COURSE PHILOSOPHY:

It is the goal of this two-semester course to familiarize students with the basic principles of chemistry, to acquaint them with the properties of the common elements and their compounds, and to provide a brief introduction to organic chemistry. The topics include: stoichiometry, atomic structure, the basic concepts of bonding, the states of matter, solutions and their reactions, chemical kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, nuclear chemistry, and organic chemistry. The laboratory consists of basic experiments in stoichiometry as well as qualitative and quantitative analysis. The course is problem oriented and basic skills in algebra are required. CH 105 - 106 is designed for all engineering students, students planning to major in one of the sciences and students preparing for admission to advanced study in the health professions.

GRADING POLICY

            Your grade will be evaluated from the following:

	Five 50-minute examinations	450 points
	About 7 scheduled quizzes	100 points
	Unscheduled quizzes	100 points
	Homework	75 points
	Laboratory Notebook	100 points
	1 Two-hour Final Exam	200 points (Tuesday, December 12, 8:00 a.m.)
	Total	1025 points

           

Grading Scale
	A	90-100 %		B-	70-74 %		D+	54-56 %
	A-	85-89 %		C+	65-69 %		D	50-53 %
	B+	80-84 %		C	60-64 %		F	0-49 %
	B	75-79 %		C-	57-59 %

CLASS ATTENDANCE:

I expect regular attendance (90% or better) at lecture, quiz and laboratory sessions. There are several reasons why I think you should attend every class you possibly can.

The material that you learn in chemistry builds on a day-by-day basis. Each day new terms and ideas are introduced which are the basis for understanding what will be learned next. If you miss just one class, you will find that several things discussed during the next class you attend will be difficult to understand. If you miss two or three classes in a row, you will understand very little of what occurs during the next class. It is then very easy to conclude that the teacher is a poor instructor because you don't understand him. But is that really why you won't understand?

If you are enrolled in the College of Ceramics and are in class a total of 18 hours per week for the 28-week teaching year, you pay $24.80 per class hour if you are a New York state resident.  All other engineers pay $34.13 per class hour.  Those enrolled in the other colleges (Liberal Arts or Business) with the same class load are paying $42.16 for each hour of class.  Think of it as throwing that amount of money away every time you miss just one class.

General Chemistry Grades Earned 1972-2006
 

Classes Missed	A	A-/B+	B	B-/C+	C	C-/D+	D	F
0	320	204	166	144	105	25	16	6
1-2	305	263	269	256	214	66	43	29
3-4	95	107	132	166	139	49	27	18
5-6	31	56	62	98	101	46	26	28
7-8	15	13	35	50	65	18	31	26
9-10	6	13	16	39	52	14	27	19
11-12	2	3	7	19	33	20	14	19
13-14	1	3	5	11	18	13	18	23
15  or  more	2	5	9	21	42	28	41	159
Average Classes Missed	1.47	2.13	2.69	3.74	4.89	6.31	8.15	15.18

It also turns out that there is a significant relationship between the number of classes missed and the grade earned in this course. The graph at right tabulates grades earned by 4567 students enrolled in Bentz's lecture sections over the past 34 years versus the number of classes missed. The average number of classes missed for each grade is also plotted (points on solid line). One might read the data as follows: 625 of 777 (or 80%) of those earning an A missed no more than 2 classes. Of the 327 who have failed, only six had perfect attendance, 159 (or 49%) missed 15 or more classes, and 220 (or 67%) missed more than 8 classes (two weeks) in a semester . The average number of absences for all students is 4.4 per semester.

The average grade of those students who missed no classes is 3.12 (better than a B), while the average for those missing 9 or 10 classes is 1.93 (less than a C). Only 4.8% of those who had perfect attendance earned less than a C, while 18.5% of all students earned less than C.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD HANG THIS BY YOUR ALARM CLOCK!

