Chemistry 105: Concepts in Chemistry – Course Overview and Study Guide

Chemistry 105: Concepts in Chemistry

Course Overview

This course is designed for non-chemistry majors and emphasizes the practical application of chemistry in areas such as environmental pollution, energy sources, botanical chemistry, fertilizers, consumer chemistry, nutrient cycles, and human health. The course aims to illustrate chemical principles underlying current issues in science and technology, enhancing student learning through real-world examples.

• Instructor: Dr. Michael Shea

• Institution: Hudson Valley Community College

• Required Materials: Introductory Chemistry (7th edition, N. Tro), Labster simulations

• Course Format: Online lectures, discussions, homework, and labs

Learning Outcomes

• Describe fundamental chemical principles governing matter and reactions.

• Simulate hands-on chemical experimentation and calculate chemical quantities based on lab results.

• Communicate scientifically regarding lab results.

• Explain the role of applied chemistry in modern society.

• Interpret current scientific data to discuss topics including climate, oceans, acid-rain, and pollution.

• Apply scientific/chemical reasoning for issues that require basic chemical knowledge.

• Participate in class dialogue about current events in environmental and applied chemistry.

Course Structure and Assessment

Exams

• Three mid-semester exams (10% each, 100 minutes per exam)

• Cumulative final exam (25%, 200 minutes)

• Exams cover chapters from the Tro textbook and are taken online via Mastering Chemistry

Homework and Tutorials

• Regularly assigned textbook-related tutorials via Mastering Chemistry (10% of grade)

• Adaptive follow-up assignments for content not mastered

• Students earning >95% on parent assignment automatically "test-out" of follow-up

Discussion Forums

• Participation in discussion forums is required (10% of grade)

• Topics include chemical calculations, current events, environmental chemistry, pollution, botanical chemistry, human health, applied chemistry, and consumer chemistry

• Objective: Connect chemistry to real life and encourage exam studying

Laboratory Component

• Labs completed through Labster simulations

• Lab Midterm Exam and Lab Final Exam (verbal answering, recording, and submission of lab content questions)

• Emphasis on the scientific method: observation, hypothesis development, measurement, data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and mathematical analysis

• Lab grade breakdown:

  • Average of all Labster Simulations: 70%

  • Lab Midterm Exam: 15%

  • Lab Final Exam: 15%

• Overall lab grade contributes 25% to the course grade

Grading Scheme

• 50%: Exams, Homework, and Discussion Average

• 25%: Lab Average

• 25%: Final Exam Grade

• Letter grades assigned as follows:

  • 100-90: A

  • 89-80: B

  • 79-70: C

  • 69-60: D

  • Below 60: F

• "Z-grade" assigned if no coursework is submitted

Course Modules and Chapter Topics

The course is organized into modules, each corresponding to chapters from the textbook and associated discussion board topics. Below is the module sequence:

Module	Chapter(s)	Discussion Board Topic
1	The Chemical World (Ch 1)	The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
2	Measurement and Problem Solving (Ch 2)	Atmospheric CO2 Content and Global Climate
3	Matter and Energy (Ch 3)	Calorimetry and Food Energy
4	Atoms and Elements (Ch 4)	Isotopes of Carbon and Carbon Dating of Fossils
5	Molecules and Compounds (Ch 5)	Consumer Chemistry and Product Labels
6	Chemical Composition (Ch 6), Chemical Reactions (Ch 7)	Botanical Chemistry and Fertilizer Mixtures
7	Quantities in Chemical Reactions (Ch 8)	Green Chemistry and Catalytic Converters of Vehicles
8	Electrons in Atoms and the Periodic Table (Ch 9)	Fluorescent Neon Lamps
9	Chemical Bonding (Ch 10)	Energy Sources – Unleaded Gasoline, Butane Lighters, Propane Grills, and Alternative Energy Sources
10	Gases (Ch 11), Liquids, Solids, & Intermolecular Forces (Ch 12)	Air Pollution, Water Pollution, and the Flint River Water Crisis
11	Solutions (Ch 13)	Water, Oceans, and Environmental Pollution
12	Acids and Bases (Ch 14), Chemical Equilibrium (Ch 15)	Destructive Chemistry - Acid Rain Pollution and Methamphetamines
13	Radioactivity & Nuclear Chemistry (Ch 17)	Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) and Cancer Diagnosis
14	Organic Chemistry (Ch 18), Biochemistry (Ch 19)	Polymers and Plastics
15	Final Exam Module	No Discussion Board

