General Chemistry I

Bachelors of Science in Life and Health Sciences

CHM 120

BREYER STATE UNIVERSITY

Instructor: Troy Milliken, PhD

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to General Chemistry I, a Bachelor Level course in the curriculum for the Degree, Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med degree at Breyer State University. I am pleased to instruct you in this course, which will be a foundational course for the remainder of your studies in the bachelor program.
This is the initial, fundamental course in the Pre-Med curriculum.  In this course you will learn the beginning fundamentals of chemistry, which include properties of matter, stoichiometry, chemical bonding, and quantum concepts.

Chemistry involves the metamorphosis of matter. Matter is simply anything that occupies space. Since matter changes, it is not eternal since change requires a starting point. Matter thus had to be created, as nothing cannot make something.  This is the beginning point of science in general.

I know you will enjoy this course. Please learn as much as you can as you progress through it, as it lays a solid foundation for the rest of the curriculum. It is my pleasure to have you in the course.

TIME FRAME:  This is 4 semester hour course. This course is allotted 15 weeks of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the 15 week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day which you notify me that your textbook has arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of the time frame. Extensions of time are permitted if needed with my and/or departmental approval. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded 4 semester hours of credit.

It is a self-paced course, and so will require discipline to get through all the material in a timely manner.

TEXTBOOKS: The textbook for this course is:

"Chemistry:  Matter and Its Changes", 5th Edition, Wiley Plus Set, Authors:  Brady and Senese, ISBN: 978-0-470-12094-1

You may purchase this textbook from the university bookstore.

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TAKING EXAMS: Examinations are taken online via the Breyer State University website. Once you have registered for this program, you will receive instructions on accessing and taking the examinations. There are three (3) examinations for this course. They are 3 hours each. You will only be allowed to use a calculator, a periodic table, and an 8x10 sheet with equations and constants (of your choosing) only.

GETTING STARTED: As soon as you receive your textbook, you may start the class. A good study method is to read the chapter first and take notes (including definitions). Then go back over the chapter and try to rework the problems the author has done in the chapter. You will notice that the assigned problems are for designated parts of the chapter. While focusing in on one part, try the problems associated with that part. Upon completion of the problems, go back over them to make sure you have them mastered. I cannot emphasize the importance of drilling yourself over and over. Keep your answered problems and notes in a ring binder so that you are organized. The material will accumulate quickly. The rigor of the course will pick up as you proceed. Organization is thus vital.

GRADING:  You will receive a letter grade based on your final average of your two exams in accordance with the following grade scale:

90 – 100 %      = A
80 – 89 %        = B
70 – 79 %        = C
60 – 69 %        = D
59 – 0 %          = Fail

OBJECTIVES OF THIS COURSE: Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

1). Perform necessary chemical conversions of units.
2). Have a strong working understanding of the periodic table.
3). Know the chemical symbols of the elements and what their atomic numbers and masses mean.
4). Perform stoichiometry problems.
5). Do dilution problems of acids and bases.
6). Understand the basic chemical reactions that occur in water.
7). Understand the basics of quantum theory, molecular orbital theory, and atomic orbital theory.
8). Write the electron configuration for any atom/ion in the periodic table.
9). Understand the different periodic trends.
10). Draw Lewis symbols for atoms, Lewis structures for molecules, and predict molecular shapes

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may address them to admassistant@breyerstate.com . An administrative faculty member will respond to all questions.