Finally, WHILE CLASS ATTENDANCE IS NOT A NUMERICAL FACTOR IN DETERMINING GRADES, THIS INSTRUCTOR IS NOT ABLE TO IGNORE IT IN DECIDING BORDERLINE CASES. You are responsible for signing the attendance sheet each class. Signing for another student constitutes academic dishonesty (see section 700 of Alfred University academic regulations, available at the Registrar’s office or through the AU web page following the following path: Academics -> Undergraduate -> Academic Regulations -> Undergraduate 2004-05 -> Academic Dishonesty (Unethical Practices).

LABORATORY:

Laboratory work is intended to reinforce and extend material covered in lectures and the textbook. A set of pre-lab activities must be completed before each laboratory and a laboratory notebook must be kept. Specific requirements for the laboratory notebook are given in your laboratory manual. If you are too sick to come to laboratory you must go to the health center.They will determine if an excuse for that time is warranted. If you know that you must miss a laboratory, arrange with your instructor to attend another lab during the week. If illness or family emergency, which can be verified by the Dean of Student Affairs, prevents you from attending lab, you should arrange with your instructor to make up that lab within one week. For each two (2) laboratories not attended or properly completed, your course grade will be reduced by 1/3 letter grade. Since separate exams and quizzes are not normally given in the laboratory, you can expect from 40 to 60% of each lecture quiz and exam to deal with laboratory work.

EXAMINATIONS:   Sept. 19(Tu), Oct. 10(Tu), Oct. 31(Tu), Nov. 17(Fri), Dec. 5(Tu)

Five (5) 50-minute examinations will be given on the above dates. Regular make-up examinations will not be given. A student who misses an examination due to illness or other emergency must submit, in writing, an excuse which is not only logical, but also verified by the Dean for Student Affairs. If you are too sick to take an exam you must go to the health center. Then tell them that they may tell me that you were there. A student with such a valid excuse will be given a make-up examination at the instructor's convenience. If you expect to miss a quiz or exam for a university activity (athletic, musical, etc.) you must inform me 2 or 3 days before the event. Failure to do so will result in no make-up exam or quiz. A student missing an exam for a reason which is not logical--such as oversleeping--will not be given a make-up exam but will receive a grade of zero for the missed exam. Because the knowledge gained in this course is cumulative, and to lessen the effect of a poor grade on an early exam, the point value of the exams will be as follows: 75 points - 1st. exam, 85 points - 2nd. exam, 100 points - 3rd. exam, 115 points - 4th. exam, 125 points - 5th. exam. To earn a grade of B+ or lower, your examination percentage will be calculated by dropping the score of the exam on which you earned the lowest percentage. To earn a grade of A or A—, all five (5) exam scores will be used to calculate your examination percentage.

EXAMPLE
 

	EXAM 1	EXAM 2	EXAM 3	EXAM 4	EXAM 5
Student Score	60	76	86	100	91
Total Possible	75	85	100	115	125
Exam Percentage	80%	89%	86%	87%	73%

This student scored the lowest percentage on exam 5. To earn a grade of B+ or lower, the exam percentage would be

         [(60+76+86+100)/(75+85+100+115)] x 100 = [322/375] x 100 = 85.7% (with exam 5 dropped)

This would give a total of (.857)(450) = 386 points for exams to be used in calculating the course total.
 

To earn an A or A— grade, the exam percentage would be

        [(60+76+86+100+91)/(75+85+95+100+115+125)] x 100 = [413/500] x 100 = 82.6% (no exam dropped)

This would give a total of (.826)(450) = 372 points for exams to be used in calculating the course total.
 
 

QUIZZES:

Scheduled Quizzes: Sept. 5(Tu), Sept. 12(Tu), Sept. 26(Tu), Oct. 3(Tu), Oct. 13(Fri), Oct. 24(Tu), Nov. 7(Tu), Nov. 21(Tu)

A scheduled quiz will be given on each of the above dates. No make-up quizzes will be given. In keeping with our attendance policy, not more than one quiz should be missed. A grade of zero will be recorded for all quizzes not taken. At the end of the semester, the lowest quiz score, zero or higher, will be disregarded. If more than one quiz is missed, zero grades will be used in calculating your quiz average.

