Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Elementary Chemistry Lab (Face-to-Face)

CHEM 1115-02

Course: CHEM 1115-02
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCI
CRN: 31700

Course Description

Chem 1115 Elementary Chemistry Lab is the laboratory supplement to Chem Chem 1110. The course is for students with interests in family and consumer sciences, nursing, agriculture, and those needing one year of basic chemistry. This lab course enables students to put into practice several concepts learned in the 1110 lecture portion, and introduces basic laboratory techniques and practices for experiments in chemistry.

Required Texts

  • Experiments for Elementary Chemistry Lab, Chem 1115 Available only in the campus bookstore.
  • Safety Goggles Students are REQUIRED to have their own pair of safety goggles.

Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking: Students will become accustomed to carefully analyzing and conceptualizing information in order to apply the knowledge gained more broadly and in other related chemical and physical contexts.
  • Inquiry and Analysis: Students will learn the process of collecting and analyzing evidence-based content information. This strategy is the pillar of the scientific method and is broadly applicable both in the physical sciences and in global issues.
  • Knowledge of the Physical and Natural World: Science is a platform by which to understand the world/universe around us in a rigorous fashion. This course will help students to learn this framework in the context of chemical analysis and chemical reactions, carefully illustrate the various forms of matter and chemical energy, and cast these concepts into a larger physical context.
  • Problem Solving: Students will learn to partition and identify key components in problems necessary for understanding and eventually solving them. Further, students will learn how to interpret those solutions and apply the knowledge to other related problems in chemical structure and analysis.
  • Quantitative Literacy: Students will learn how to evaluate and interpret quantitative data relating to chemical identification and properties. This incorporates chemical equations, reactivity, and physical properties.

Course Requirements

Grading
Point Distribution
Grade Scale
Grades may be subjected to a modified curve. All assignments must be submitted if a student is going to be benefitted from the curve.
Pre-Lab Assignments
You are expected to read the lab description and background before coming to lab. There is a pre-lab assignment associated with every lab, and this assignment is due at the start of the lab period.
Lab Experiments
You are expected to be present and participating in lab to receive full credit. Data sheets and post-lab questions accompany every lab. These assignments are due at the start of the following lab. Your lab will be considered late if it is not turned in at the assigned time, even if you miss lab that week.
While you will be working with a lab partner, you are expected to do your own authentic work.
Quizzes and Exams
In addition to the lab assignments, there may be short quizzes and a lab final. Quizzes will only be given during the first ten minutes of class, without exception. The final will be comprehensive and given at the end of the semester. You must be present to take the final on the date specified in the syllabus.
Assignment Scores
You have the responsibility to make sure scores are properly submitted on Canvas. You have one week from when assignments are returned to discuss anything regarding grading with the professor.
Pre-lab assignments | 10 points each | Due at the beginning of lab
Lab report | 30 points each | Due at beginning of the following lab
Quizzes/Lab Final | ~120 points | Comprehensive
A 100-93
A- 92.9-90
B+ 89.9-87
B 86.9-83
B- 82.9-80
C+ 79.9-77
C 76.9-73
C- 72.9-70
D+ 69.9-67
D 66.9-63
D- 62.9-60
F 59.9-0

Course Outline

Tentative Course Schedule

Aug 27-Sep 5No lab
Sep 8-12Drawer check-out, Safety and Techniques
Sep 15-19Density
Sep 22-26Atomic Identification
Sep 29-Oct 3Chemical Formulas
Oct 6-10Chemical Reactions
Oct 13-17Chemical Names and Structures (dry lab)
Oct 20-24Stoichiometry
Oct 27-31Chemical Equilibrium
Nov 3-7Collection of Hydrogen Gas
Nov 10-14Electrolytes
Nov 17-21Acid-Base Chemistry
Dec 1-5Drawer check-in, Final Exam
Dec 8-12No lab

Other Lab Times

DayTimeProfessor
M9-11Vickers
M3-5Hiller
M5-7Samha
T1-3Samha
T4-6Prater
Th8-10Vickers
F8-10Samha
F2-4Hiller

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Notifications

Class announcements are sent out via Canvas. You need to make sure you are regularly checking the announcements or receiving alerts when a new one is posted.

Late Work

Pre-lab assignments cannot be turned in late, as it is expected that these be completed before the lab begins. Lab experiments will be accepted up to one week after the original due date, but penalized 30% of the original value.

Extra Credit

It is not expected that any extra credit will be offered during the course; however, if extra credit is offered, all students will have an equal opportunity to receive it. If you are struggling, I may be able to assist or offer advice, but you will need to initiate contact. Help is more effective when sought sooner rather than later!

Attendance Policy

Attendance

  • You are expected to be present and participating in lab to receive full credit.
  • You need to be on time.
  • Make-up labs may be allowed on an individual basis, but only for appropriate university approved absences. Labs only run from Monday to Friday, so they must be made up promptly. Advanced notice must be provided Students cannot expect to be able to make up more than one lab.
    • You will need to determine when other labs are offered.
    • Email me the name of the instructor whose lab you want to attend, as well as the day and time.
    • I will inquire with them to see if they have space to let you make up the lab.
    • I will notify you if they say it it OK.
    • You should plan to attend that section, even if you haven haven gotten a response.

Course Fees

$13.50 Fee

Custom

Course Expectations

I think that anyone can learn chemistry; however, it may come easier for some students than for others. I expect each student to work hard and take advantage of the opportunities provided him/her. Lab classes are a great opportunity to get hands on experience to learn what chemistry is, and help conceptualize different chemical principles. You are expected to be responsible for your education. To succeed in lab you need to think about what you are doing and why you are doing it, in addition to just completing the experiments. You are expected to read the lab manual before class and do the pre-lab assignments to participate in lab each week. Students are also encouraged to ask questions, work together, and attend office hours.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.