Spring 2019

Administrative Information

Class meets: MWF 8:00-8:55am in SCST129
Class Text: Chemistry: An Atom-Focused Approach, 2nd edition (Norton Publishing) with SmartWork5 online homework; by Gilbert, Kirss, Foster, Bretz.
Note this is the same book used in CHEM151 last semester (Fall 2018).
Here are some purchase options if you don't already have the book.

Instructor: Dr. Jeremy Kua
Office: SCST 381
Phone:  (619) 260-7970
E-mail:
Office hours: Mon 12:45-2pm, Tue 3-4:15pm, Wed 12:45-2pm, Thu 10-11:15am

Course goals:
This course builds on the foundation of CHEM151 by continuing the fundamentals of chemistry for a student majoring in the physical or life sciences, and/or on a pre-health path. Course topics include: thermochemistry, thermodynamics, properties of solutions, kinetics, equilibria, and electron transfer reactions. Within the construct of these topics, the main goals of this course are for you to develop a visual image of what is occurring at the molecular level and develop your problem-solving skills to answer a given chemical question.

Learning outcomes:
At the end of the course, you should be able to:
1. Assess spontaneity of a reaction both qualitatively and quantitatively.
2. Connect knowledge of the atomic/molecular level structure of liquids, solids, gases and mixtures to their macroscopic properties.
3. Use experimental data to determine a reaction's rate law and propose a plausible corresponding reaction mechanism.
4. Apply knowledge of dynamic equilibria to predict and manipulate reaction outcomes.
5. Predict the type of reaction and the likely products for various combinations of reactants.
6. Apply stoichiometry, thermodynamics and equilibria to various chemical reactions.

Course requirements:
1a. There will be three take-home mid-semester exams and one in-class Final Exam.
1b. There will be 18-25 random quizzes that will take place at the beginning of class. I will count the top 14 towards your grade. The quizzes will be short 5-minute questions based on material from the previous class, or from the reading for class that day.
1c. Online homework will be facilitated through SmartWork5.
1d. There will be occasional graded Problem Sets or Worksheets that you will submit in class.

2a. Feel free to ask each other (or me) for help with the online homework and problem sets but if you get help from someone else, make sure you understand how to work through the problems on your own before the exam.
2b. There will be NO collaboration on quizzes and exams.

3a. Grade breakdown is as follows:
                14 Quizzes at 0.5% each             7%
                Homework/Problem Sets          20%
                3 Exams at 6% each                  18%
                Final Exam                                50%
                Participation                                5%
3b. Tentative Grading Scale (subject to change by the instructor if necessary)
                A     90-100%
                B       80-89%
                C       70-79%
                D       60-69%
                F          0-59%
Appended + and - will approximately constitute 2% widths at either end of the scale for A-D grades. 

4. Note the Stages of a Take-home Midterm:
  • Study exactly like you would for an in-class exam.
  • When you feel ready, find a quiet place, set a timer for one hour and take the exam under exam-conditions (i.e., no referring to any sources, it's just you and the exam).
  • After the hour is up, you may annotate the exam by improving or correcting any of your answers but you may not erase any original work and you must do this in a different color. This stage of the exam may be done by consulting your notes, the textbook, and your classmates.
  • When you are done annotating, estimate your score (out of 25 points) for the exam based on your work from the initial one-hour. Give yourself partial credit for questions you got partially correct.
  • Exams will typically be given to you on Friday in class (don't look at it until you've studied and you're ready) and you will submit them on Monday in class.
  • As I review your exams, I'm looking for a good faith effort to follow the two-color scheme above and that you are able to spot and correct any errors or make appropriate clarifications. Generally I'm expecting to give you full credit on the exam (all 5%) if you make a good-faith effort to follow the stages. This is regardless of your own estimated score, the purpose of which is to give you an idea of how you might do on the Final exam.
  • Following these stages will also prepare you appropriately for the Final Exam. If you 'cheat' on the stages, you will give yourself a false sense of how well you know the material, and it will come back and bite you on the Final Exam (where it's just you and the closed-book exam).

5a. Smartwork5 assignments will typically be due at 8am MWF. While you will usually have 2-4 days after we discuss the material in class, try to work on the relevant problems within 24 hours of our covering the material in class. (It's the best way to retain your learning.)
5b. For instructions on how to register and access Smartwork5, see http://wwnorton.knowledgeowl.com/help/smartwork5-students-getting-started. There's also an easy-to-follow video at https://youtu.be/WPXcHtWBcSE.
5c. As you are registering for access, the Student Set ID for our class is 135008.

6a. Students are most welcome to come in during office hours. Generally if my office door is wide open even if not during my office hours, you're more than welcome to stop by. Remember, I'm here to help you master the material. On the rare instances I'm super-busy right when you appear, I'll just ask you to come back a little later. 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.)
6b. I love talking about chemistry, in particular about chemical bonds and the strangeness of the universe we live in. So if you have a wild thought or idea, stop by my office so we can chat!

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.