Unscheduled quizzes (5 minutes in length) may occur on any day during the semester. No make ups will be given for unscheduled quizzes, either. A grade of zero will be recorded for all unscheduled quizzes not taken. The lowest unscheduled quiz will be disregarded. If more than one unscheduled quiz is missed, zero grades will be used in calculating your quiz average.

HOMEWORK:

One or two homework assignments will be made each week. It is strongly recommended that you complete each assignment as soon as possible after it is made. If an assignment is made one week before it is due, do no assume that it can be completed in one evening. This assignment must be legible and must follow the accepted homework format (see following page). The assignment must be submitted by 3:20 p.m. on the due date.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE HOMEWORK?

General Chemistry Grades Earned 1972-2006
 

Percent Home-work In	A	A-/B+	B	B-/C+	C	C-/D+	D	F
91-100	679	509	459	419	294	74	45	12
81-90	71	79	114	170	157	44	35	18
71-80	8	37	47	85	99	41	27	18
61-70	7	18	40	52	83	32	26	41
51-60	2	7	10	34	53	15	23	23
41-50	1	3	4	20	40	28	22	38
31-40			9	14	21	14	21	37
21-30			4	11	21	13	27	55
11-20	1			3	9	6	14	47
0-10				2	5	6	6	50
AVE % IN	93.3	91.2	88.2	83.5	77.0	69.4	60.5	39.2

The table at right shows grades earned in general chemistry versus percentage of the homework turned in. The data are for 4559 students enrolled in sections of this course over the past 34 years. While homework counts only 7.5% of the course grade, the correlation between homework effort and grade is remarkable. The heavy line shows the average percent homework turned in plotted versus grade earned. The graph may be read in several ways. For example; of those students earning an A Grade, 88% (679 of 769) have turned in more than 90% of the assignments, 98% have turned in more than 80% of the assignments. Of the 339 who have failed, 227 (or 67%) have turned in less than half of the assigned work.

NOT CONVINCED? Look at it another way! Of those students who did less than half of the homework, 41% failed and only 13% earned higher than a C. Of those who did over 90% of the homework, 27% earned an A grade and 66% earned a grade of B or higher. TRY IT. IT DOES HELP.
 
 

CALCULATING DEVICE POLICY:

Since CH 105-106 is a problem-oriented course, non-programmable, pocket-style calculators are needed during laboratories, quizzes and examinations. All students are encouraged to master the use of one of these devices.

A TI 30 xa calculator will be available for your use in the classroom during exams and quizzes.  Some time will be spent during class so that you may learn to use these calculators.  No other calculator may be used during exams and quizzes.

The use during a quiz or examination of ANY information programmed by the student into a calculator constitutes academic dishonesty. A student who brings into the quiz or examination room potentially useful material attached to a calculating device will be charged with academic dishonesty and will lose the privilege of using that device for the remainder of the academic year. Each infraction of academic dishonesty will result in failure on that quiz or examination and will be reported to your Dean and the Provost in accordance with section 700 of the Alfred University academic regulations. Please note especially section 702.2 which states that a student found guilty of a second offense of academic dishonesty during his/her career at Alfred University will be dismissed. (See page 2 of this document to access the academic dishonesty policy on the www.)

CHEMISTRY 105-106 SAMPLE HOMEWORK PAGE

NAME: John Q. Superchemist This information must appear on

the first page of each assignment.

CHEM NO: 401 (see list in MH 222) Your name and chem number

should appear on each page.

ASSIGNMENT NO: 30

DATE DUE: 31 February 1999

PROBLEMS ASSIGNED: Handout: 1, 3

Handout 1. A bottle contains elements A and B so that there are 2 atoms of A for every 3 atoms of B. The total weight of the sample, of which A contributes 13%, is 25.0 g. If the atomic weight of A is 28.0, what would be the atomic weight of B?

