Chem 1027A (Fall ) Everywhere and Everything

Transcription

1 Chem 107A (Fall ) Everywhere and Everything Prerequisites and Antirequisites As a general interest course, Chem 107A does not have any prerequisites. It is intended for students who have not taken Grade 11 or 1 Chemistry, and who are not registered in the Faculty of Science. (Please note that Chem 107A is not equivalent to Grade 1 Chemistry and cannot be used to fulfill prerequisite requirements for courses that require Grade 1 Chemistry.) Antirequisites: Chem 1301A/B, 130A/B, or the former Chem 1100A/B or 100B. Course Website News and course updates will be posted on Western s OWL system ( This is the primary method by which information will be disseminated to all students in the class, so you are responsible for checking OWL on a frequent basis. Support Services Learning-skills counsellors at the Student Development Centre ( are ready to help you improve your learning skills. They offer presentations on strategies for improving time management, multiple-choice exam preparation/writing, textbook reading, and more. Individual support is offered throughout the Fall/Winter terms in the drop-in Learning Help Centre, and year-round through individual counselling. Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western ( for a complete list of options about how to obtain help. Additional student-run support services are offered by the USC, The website for Registrarial Services is Accessibility Please contact the course instructor if you require lecture or printed material in an alternate format or if any other arrangements can make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at ext. 817 if you have questions regarding accommodation. Chem 107A Fall Course Outline 1

2 Class and Instructor Information Section Day & Time Room Instructor 001 (Lecture) Mon & Wed 11:30 1:0 PAB 18 Felix Lee MSA (Tutorial) Mon 1:30 1:0 PAB 18 Although Section 00 has been designated by the Registrar as a tutorial, the allotted time may be used for learning (class) and evaluation activities. More information will be provided on an as-needed basis. If you find yourself not understanding the course material, please set up an appointment with me by sending me an from your Western account. Questions related to course material can also be posted on the OWL discussion board. Learning Expectations The course has a strong emphasis on the development of skills such as critical-thinking, problem-solving, analysis, and quantitative reasoning; these soft skills are essential to success in not just chemistry but also in other courses and many occupations. Any student receiving credit for the course will be expected to demonstrate competence in his or her ability to: Course-Specific Expectations Recognize the importance of chemistry in everyday life and the interdisciplinary nature of chemistry. Develop an appreciation for the complexity of chemistry. Recognize and use basic chemical terminology. Describe and recognize the general structures of the major groups of biomolecules. Examine, integrate, and critically assess any provided or collected information relevant to the field of chemistry. Recognize some of the modern ethical issues in chemistry and in science. Soft-Skill Expectations Work independently. Form productive and collaborative working relationships with other individuals. Obtain, evaluate, and integrate information from various sources, and determine its relevance. Prioritize a set of tasks and manage the use of his or her time. Communicate thoughts and ideas verbally and in writing. Recognize when to seek assistance. Develop respect for, and comply with, regulations and policies. Learn to accept responsibility for his or her decisions, actions, and non-actions. Chem 107A Fall Course Outline

3 Course Materials There are no required textbooks. There will be a significant use of free online resources. Lecture notes will be posted on OWL before class. Anticipated Lecture Topics Topic Approx # of Classes Administration What is chemistry to you? What is your concept of science literacy? What do you expect from this course? How Do We Speak Chemistry? Elements and compounds Physical properties How Can It Contain the Same Elements yet Be Different? Thermometer or fish? Essential nutrient or poison? (Speciation) A drink or an aerosol propellant? (Structural isomerism) Lemon or orange? Spearmint or caraway? (Stereoisomerism) Is It Really Pesticide-Free? Identification, quantification, and detection limit Accuracy, precision, and sensitivity What Do Crude Oil, Taxol, and Coloured Markers Have in Common? Mixtures and separation methods Volatility, solubility, and adsorptivity Siri, Google, or Cortana, Tell Me About [[insert something here!]] Searching for scientific information Peer review in science Primary versus other sources What Are Chemical Weapons? Chlorine production Proteins and nucleic acids How Does a Chemist View an Iced Caramel Frappuccino? Phase changes and thermodynamics Carbohydrates and lipids Plastics Can/Should I Do That? Case studies involving data, credit and ownership, and safety Relevant and interesting topics in the news, time-permitting 1 1 Chem 107A Fall Course Outline 3

4 Evaluation Components The overall course grade, out of 100, will be calculated as listed below. Listed next to the respective components are their maximum contributions toward the course grade. Component Notes Normal Value Test 1 Test Tests 1+ Assignment #1 Due on Oct., 1:0 pm Test #1 October 16, in-class Test # November 13, in-class Assignment # Due on Nov., 1:0 pm Final Exam Scheduled by the Registrar The two tests and the final exam will be in a two-stage format. For more information on its benefits, see Details, including group and room assignments, will be posted before each test or exam. Important Legalities No electronic devices may be in your possession during tests and exams. Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at this website: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or citations. All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com ( Chem 107A Fall Course Outline

5 Course Components and Late Assignments If you are seeking academic accommodation because of a medical (physical or mental) illness, please begin by contacting the Academic Counselling Office of your home faculty (or affiliated college). Western s policy on academic accommodation for illnesses can be found at All requests for academic accommodation must go through your faculty s Academic Counselling Office, so please contact them and not your instructor. Late assignments will be assigned a mark of zero unless your faculty s Academic Counselling Office has approved your circumstances, in which case a reasonable extension shall be negotiated. Please note that there are no make-up tests. If your faculty s Academic Counselling Office has approved your circumstances, the value of the missed test will be reallocated as described in the evaluation scheme. If you miss the Final Exam, contact your faculty s Academic Counselling Office as soon as possible. They will assess your eligibility to write the Special Exam (the name given by the university to a makeup Final Exam) in January of 018. You may also be eligible to write the Special Exam if you are in a Multiple Exam Situation (see Chemistry on Social Media Find the Department of Chemistry at Western on Facebook and Twitter! Chem 107A Fall Course Outline 5