Fall 2003

Administrative Information

Class meets: MWF 7:50-8:45 am in ST133
Class Text: Chemistry, 3rd ed. Olmstead & Williams

Instructor: Dr. Jeremy Kua
Office: ST 376
Phone:  (619) 260-7970
E-mail: jkua@sandiego.edu
Office hours: TBA
Class web site:  http://home.sandiego.edu/~jkua/chem10a/

Course goals: To learn the fundamentals of chemistry from a molecular perspective. The course will atomic and electronic structure, chemical bonding, structure of matter (gases, liquids, solids), the Periodic Table, writing chemical reactions, and stoichiometry.

Course requirements:
1. There will be five in-class hour long exams (lowest score exam will be dropped, only four will count) and one comprehensive two hour Final Exam. There will be problem sets spread out over the semester on non-exam weeks composed of a mixture of assigned questions both from the text and from me.

2a. Collaboration is allowed on problem sets but each student must write up their own work. No xerox copies.
2b. There will be NO collaboration on any exam.

3a. Grade breakdown is as follows:
                Problem Sets                             10%
                4 Exams @ 15% each               60%
                Final Exam                               30%
3b. 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. 

4a. Late problem sets will receive no credit (although I will go through your answers with comments).
4b. There are no make-up exams. If you have a very good reason for missing an exam you have to let me know beforehand or as soon as possible. If I judge the reason to be valid and you did let me know beforehand or ASAP, an alternative will be available (probably in the form of an oral exam where I ask you anything I would have expected you to know on the exam).

5. Opportunities for extra credit will be available as the semester progresses. The opportunity may arise based on discussion/questions from students regarding material in the class. Typically this will involve delving deeper into a topic which we will not be covering in detail in class (but is relevant and interesting). As and when such an opportunity comes up, I will announce it in class.

6. Students are most welcome to come in during office hours. Outside of my office hours, if I'm in my office and not swamped with work, I will be happy to answer questions and discuss coursework. Most of the time, if I'm in my office and the door is open, you're welcome to stop by. 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.)

7. 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.