     We need atomic weight of B, i.e. either (gram B/1 mole B)  or (amu B/ 1 atom B)

     25.0 g mixture x (13 g A/100 g mixture) = 3.2 g A present in the bottle

      g B in bottle = 25.0 g total - 3.2 g A = 21.8 g B

     moles A = 3.2 g A x (1 mole A/28.0 g A) = 0.11 mole A.

     Have 2 atoms A for 3 atoms B or 2 mole A for 3 mole B

     mole B = 0.11 mole A x (3 mole B/2 mole A) = 0.17 mole B

     Aomic Weight B = = (21.8 g B/0.17 mole B)  =  1.3 x 10²  gB/mole B           Box answers in RED pencil or ink

Handout 3. How many grams of Al₂O₃ can be obtained from 21.6 g of aluminum?

     The balanced equation is        4 Al + 3 O₂Æ 2 Al₂O₃

     This states that 2 moles Al₂O₃ are formed from 4 moles Al.

     gAl₂O₃ formed = (21.6 g Al/27.0 g Al/mole) x (2 mole Al₂O₃ /4 mole Al) x  (102 g  Al₂O₃/1mole Al₂O₃) = 40.8 g Al₂O₃

Always include units with the answer. Preferably, use units throughout the problem.

NOTE: Each step is to be set up but multiplication and long division operations (i.e., arithmetic steps) need not be shown. The set up and the answer are the important things to include on homework assignments.

Homework problems should appear in the order assigned. (If a question is out of order, indicate where it can be found.) Do not turn in part of an assignment one day and the rest another day. Never put two or more assignments on the same sheet of paper.

Assignments must be submitted on standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper and must be legible. If you tear the paper from the pages of a notebook, you must remove the ragged edge.
 

On most quiz and exam questions, a correct set up of a problem may be worth 90% of the credit for that problem. The numerical answer will be worth only 10%. NOTE: This means that SET UPS MUST BE GIVEN FOR ALL PROBLEMS. If only the correct answer is given, 90% of the credit for that problem will be deducted. A wrong answer with no set up will receive no credit.

On each examination certain problems may be designated as "Half or More". On these problems, no credit will be awarded unless the problem is at least half correct. An outline of the plan to solve the problem must be included to receive 50% of the credit. Credit of 50 to 100% can be earned on such questions.

Just as good mathematics is required on numerical problems, good writing is necessary on essay questions and other written material submitted for grading. When such items are poorly written, up to 10% of the credit may be deducted.

PROBLEM SESSIONS:

A regular problem session will be held each week in MH 334 on Monday at 5:20 p.m.  Attendance is entirely voluntary. During these sessions, problems will be worked which students have attempted but have been unable to complete. In other words, you should try problems before you attend. These sessions should not be attended in lieu of studying.
 

OFFICE HOURS:

During the following times, I will be available in my office, MH 214 for office hours. Please sign up outside that office for a time that is convenient. . Please do not sign up for more than two consecutive appointments.
 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
11:20 am-12:20 pm 3:20-5:20 p.m.	9:20-10:10 am	9:20-10:10 am 1:20 - 2:10 pm	10:20-11:20 am 2:20-3:20 pm	9:20-10:10 pm 2:20-3:10 pm

If you wish to see me at any other time when I am not in class, please make an appointment personally.

INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE:

Students who feel they need individual assistance with the material and assignments for this course should make an appointment with me or come during my scheduled office hours (see above).  To get the most effective help, students should seek assistance as soon as they experience confusion or difficulty with the coursework.  (Waiting until you have received low grades on exams and other assignments is not recommended!)

For additional assistance with the course, students should attend the GROUP TUTORING sessions that will be scheduled twice each week.  I will give you the time of the session by the end of the first week of class.  The tutor(s) have been carefully selected for this position.

If group tutoring sessions are insufficient to meet your needs, you can request an INDIVIDUAL TUTOR by contacting Beth Niles, the Tutoring Coordinator in Crandall Hall (located on Main Street across from the Bandstand, between the Fire Department and the playground;  871-2148).  Mrs. Niles will ask me to recommend potential tutors based upon strong performance in the course and then she will recruit those students to serve as a tutor.  This may take some time!  Avoid falling farther behind in the course material by seeking individual assistance from me while waiting for private tutoring to be arranged.

