Spring 2007

Administrative Information

Class meets: TuTh 9:15-10:35am in ST 133
Class Text: Conceptual Chemistry, 3rd ed. by John Suchocki
On reserve: Last year's quizzes.

Instructor: Dr. Jeremy Kua
Office: ST 381
Phone: (619) 260-7970
E-mail:
Office hours: Mon 1:30-3pm, Tue 2:30-4pm, Wed noon-1pm, Thu 11am-noon
Class web site: http://home.sandiego.edu/~jkua/chem101spr07.html

Course goals: To understand the fundamental principles of chemistry and see how it applies to everyday life.

Additional web-resources: I'm in the process of compiling a number of links that will help supplement your learning experience. Several of these present the material in a visual way. Animations included. [Please e-mail me if any of the links are broken.] Links are at:  Chem1 Links

General Advice: To be successful in this class, understanding the lectures is the most important thing to do. So don't skip class. In addition, I have included a sample list of problems from each chapter (all found at the end of each chapter). I expect you will know how to solve by the time a quiz/exam comes round. It is your responsbility to make sure you know how to do them if you want to be successful on a quiz or exam. And of course reading the text before and after the lecture always helps. Later topics in the class build on earlier topics so it is crucial not to fall behind. Because of this, later quizzes will often involve knowing material from earlier topics.

Course requirements:
1. There will be six in-class 35-minute quizzes (of which the best five will be applied towards credit) and one Final Exam.

2. There will be NO collaboration on any quiz or exam.

3. Grade breakdown is as follows:
                5 Quizzes @ 13% each                65%
                Final exam                                   35%

4. Tentative Grading Scale (subject to change by the instructor at any time)
                A        85-100%
                B        70-84%
                C        55-69%
                D        40-54%
                F           0-39%
Appended + and - will approximately constitute 3% widths at either end of the scale for A-D grades.

5. There are no make-up quizzes or exams. If you have a very good reason for missing an exam you have to let me know beforehand. If I think your reason is valid, we will schedule an oral exam that week, where you show up at my office and I get to ask you anything I think you should know from class and give you a grade based on your response.

6. Quizzes will take place during the first 35 minutes of class and will strictly start at 9:15am. Don't be late. There will be a 5-minute break after the quiz, after which we will continue with lecture material.

7. Students are most welcome to come in during office hours. If I'm in my office and not swamped with work outside of my designated office hours, I will be happy to answer questions and discuss coursework. I check my e-mail reasonably often during working hours so you can contact me that way too. (Don't expect replies on weekends and evenings.)

8. All students are expected to adhere strictly to the Academic Integrity policy. Violations will be dealt with through the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, in accordance with the University of San Diego policy on academic integrity.

Approximate associated chapters of the text are in parenthesis.
Blank lines delimit separate weeks.

Note that "Quiz #n Topic" should not be interpreted as Quiz on Topic but rather that the quiz takes place first (for 35 minutes) then after a 5 minute break I will lecture on the given Topic for the remaining 40 minutes or so.

30 Jan  Introduction, Measurements, Matter (1 and Appendices A and B)
01 Feb  Elements and the Periodic Table (2)

06 Feb  The Atom (3)
08 Feb  Quiz #1  Nuclear Chemistry (4)

13 Feb  Nuclear Chemistry (4)
15 Feb  Electromagnetic Waves and Electrons (5)

20 Feb  Electronic Structure and the Periodic Table (5)
22 Feb  Quiz #2  Ionic Bonds (6)

27 Feb  Properties of Ionic Compounds, Covalent Bonds (6)
01 Mar  Properties of Covalent Compounds (6)

06 Mar  Intermolecular Forces (7.1 and 7.4), Metals
08 Mar  Quiz #3 Solutions (rest of 7)

13 Mar  Water and aqueous solutions (rest of 7,8)
15 Mar  Chemical Reactions and Rates (9)

20 Mar  Thermodynamics of Chemical Reactions (9)
22 Mar  Quiz #4  Acids and Bases (10)

27 Mar  Acids and Bases (10)
29 Mar  Redox Reactions (11)

SPRING and EASTER BREAK

10 Apr  Organic Chemistry, Hydrocarbons (12.1-12.2)
12 Apr  Quiz #5 Hydrocarbons (ctd) (12)

17 Apr  Functional Groups (12)
19 Apr  Functional Groups, Polymers (12)

24 Apr  Chemicals of Life (13)
26 Apr  Quiz #6  Chemicals of Life (13)

01 May  Chemistry of Drugs (14.1-14.4)
03 May  Environmental Chemistry (selections from 16 and 17)

08 May  Materials (18)
10 May  Review

Final exam is Thurs, May 17, 8-10am

Chem101 summary highlights: chem101summary.pdf