordinator,
Donna Howard, in Room 3172, 805.546.3192 or donna_howard1@cuesta.edu
The Cuesta CaFE Center (room 3142) has food, toiletries, hygiene products, and clothing for students in need.
Cuesta College offers personalized, confidential mental health therapy services to support students for their academic success
and personal development. Visit room 3150 or call (805) 546-3171 for appointments.
I might be able to help too, so if you are comfortable in doing so, please let me know if you need assistance.
More information and services can be found at https://cuesta.instructure.com/courses/12134/pages/resources
Regular and Effective Instructor Contact will be met through the weekly class meetings, threaded discussion forums;
announcements to students; posted lecture videos, and office hours.
Authenticating Student Identity will be conducted through the use of the Learning Management System, Canvas and Mastering
Chemistry, each of which requires students to log into the program using a secure login and password to access. You must use
your official Cuesta College email address for Mastering Chemistry (like marie_curie@my.cuesta.edu)Netiquette and Online Course Participation
• Use respectful and professional language in your forum discussions. Respect the learning progress of your peers.
• Please do not use texting language, lol, ikr?
• Emoticons are acceptable ways to show emotion.
• Avoid ALL CAPS as they come across like YOU'RE SCREAMING.
• You are expected to read all forum posts.
• You are to make at least of 5 posts or responses with specific details in the Canvas discussion forum (called Piazza) this
term. Do not provide exact answers in your posts.
• All messages are public, so be professional and courteous when you post.
• Make your posts and replies specific to a particular problem or issue.
• Use complete sentences and thoughts are mandatory for forum posts.
• Log into Canvas and the online HW system at least once per week.
Technical Issues? For issues related to accessing Cuesta's Canvas Site support@my.cuesta.edu . Online HW technical issues are
best resolved by clicking the appropriate links in the HW system.
Evaluation:
Homework Quizzes: Chemistry is best learned by regularly practicing problems. Short quizzes with problems very similar to HW
problems are designed to motivate you to keep up with the reading and to complete the homework for understanding.
Homework: Assignments of required and suggested problems will be provided on the course website for each chapter and will
be assigned via Mastering Chemistry. MC assignments can always be completed after the due date for up to 30% credit. The
required problems represent the bare minimum; you are strongly encouraged to answer the suggested problems for extra
practice. Practice until you always get them right.
JITL: “Just In Time Learning” assignments require learning on your own outside of class. Not all JITL’s will be collected.
Exams: There will be three exams throughout the term (see schedule) and a comprehensive final exam.
Labs: Most labs have a prelab assignment that must be completed before the lab starts, plus data and report sheets. Your lab
instructor may have slightly different requirements. Incomplete prelabs may result in dismissal from that lab.
Approximate Point Distribution: Approximate Letter Grades
Approx %
Quizzes (top 6 of 7) (20 pts ea) 10% A–/A 90.00-100%
HW 10% B–/B/B+ 80.00-89.99%
Midterms (125 pts ea) 34% C/C+ 72.00-79.99%
Lab assignments (25 pts ea) 24% D 65.00-71.99%
Final 22% F below 65%
Plus/Minus grades: Cuesta College allows for +/- grading, which will be used at about the 2% margins at 80 and 90%, usually
based on the final exam score (CA state law does not allow grades of “C−” at CA Community Colleges).
Late assignments: All assignments are due before a class period starts. Any assignment turned in late must have an NQA
attached. Turn in late assignments at an appropriate break. Do not disrupt the class by turning in late work. See the NQA
directions.
Academic Integrity: Cheating on an assignment is usually a sign of desperation which can be avoided with preparation.
Academic dishonesty in any form, including copying (or allowing copying) of work, falsifying lab data, or unauthorized aids
on exams, is not allowed. Students who violate the academic honesty policy may receive a “0” for the assignment (not
eligible for the low score drop) or an F for the course. Be sure to give proper citations when quoting or paraphrasing
sources of information. See the Cuesta College schedule for official student conduct policies.
It is allowed and expected that students will work together on lab reports and other assignments. It is also expected that
each student will do their own work and write their answers in their own words. A good way to work together is to talk
about a question, discuss an answer, and then each person says, calculates, or writes an answer in their own words. Anunacceptable way to work together is for one person to say, calculate, or write an answer, and then for another person to
write the same answer. For calculation problems, always enter the values in your calculator on your own, don’t write the
result of another student’s calculation.
Submitting questions to and copying answers from sites such as Yahoo Answers, Chegg, or Reddit for lab reports, quizzes, exams,
homework, or other work is not allowed. During exams, sharing screen captures or photos of exam questions may result in
a zero for the exam. If you aren't sure how to answer a question, ask for help from your instructor, tutor, or classmate, but
do not copy someone else's answer, and do not resort to asking an internet "expert" to solve the problem for you.
There are many chemistry videos on YouTube with incorrect information. Instructor-approved YouTube videos are available in
Canvas for many topics, so watch these instead of finding your own. If a video is unavailable for a particular topic, contact
your instructor for help.
Special Note: Some students may face learning disabilities or challenges that affect their academic performance. If you have
any special concerns or disabilities that could affect your learning, please see me or contact DSPS at 546–3148 as soon as
possible. DSPS requests that testing forms be submitted at least 7 days prior to the test. Exams and quizzes taken with
accommodations must start or end during the regular class period. Please schedule your classes and other obligations such
that accommodated exams and quizzes can occur concurrently with the class. To help minimize possible hazards to
assistance animals, it would be best to contact me before bringing your service animal to lab.
http://www.cuesta.edu/student/servs_classes/dsps/
Me in the lab, and in the Student Success Center, home version!Spring 2021 Schedule. The schedule in Canvas will be the most current.
