CHEMISTRY 141 SUMMER 2013
GENERAL INFORMATION
This course serves as a first course in General Chemistry and meets the requirements of a variety of degree programs. The course is not intended for students pursuing degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical engineering. Students must achieve a passing grade (>1.0) in CEM 141 in order to progress to CEM 142 or 143.
The chemistry in CEM 141 is not as difficult as you might have heard. However, success does require a consistent and sustained effort. Devise a schedule that will allow you to devote some small amount of time to chemistry every day. Study the material actively, rewrite your lecture notes, solve problems in the study guide or sample examinations, study collaboratively with other students in the class, go to recitation or the help room and ask questions, and see your instructor if you have difficulty.
Lectures
Lectures start Monday, May 13th in Room 138 Chemistry, 10:20am - 12:10pm MWF.
Attendance at lecture is expected! You are advised to read any text assignment before the corresponding lecture. No appointment is necessary to see your instructor during scheduled office hours. When sending emails, please put CEM 141 in the subject line.
Lecturer Jim Geiger email: geiger@chemistry.msu.edu
Office Hours: MWF 12pm – 1:10pm in room 9A Chemistry
Teaching
Assistant
General Chemistry Office General information and assistance is available at the General Chemistry
Office, Room 185 Chemistry (M-F 8-12 noon and 1-5 pm; tel 5-9715 ext 323).
General Chemistry Coordinator Wendy Whitford email: tsuji@chemistry.msu.edu
Undergraduate Program Manager Steve Poulios email: poulios@msu.edu
CEM 141 web site http://www.chemistry.msu.edu/ then go to course web page (lower right corner),
then General Chemistry Courses, then CEM 141.
Cemscores web site From any computer on campus, enter cemscores as the url. From computers off- campus, you can access the site through the CEM 141 web site.
OWL© problem sets web site http://owl.cengage.com
Log in at this site using the access code purchased separately.
Textbook
The text assigned to CEM 141 is Volume 1 of Chemistry by Hunter & Pollock (ISBN 0078042291 McGraw-Hill). This volume contains only that portion of the regular text that is relevant to CEM 141.
Note that an OWL access code is required.
Lecture Notes that closely follow each lecture throughout the semester are available at the bookstores (ISBN 0963047132 $10). These notes are intended to make it easier for you to follow the lectures - you should supplement them with your own notes during lecture.
Recitation
Recitations present an opportunity for you to ask questions and discuss the course material. Strive to participate actively! In each recitation a selection of relevant exam questions will be presented. You will work in groups to solve these problems and will receive credit for work done - 10 points for each problem set, maximum 100 points. Recitations will start on Monday, May 14th. There will be no recitation on Monday, May 28th or Tuesday, May 29th.
Section 101 TuTh 11:30am - 12:20pm Room 183 Chemistry
Section 102 TuTh 3:00pm - 3:50pm Room 183 Chemistry
Section 103 MW 12:40pm - 1:30pm Room 136 Chemistry
Section 104 MW 1:50pm - 2:40pm Room 183 Chemistry
Section 105 MW 12:40pm - 1:30pm Room 136 Chemistry
Laboratory
The laboratory associated with this class is CEM 161 but concurrent enrollment is not required (CEM 161 requires separate enrollment). The CEM 161 labs start Tuesday, May 14th.
Problem Sets (OWL© Homework)
Five problem sets will be issued this term. The problem sets will be administered by the OWL© system—see the OWL Instruction Sheet for how to register your access code. You are encouraged to work and study together in solving these problems but you are responsible for completing your own set of questions by Monday mornings at 8:00am. Due-dates are noted on the calendar. You are strongly encouraged to do these problems—not only are they an excellent way to learn and understand the chemistry but they will contribute 20% to your final grade in the course.
Examinations
There will be two examinations during the course at the regularly scheduled lecture time. The mid-term examination will contribute 30% and the final exam will contribute 40% to your grade in the course. Exam dates are noted on the accompanying calendar and syllabus. You must take the exams at the scheduled times. There are no make-up exams.
Book of Previous Examinations
Many requests are received from students for sample examinations or examinations previously given in CEM 141. A book of these is now available for the cost of printing from the General Chemistry Office (Room 185 Chemistry). This book contains all the exams, and solutions to the exams, given in the last five years (ISBN 0963047167 274 pp $20). Working through these examinations is a useful way to test your knowledge of the material and to prepare for your own examinations.
Grades
The grade you receive in this course will be calculated from the total number of points /1000 that you earn:
Mid-Term Exam 300 Final Exam 400 OWL Problem Sets 200 Recitation Problem Sets 100
Absence from an examination because of illness must be substantiated by a physician. Absence due to extenuating circumstance must be preapproved. Scores will then be prorated accordingly. There will be no make-ups for any exam. You must take the final exam at the assigned time to achieve a passing grade in the course. The grade scale shown below is fixed, guaranteed, and will not be curved:
4.0 1000 - 800 points 2.5 679 - 620 points 1.0 499 - 440 points
3.5 799 - 740 points 2.0 619 - 560 points 0.0 439 - 0 points
3.0 739 - 680 points 1.5 559 - 500 points
Help Room
Help with the chemistry in CEM 141 is available from the instructors in the Help Room (Room 83 in the basement). A schedule will be posted outside the room. Use the Help Room as much as you like!