BackCHEM 1104: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry – Syllabus and Study Guide
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CHEM 1104: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
Course Overview
This course provides an introductory survey of general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. It is designed for students who are not majoring in Biology or Physical Science. The course includes three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: High school algebra.
Lecture Time: 8:30 to 9:45 am MW
Department: Math & Physical Sciences
College: Arts & Sciences
Textbooks: Timberlake, "Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry" (14th ed.); Garoutte & Mahoney, "General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: A Guided Inquiry" (2nd ed.)
Lab Safety: Approved lab safety goggles required before first lab
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Apply observations, safety, and techniques to basic laboratory procedures, including a written component.
Analyze and solve problems, including clinical calculations, using proper precision and units.
Represent and analyze formation of molecular and ionic compounds and apply the rules of nomenclature to inorganic substances.
Identify and make use of quantitative relationships from chemical formulas and chemical equations.
Predict atomic structure and reactivity based on an element’s position in the periodic table.
Qualitatively apply gas law relationships.
Analyze the energy changes of physical and chemical processes.
Describe the properties of functional groups in organic chemistry.
Classify biomolecules into macromolecular categories and describe their biological functions.
Course Structure and Grading
Grading Rubric
Component | Percentage |
|---|---|
Hourly Exams (4, all count) | 50% |
Final Exam (ACS standardized) | 15% |
Labs | 15% |
Online Homework (MasteringChemistry) | 12% |
Other Announced Assignments | 6% |
Attendance | 2% |
Total | 100% |
Grading Scale
Percentage | Grade |
|---|---|
90-100 | A |
80-89 | B |
70-79 | C |
60-69 | D |
0-59 | F |
Weekly Lecture Schedule (Selected Topics)
Date | Chapter & Topic | Reading |
|---|---|---|
Aug 20 (M) | Naming Atoms and Elements (4.1 & 4.2), Naming Compounds (6.1–6.5) | pp. 98-106, 168-89 |
Aug 25 (W) | Naming Compounds (6.1–6.5), Quiz: Naming Atoms & Elements | |
Aug 27 (M) | Ch 2: Chemistry and Measurements | pp. 25-59 |
Sep 1 (M) | No Class (Labor Day) | |
Sep 3 (W) | Ch 2: Chemistry and Measurements, Quiz: Naming Ionic Compounds | |
Sep 8 (M) | Ch 3: Matter and Energy, Quiz: Naming Molecular Compounds | pp. 60-97 |
Sep 10 (W) | Ch 3: Matter and Energy | |
Sep 15 (M) | Ch 4.3–4.7: Atoms and Elements | pp. 106-35 |
Sep 17 (W) | Exam 1 (Ch 2, 3, 4.1–4.2, 6.1–6.5) | |
Sep 22 (M) | Ch 6.6–6.9: Lewis Structures, Lab Chemicals Naming Quiz | pp. 189-214 |
Sep 24 (W) | Ch 7: Chemical Quantities and Reactions | pp. 216-58 |
Oct 1 (W) | Ch 9: Solutions | pp. 285-323 |
Oct 6 (M) | Ch 9: Solutions | |
Oct 8 (W) | Exam 2 (Ch 4.3–4.7, 6.6–6.9, 7, 9) | |
Oct 13 (M) | Ch 10: Acids and Bases and Equilibrium | pp. 324-62 |
Oct 15 (W) | Ch 10: Acids and Bases and Equilibrium | |
Oct 20 (M) | Ch 11: Intro to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons | pp. 363-97 |
Oct 22 (W) | Ch 12: Alcohols, Thiols, Esters, Aldehydes, Ketones | pp. 398-431 |
Oct 27 (M) | Ch 12: Alcohols, Thiols, Esters, Aldehydes, Ketones | |
Oct 29 (W) | Ch 13: Carbohydrates | pp. 432-69 |
Nov 3 (M) | Exam 3 (Ch 9, 10, 11, 12) | |
Nov 5 (W) | Ch 13: Carbohydrates | |
Nov 10 (M) | Ch 15: Lipids | pp. 509-47 |
Nov 12 (W) | Ch 15: Lipids | |
Nov 17 (M) | Ch 16: Amino Acids, Proteins, & Enzymes | pp. 548-83 |
Nov 19 (W) | Ch 16: Amino Acids, Proteins, & Enzymes | |
Nov 25-29 | Thanksgiving Break (No Class) | |
Dec 1 (M) | Exam 4 (Ch 13, 15, 16) | |
Dec 3 (W) | Make-up Exam (comprehensive; by permission only) | |
Dec 8-11 | Final Exam (ACS Exam) T.B.A. |
Key Course Policies
Attendance: Attendance is required and tracked. Missing three labs with unexcused absences results in a lab grade of "F" (50%). Missing five labs with unexcused absences results in a course grade of "F".
Lab Reports: Must be submitted in PDF format via Blackboard. Each report must include a summary of the actual procedure and a list of the names/formulae of all chemicals used and their purposes. Late lab reports are penalized 15% per day late.
Assignments: All responses and calculations must be hand-written. Assignments must be printed on clean, unused paper.
Make-up Exams: Only allowed for approved reasons with advance notice and documentation.
Final Exam: ACS standardized, no make-up allowed except as per university policy.
Electronic Devices: Use of cell phones and personal computers is restricted to class-related activities only.
Major Topics Covered
Atoms and Elements: Structure, properties, and periodic trends.
Naming Compounds: Nomenclature for ionic and molecular compounds.
Chemistry and Measurements: Units, precision, and significant figures.
Matter and Energy: States of matter, energy changes, and physical/chemical properties.
Chemical Quantities and Reactions: Stoichiometry, balancing equations, and quantitative relationships.
Solutions: Concentration calculations, properties of solutions.
Acids, Bases, and Equilibrium: Definitions, calculations, and equilibrium concepts.
Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons, alcohols, thiols, esters, aldehydes, ketones, and carbohydrates.
Biochemistry: Lipids, amino acids, proteins, and enzymes.
Example: Chemical Equation (Stoichiometry)
Balancing a chemical equation ensures the law of conservation of mass is obeyed. For example, the combustion of methane:
Example: Solution Concentration
The molarity (M) of a solution is calculated as:
Example: Gas Law Relationship
Boyle's Law describes the inverse relationship between pressure and volume for a gas at constant temperature:
Additional Info
Students are encouraged to use the end-of-chapter review sections and concept checklists as study guides for each exam.
Lab safety and proper chemical handling are emphasized throughout the course.
Online homework is assigned via MasteringChemistry and is a required component of the course grade.