AND REMEMBER:  Tutors are a valuable resource, but I am the expert in the field.  Do not hesitate to ask for my assistance at any time, even if you are receiving tutoring.

ANSWER KEYS:

On-Line MATERIALS:  Blackboard

This course has an active Blackboard system account.  To access this from any browser,
use http://blackboard.alfred.edu or go to the my.alfred.edu page and select Blackboard in the left column.  Your login name will be your "Outlook account" name and your password is the same as your e-mail account.
After login, select "Personal Information" below MY ALFRED and change your password.  Also update other personal information. Be sure to change your preferred e-mail account, if it is not Outlook.
Next, select CHEM 105 under "COURSES".
The following course materials are available for the course under the active parts of Blackboard at present.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:  This will be my primary method of getting special messages to you.  I recommend that you check it at least once per week.

COURSE INFOMATION:  The complete course syllabus is available.

FACULTY INFORMATION:  My telephone number and office location are here.  There are also direct links to my
 e-mail and office hours.

COURSE DOCUMENTS:  There is a link to electronic reserves here.

ASSIGNMENTS:  All homework assignments will be posted here.

COMMUNICATIONS:  A class roster is here and an easy method to e-mail other members of the class.  Be sure that you have entered your preferred e-mail address after login.  (Note:  "All users" is everyone in this class only.)

EXTERNAL LINKS:  Occasionally I will put links here for items of interest for this course.  I'll use the announcement page to alert you to these links.

TOOLS:  A calendar for the course (exams and scheduled quizzes) is all that is activated right now.
 
 

TO ACCESS COURSE MATERIALS THROUGH MY WEB PAGE:
    You must have "Adobe Acrobat Reader" on your computer to read these materials.
        1.    Go to my web-page in your Web Browser at "http://people.alfred.edu/~fbentz/"
     2.   On my web-page, scroll down and select "Courses Taught" near the lower left side.
        3.    Under CHEM 105 select "Homework Keys", "Current Exam and Quiz Keys" , "Pop Quiz Keys" or "Blank Former Exams"
        4.    Read the rules, then click "accept", if you do agree to abide by the rules.
        5.    Choose what you wish to look at; e.g.,
                  if you have selected homework keys, choose the due date you wish to view;
                  if you have selected pop quiz keys, choose the pop quiz you wish to view by date given;
                  if you have selected current exam and quiz keys, choose the item you wish to view by date taken.
                  if you have selected blank former exams, choose the exam you wish to view by number.
        6.    If nothing appears, try shrinking the Netscape window, (upper right corner).
        7.    When the material appears on the screen, you may view it or print it.
        8.    Please do not hesitate to ask for help at either one of the AU Libraries
                (Scholes - 607-871-2492 or Herrick - 607-871-2184)
 

TO ACCESS COURSE MATERIALS THROUGH THE e-Res WEB PAGE:
    You must have "Adobe Acrobat Reader" on your computer to read these materials.
        1.    Go to Electronic Reserve web-page in your Web Browser at http://eres.alfred.edu or go to

my.alfred.edu and choose E-res under Academics in the left column.

2.    Select "Electronic Reserves and Reserves Pages"
        3.    Choose "Course Reserves Pages by Instructor", find BENTZ under "Please select an instructor",
             then click "View"
        4.    Select  "CHEM 105" .
        5.    Read the rules, then click "accept", if you do agree to abide by the rules.
        6.    Choose which item you wish to look at; most homework and quizzes are listed by date.
        7.    If nothing appears, try shrinking the Netscape window, (upper right corner).
        8.    When the material appears on the screen, you may view it or print it.
        9.    Please do not hesitate to ask for help at either one of the AU Libraries
                (Scholes - 607-871-2492 or Herrick - 607-871-2184)

CELL PHONES:

The use of cellular telephones or pagers in the classroom and laboratory is rude and inconsiderate of the other people in that class. Turn them off before you enter the laboratory or my classroom. My policy is the following: If it goes off or rings in my class, IT IS MINE, forever.
 

