CHEM 101-Applying Chemistry to Society

Summer 2009

 

Instructor:

Dr. Snyder

Office:

Sims 109B

e-mail:

snyderk@winthrop.edu

Office Hours:

By appointment

Lecture:

M-F 9:00-11:40 am

 

 

Textbook:

Chemistry in Context, Applying Chemistry to Society, 6th edition, by the American Chemical Society, ISBN 978-0-07-304876-5

 

Course Goals:

Establish chemical principles within a contextual framework of significant environmental issues

Develop (1) a basic understanding of various environmental issues, (2) a basic chemical vocabulary, (3) problem-solving skills, (4) and an appreciation for how chemistry is involved in our daily lives.

 

Course Outline:

We will cover the following chapters as time permits: The Air We Breathe, Protecting the Ozone Layer, The Chemistry of Global Warming, Energy, The Fires of Nuclear Fission, Energy from Electron Transfer, Take a Drink: The Wonder of Safe Drinking Water, Neutralizing the Threat of Acid Rain

 

Class Preparation:

You will get more from a lecture if you spend time preparing ahead of time. Therefore, before class, you should read the related textbook material (see syllabus for assignments), review previous lecture material, and do the assigned homework problems after each lecture.

 

Graded Exercises:

Three exams (100 points each), 2 homework assignments (20 points each), 1 oral presentation (50 points) and three in-class exercises (5 points each)

 

Exams: 300 points

Homework: 40 points

Presentation: 50 points

In-class exercises: 15 points

Total: 405 possible points

 

Letter grades will be assigned as follows: 100-93% A, 92-88% A-, 87-85% B+, 84-81% B, 80-77% B-, 76-74% C+, 73-66% C, 65-56% D, <56% F

 

Exams:

There will be three exams. Exam dates are listed on the schedule. No make-up exams will be given.

Exams will include a variety of different kinds of questions including, but not limited to, multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions. You will need a calculator for exams. A programmable calculator is not necessary. A simple scientific calculator will be adequate. You cannot use a cell phone as a calculator during exams.

 

Homework Assignments:

Graded homework assignments will include (1) an investigation of ground-level ozone levels throughout the U.S., (2) an outline summary about any science article obtained from the science section of the New York Times. All assignments must be word-processed, 12-pt font, and doubled-spaced and be about 2 pages in length. Specific details about each assignment will be discussed in class when each is assigned. Due dates are listed on the schedule.

 

Textbook Website:

Chemistry in Context, Applying Chemistry to Society has a great web site, www.mhhe.com/cic. The web site has practice quizzes and interactive problems. I highly recommend this site to use as a study tool.

 

 

Attendance:

You are expected to attend all scheduled class lectures. You are responsible for all material covered in class and/or listed on the class schedule and for all announcements made in class.

 

End of Chapter Homework Problems:

You are expected to complete each reading assignment and assigned homework problems. Homework problems will not be picked up or graded. All of the questions listed are reasonable questions on material that might be on the exam. See the syllabus for the assigned homework problems.