Week Chapter and topic Lab experiment notes
1
Ch 1 Science and stuff Exp 1: Scientific Data 1/18 MLK day holiday
1/18
2
Ch 2 What is stuff made of? Exp 2: Graphing-Density
1/25
3
Ch 3 Measuring reactions Exp 3: Hydrates 1/31 Sunday: Drop w/o W
2/1
4
Ch 4 Chemical reactions Exp 4: Precipitates Friday 2/12 holiday
2/8
5
Ch 5 Chemical reactions Exp 4: Precipitates cont. Monday 2/15 holiday
2/15
6
Ch 5 Acids/bases and pH Exp 5: Chemical Reactions Exam 1 Tuesday 2-23
2/22
7
Ch 7 Thermo 1 Exp 6: Acids and Bases
3/1
8
Ch 7 Thermo 2 Exp 7: Heat of Reactions
3/8
9
Ch 8 Electrons and light Exp 8: Hess’s Law
3/15
10
Ch 9 Periodic properties Exp 9: Acetic Acid Exam 2 Tuesday 3-23
3/22
11 Exp 10: Electronic
Ch 10 Chemical bonding I
3/29 Spectroscopy
12
spring break spring break spring break
4/5
13
Ch 11: Chemical bonding II Exp 11: Molecular Models 4/12 Deadline drop w/ W
4/12
14
Ch 11: Chemical bonding II Exp 12: Computer Models
4/19
15
Ch 6 Gases Exp 13: Gas Laws
4/26
16
Ch 12 Solids and liquids Exp 14: Solubility Tuesday 5/4 Exam 3
5/3
17
Ch 13 Solutions final review
5/10
Final Exam
18
the final is cumulative
5/17−5/21
Thursday, May 20 9:45 – 11:45 pm Please don’t ask for a different final exam time
This schedule is subject to change.
Changes will be announced in class and posted to Canvas.
Student learning outcomes: Upon completion of this course, a student should be able to:
1. Describe the chemical and physical properties of a chemical substance based on the atomic and molecular structure
including orbital theory, the type of chemical bond, and the shape of the molecule.
2. Evaluate and interpret numerical and chemical scientific information.
3. Solve stoichiometry problems, including mass/mass, mass/volume, and volume/volume relationships.
4. Communicate chemical concepts through the use of molecular formulas, structural formulas, and names of compounds.
5. Perform laboratory experiments based on gravimetric, volumetric, qualitative and instrumental analysis techniques and
effectively utilize the appropriate experimental apparatus.Tips for success in chemistry (and other classes): Chemistry can be a real challenge for many students, but lots of learning and good grades can be yours if you take responsibility for your education. Plan to spend a minimum of 8-10 hours a week outside of class for this fast-paced and rigorous course; other classes will take additional time. If you start to have trouble, I’m here to help! Come see me or post questions on the Piazza discussion board in Canvas. Your question will be answered by myself or by a fellow student. Also, there is free chemistry tutoring in the Student Success Center throughout the week. For tutoring times, click on the Study Resources tab in Canvas and follow the Tutoring Schedule link. Or see https://goo.gl/8kF7UJ Many students do not know how to study at the college level effectively. If you’ve never learned how to study, how can a professor expect you to know? Well, here are some pointers. ✓ Before class, skim the textbook chapter and write down key words, definitions, and questions you might have. Look over the figures to get a sense of what message they are trying to convey. ✓ Come to class and be an active participant during class. Take some notes. Attempt to work the example problems given in class before I show you the solution. Ask questions during class. ✓ Review your notes after class for key points, confirming definitions, problem solving tips, and to see if you have any questions to post on Piazza. ✓ Study before trying the homework in MC. Work a few example problems from the chapter. ✓ Do all of the assigned homework problems in MC and keep your work neatly in an MC notebook. If you get stuck, read the relevant section of the text again, and look for examples in the text or your notes. The worked examples have great tips on how to solve problems. If you’re still stuck, move on and come back to that one later. Post your questions on the discussion board. ✓ Investigate why you had trouble on any HW problem you don’t get correct the first time. Then, once you’ve diagnosed the errors, do more problems. Endlessly practicing the wrong thing is less useful than smaller amounts of good practice. ✓ Study groups are great, and I encourage each student to have at least one study partner. Students with peer networks do better in college. However, a study group should be a supplement to independent work, not a substitute. Study with people who try hard. ✓ Make sure you do some on your own. Before quizzes or exams, make sure you can work problems all the way to the end without getting help. Practice so you never get them wrong. ✓ If you’re having problems, please come and see me as soon as possible. Please do not wait until it is too late. ✓ On quizzes and exams, expect to see some problems that require you to combine concepts or strategies, or use a new strategy based on other things you should have mastered. Do not expect to see only problems exactly like HW or examples. Practicing a lot of problems and understanding concepts will help get you through these more challenging problems. ✓ Be Curious, find something to like about chemistry. It’s easy, and lazy, to dismiss a class by saying “I hate it.” Look for a topic, problem type, or challenge that you can appreciate in each of your classes. That will make your classes a lot easier to attend and will make studying a bit less painful. ✓ You don’t want me to read the text to you during class, so you are expected to read all assigned sections in the book. In summary: Read the book, do the homework, don’t try to cram, challenge yourself to learn as much as you can, study more than you think you should, and come and see me when you need help.
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