Laboratory Sequence

Laboratory work is an integral part of Chemistry 105, focusing on simulations that reinforce lecture concepts and the scientific method. Below is the lab sequence by module:

Module	Labster Simulations
1	Lab Safety, The Scientific Method, Chemistry Safety
2	Measurements and Uncertainty, Pipetting, Human Impact on Climate Change
3	Matter & Phase Changes, Physical & Chemical Properties, Elements & Compounds
4	Atomic Structure (Atoms), Intro to Groups of Periodic Table, Periodic Table of Elements
5	Carbohydrates, Conductivity Testing, Timescales of Change
6	Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Ecosystem Dynamics
7	Stoichiometric Calculations, Environmental Impact of Coal Power Plants, The Carbon Cycle
8	Introduction Qualitative Element Analysis, Atomic Structure (Bohr)
9	Ionic and Covalent Bonds, Intermolecular Forces, The Nitrogen Cycle
10	Ideal Gas Law (Introduction), Ideal Gas Law (Temperature Scale), Ideal Gas Law (Save a Life), Properties of Water
11	Solution Preparation, Eutrophication, Thermal Effects on Marine Oxygen Levels
12	Acids and Bases, Titration, Equilibrium
13	Introduction to Radioactive Decay, Nuclear Chemistry
14	Synthesis of Aspirin, Introduction to Food Macromolecules, Enzyme Kinetics

Class Policies and Study Recommendations

• Lecture Attendance: Required online in Mastering Chemistry and Discussion Forum for each module.

• Lab Attendance: Required online in Labster for each module. All simulation labs must be completed for credit.

• Calculators: Recommended for studying, exams, homework, and labs.

• Academic Honesty: HVCC policy applies; see student handbook and website for details.

• Study Tips: Complete Mastering Chemistry tutorial homework and solve similar problems within and at the end of each chapter. Watching lecture videos and applying content to homework and labs is essential.

• Labster Simulations: Can be redone up to three times; highest score counts.

ADA Compliance

Hudson Valley Community College is committed to ensuring educational access and accommodations for all registered students. Students with documented disabilities and medical conditions are encouraged to register with the Center for Access and Assistive Technology for accommodations.

Summary of Key Chemistry Topics Covered

• The Chemical World: Introduction to chemistry, its scope, and relevance.

• Measurement and Problem Solving: Units, measurement techniques, and scientific problem-solving methods.

• Matter and Energy: Classification of matter, physical and chemical changes, energy concepts.

• Atoms and Elements: Atomic structure, elements, isotopes, and the periodic table.

• Molecules and Compounds: Chemical bonding, molecular structure, and compound formation.

• Chemical Composition and Reactions: Stoichiometry, balancing equations, types of chemical reactions.

• Quantities in Chemical Reactions: Calculations involving reactants and products, limiting reactants, yields.

• Electrons in Atoms and the Periodic Table: Electron configuration, periodic trends.

• Chemical Bonding: Ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds; properties and applications.

• Gases, Liquids, Solids, and Intermolecular Forces: States of matter, gas laws, intermolecular forces.

• Solutions: Solution preparation, concentration, properties.

• Acids and Bases, Chemical Equilibrium: Acid-base theory, titration, equilibrium concepts.

• Radioactivity and Nuclear Chemistry: Types of radioactive decay, nuclear reactions, applications.

• Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry: Basic organic molecules, polymers, food macromolecules, enzyme kinetics.

Example Formula: Ideal Gas Law

The Ideal Gas Law is a fundamental equation in chemistry relating pressure, volume, temperature, and the number of moles of a gas:

$PV = nRT$

Where:

• P = Pressure (in atmospheres, atm)

• V = Volume (in liters, L)

• n = Number of moles

• R = Universal gas constant ($R = 0.0821 \ \text{L} \cdot \text{atm} / \text{mol} \cdot \text{K}$)

• T = Temperature (in Kelvin, K)

Example Formula: Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry involves calculating the quantities of reactants and products in a chemical reaction. The balanced chemical equation is essential:

$\text{aA} + \text{bB} \rightarrow \text{cC} + \text{dD}$

Where a, b, c, d are coefficients representing the number of moles of each substance.

Additional Info

This study guide summarizes the course structure, key topics, and laboratory sequence for Chemistry 105. For detailed content, students should refer to the textbook chapters and complete all assigned homework, labs, and discussion activities.