TEXTS:

Brady, Russell and Holum, "Chemistry:  Matter and Its Changes," 4th ed., 2004, ISBN 0-471-21517-1

W.E. Bentz, ed., "Laboratory Manual for General Chemistry", 4th ed., 2005, ISBN 0-536-97145-5

I AM NOT THE ENEMY:

Nothing would give me a greater pleasure than to see each of you earn an A. This course is not graded on a curve. No one has to receive a low grade. Take advantage of all of the opportunities to get assistance as soon as it is needed. Come to class, problem sessions, office hours and/or group tutoring. Everyone wants to help you. But you must take the initiative to seek help.

BONUS:

There will be a bonus question on the second CHEM 105 exam (October 10, 2006). Because I feel that every student should learn the University's Alma Mater, I'm offering a 5-point bonus to those who do so. The words are below:

                            Nestled away 'mid the Empire State hills,
                                'Neath the watch-care of sentinel pines,
                            Where the murmuring song of the brook hums along,
                                And the favoring sun ever shines;
                            In a valley so fair where the forest trees share
                                Dominion o'er hillside and glen,
                            Stands the pioneer college of Western New York--
                                Alfred, we hail thee again.

                CHORUS
                            Hail to thee Alfred, thou guide of our youth,
                                Sweet, benign mother, all hail!
                            Sing out thy anthems of duty and truth;
                                thy clear ringing music ne'er fail.

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDYING CHEMISTRY:

In college you will not be tested on only those problems which you have already solved. You will also be expected to apply one or more principles which you have learned to problems which you have never seen before. The purpose of education, after all, is to prepare us to face new situations. On my exams, about 60% of the credit (enough to earn a C) will be assigned to problems similar to examples presented in class or the text and/or encountered in the homework. The remaining 40% of the credit will require application of the principles you have learned to unfamiliar problems. The sliding credit scale for exams (75 points on the first exam to 125 points on the fifth exam) will allow you to become accustomed to this type of testing without having a great effect upon your course grade. This weighting of exams also emphasizes the fact that your knowledge of chemistry will be cumulative. As the semester progresses, you will know more. Each exam will have questions requiring a knowledge of material covered on all previous exams. Cramming for exams the night before will not be an efficient method of study. You will forget the material as quickly as you memorized it.

I suggest that you study some chemistry (and each other subject) every day. Late night cramming will not be necessary then. Ideally, you should learn nothing new the night before an exam. You should instead review all that you have already learned and then get a good nights rest.

One final point. This year's exams will not be the same as last year's or those on file in libraries or some fraternity or sorority house. Such exams, also available on electronic reserve, may give you an idea of the type of question I might ask. But DO NOT use them as a study guide.

Many students have found the following to be useful guidelines for studying chemistry.

1. Skim new material the day before lecture or laboratory demonstration.

2. Read-over and add-to class notes the same day they are taken.

3. Start homework assignments and carefully re-read material soon after class.

4.  Never spend more than 20 minutes at one time on a homework problem if you're not making any progress.

5.  When studying, always ask yourself why a problem is solved as it is. Do not just memorize how to do problems.

6.  Seek help from the instructor, at group tutoring or at problem sessions only after you have tried problems.

Brady, Russell and Holum, "Chemistry: Matter and Its Changes," 3rd ed., 2000, ISBN 0-471-18476-4

W.E. Bentz, ed., "Laboratory Manual for General Chemistry", 3rd ed., 1996, ISBN 0-8087-8490-0

COURSE OUTLINE

CHEMISTRY 105 -- FALL SEMESTER -- 2006-- BENTZ

Text:  Brady, Russell & Holum, "Chemistry:  Matter and Its Changes”; 4th. ed., 2004

Lab Manual:  W.E. Bentz, ed., "Laboratory Manual for General Chemistry”, 4th. ed., 2005