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    Honors Chemistry is a Concurrent Course with

    Luzerne County Community College

     

    Course is graded on total points.

     

    Standard Course Syllabus

    College Mission: Luzerne County Community College provides excellence in education, fosters student success in achievement of goals, and positively impacts Luzerne County and the surrounding Northeastern Pennsylvania region.

     

    Course Number: CHE 111

     

    Course Title: Fundamentals of Chemistry

     

    Department: Science

     

    Credits:                      Lecture hours:             3

     

    Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of elementary algebra or permission of instructor.

     

    Course Description: This course is intended for non-science majors with little prior knowledge of Chemistry to aid them in understanding the role of Chemistry in society. Included in the course are discussion of the metric system, basic laws of chemistry, atomic structure, chemical bonding, chemical changes and some organic chemistry.

     

    Course Goals: 

    This course provides students with the opportunity to:

    1. Gain a basic knowledge of the mathematics utilized in chemistry.

     

    1. Learn the chemical distinction of elements, compounds, mixtures, matter, mass and energy.

     

    1. Comprehend atomic structure and to apply this knowledge to the chemical behavior of the various elements.

     

    1. Comprehend how molecules are formed.

     

    1. Comprehend the interactions between different molecules.

     

    1. Determine the various methods to express concentrations of solutions.

     

    1. Learn the theory of acids and bases and the practical use of pH.

     

    1. Learn the properties of the atomic nucleus.

     

    1. Learn the behavior of gases

     

    1. Comprehend and utilize organic structures.

     

    1. Learn basic biochemistry and relate such knowledge to human systems.

     

     

    Student Learning Objectives or Outcomes

    Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

     

    Goal 1:

    1a: Utilize metric system terminology in chemistry applications.

    1b: Explain exponents and their use in scientific notation.

           1c. Apply ratio and proportion in solving specific chemistry problems.

           1d: Calculate density and pressure.

           1e: Calculate temperature scales

          

    Goal 2:

           2a: Define matter, mass and energy.

     2b: Illustrate the relationship between atoms and elements, and between molecules and compounds.

     

    Goal 3:

     3a: Illustrate the chemical configuration of at least the first twenty elements on the periodic table-this would include shells and sub-shells.

           3b: Explain how an element reacts in nature because of its configuration.

          

    Goal 4:

           4a: Discuss and illustrate the nature of ionic and covalent bonds.

           4b: Discuss and illustrate hydrogen bonds.

           4c: Explain the significance of hydrogen bonds as related to the properties of water.

     

    Goal 5:

           5a: Discuss and illustrate the components of a chemical reaction.

           5b: Explain what a chemical reaction represents in nature.                                                           

           5c: Illustrate different types of chemical reactions such as combinations, decompositions, redox etc.

           5d: Balance simple chemical reactions by the trial and error method.

           5e: Discuss basic stoichiometry and relate such to the Law of the Conversation of Matter.

          

    Goal 6:

      6a: Explain the concept of Avogadro’s number and molarity as they relate to water solutions.

            6b: Explain the concept of normality as it relates to water solutions.

            6c: Utilize the percent by weight method to determine the strength of a solute in a water solution.

       

    Goal 7:

           7a: Define the differences between an acidic and alkaline (basic) solution.

           7b: Illustrate the pH scale and its practical use.                                                                                   

    Goal 8:

      8a: Discuss the significance of neutrons and their role in creating different isotopic forms of an element.

            8b: Describe the different forms of radiation emanating from an atom’s nucleus.

            8c: Describe and illustrate half-life and radioactive decay.

      8d: Describe and illustrate transmutation.

     

    Goal 9:

      9a: Describe and illustrate in graph format the basic laws of Charles, Boyle, and Gay-Lussac.

            9b: Solve basic problems relating to gases by utilizing the ideal gas law of PV=nRT.

            9c: Explain and illustrate Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures as it relates to a gas mixture.

       

    Goal 10:

    10a: Write the structures of basic, organic compounds, particularly the common ones utilized domestically.

     

    Goal 11:

           11a: Discuss the organic compounds that comprise living tissues, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids.                                                                                

          

     

    Sequence of Topics or Activities:

     

    1. Basic mathematics of chemistry.
    2. Basic introduction to chemistry.
    3. Matter and the atomic theory.
    4. Atomic structure-The Bohr atom.
    5. Identifying atoms and molecules.
    6. Chemical bonds.
    7. Water-its characteristics.
    8. Ions and ionization.
    9. Types of chemical reactions.
    10. Balancing chemical reactions.
    11. Stoichiometry.
    12. Water solutions and concentration.
    13. Acids and bases.
    14. Nuclear chemistry-brief review.
    15. Gases and gas laws.
    16. Organic chemistry-brief review.
    17. Biochemistry-brief review.

     

    Assessment and Grading:

     

    The following are acceptable assessment methods for this course:

     

    1. Tests
    2. Quizzes
    3. Classwork
    4. Labs
    5. Lab reports
    6. Research paper
    7. Final exam