General Chemistry I (CHEM 1001) Syllabus and Study Guide

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General Chemistry I (CHEM 1001) Syllabus and Study Guide

Course Overview

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of chemistry, focusing on atomic structure, periodic trends, chemical bonding, gas laws, intermolecular forces, equilibrium, acids and bases, and buffers. Applications to health, energy, materials, and the environment are included. The course emphasizes both discipline-specific knowledge and transferable skills such as critical thinking and quantitative reasoning.

Course Information

Course Instructors: David Brock (Section A), Seán Barry (Section B)
Department/Unit: Chemistry
Class Times: Section A: Tues/Thurs 11:30-1:00; Section B: Wed/Fri 8:30-10:00
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 1:00-2:00pm (Brock); Drop by at convenience (Barry)
Location: SC Building
Lab Coordinators: Mastehan Azad, Natalie Mesnic

Course Description

The course covers the following major topics:

Atomic Structure: Understanding the composition and properties of atoms.
Periodic Trends: Patterns in chemical properties across the periodic table.
Structure and Bonding: Types of chemical bonds and molecular structure.
Gas Laws: Relationships between pressure, volume, temperature, and amount of gas.
Intermolecular Forces: Forces between molecules affecting physical properties.
Equilibrium: Chemical equilibrium and factors affecting it.
Acids and Bases: Definitions, properties, and reactions.
Buffers: Solutions that resist changes in pH.
Applications: Health, energy, materials, and the environment.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

Discipline-Specific Outcomes	Transferable-Skill Outcomes
Describe the importance of chemistry in everyday life and the interdisciplinary nature of chemistry.	Analyze and critically assess problems, and take a systematic approach to solve them.
Use critical thinking skills to explain, make connections between, and apply chemical principles, laws, and theories pertaining to atomic structure, periodic trends, structure and bonding, gas laws, intermolecular forces, equilibrium, acids and bases, and buffers.	Obtain, evaluate, and integrate information from various sources, and determine its relevance.
Evaluate and assess chemical data and apply chemical theories and laws to solve a variety of new qualitative and quantitative chemistry problems.	Work with others in an effective, ethical, social, and safe manner. Prioritize a set of tasks and manage the use of his or her time accurately.
Conduct laboratory experiments and communicate results and conclusions in written and oral formats.	Communicate thoughts, ideas, and observations verbally and in writing. Recognize when to seek assistance.
Safely use a variety of laboratory equipment and instrumentation to perform experimental procedures and explain the underlying theory behind all of them.	Develop respect for, and comply with, regulations and policies. Accept responsibility for his or her decisions, actions, and non-actions.

Textbook

Required Text: "Chemistry" 4th Canadian Edition by Zumdahl, Williams, and Burk (Wiley).
Available in print or permanent electronic access via Carleton's bookstore or publisher's site.

Assessments and Grade Breakdown

Grades are released only via Brightspace. To pass, students must achieve at least 50% overall and complete all laboratory experiments and reports by the last day of classes.

Component	Notes	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	#8
Mastering	6 Online Homework Assignments	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Quizzes	Weekly Online Quizzes	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
Laboratory	Four experiments	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20
Test 1	2 h	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.5	7.5
Test 2	2 h	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
Final Exam	3 hours	35	40	35	42.5	47.5	50	50	50

Assessment Details

Homework Assignments: Six online assignments, typically every two weeks. Late assignments incur a 10% penalty per day.
Quizzes: Twelve timed online quizzes; best ten count toward final grade. Quizzes are available for 12 hours and must be completed by the stated deadline.
Laboratory: Four experiments; all must be completed and reports submitted by the last day of classes to pass the course. Safety equipment required.
Term Tests: Two tests scheduled by the Registrar, outside regular class times.
Final Exam: Scheduled by the Registrar, between Dec. 8 and Dec. 20.

Missed Work and Academic Consideration

Short-term (1 week or less) incapacity: Submit the Academic Consideration for Coursework Form for missed work.
Long-term incapacity: Evaluated case-by-case by the Chair of the Department of Chemistry and/or the Office of the Dean of Science.
Missed quizzes: Top 10 of 12 quizzes used for final mark; missed quizzes beyond this are not replaced.
Missed labs: All laboratory experiments and reports must be completed and submitted by the last day of classes to pass.

Academic Integrity and Use of AI Tools

AI tools may be used for basic word processing and formatting (e.g., grammar and spell checking, formatting suggestions).
Documenting AI use is not required for basic functions.
Plagiarism is strictly prohibited and includes copying, paraphrasing, or submitting another's work as your own.
Misconduct will result in sanctions as outlined in Carleton University's Academic Integrity Policy.

Important Policies

Accessibility: Academic accommodations are available for students with documented needs. See the Academic Accommodations website for details.
Communication: Course announcements and updates will be posted on Brightspace. Students are encouraged to check regularly.

Key Chemistry Concepts to Review

Atomic Structure: Protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, electron configuration.
Periodic Table: Groups, periods, periodic trends (atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity).
Chemical Bonding: Ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds; Lewis structures; VSEPR theory.
Gas Laws: Boyle's Law, Charles's Law, Avogadro's Law, Ideal Gas Law.
Intermolecular Forces: Hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, London dispersion forces.
Chemical Equilibrium: Dynamic equilibrium, Le Châtelier's Principle, equilibrium constant ().
Acids and Bases: Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and Lewis definitions; and calculations.
Buffers: Composition and function; Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

Example Equations

Ideal Gas Law:
Equilibrium Constant:
pH Calculation:

Additional info:

Some details inferred from standard General Chemistry I syllabi and best practices for university-level chemistry courses.
Specific dates, deadlines, and further details are available on the course Brightspace page and official university websites.