Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Principles of Chemistry I (Face-to-Face)

CHEM 1210-02

Course: CHEM 1210-02
Credits: 4
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCI
CRN: 31717

Course Description

An introductory chemistry course designed for students in engineering, physical science, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, or pre-veterinary medicine. For all students who need more than one (1) year of chemistry. Four (4) lectures per week. A minimum grade of “C” (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a physical science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other course. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): CHEM 1215 Prerequisite(s): MATH 1050 or MATH 1210 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Prerequisite Test (Min. Score): ACT Math Subscore (26) or ALEKS PPL (75) Prerequisite Can Be Concurrent? Yes (MATH 1210) General Education Category: Physical Sciences

Required Texts

  • Chemistry The Central Science 15th Edition, Brown, LeMay, Bursten, Murphy, Woodward, Stoltzfus.
  • ACS Official Guide, ISBN 978-1-7327764-0-1
  • Homework will be available through Mastering Chemistry (accessible on Canvas).
  • Scientific calculator able to compute logarithms. Graphing calculators are not permitted.

Learning Outcomes

This class fulfills the general education requirement for the physical science knowledge area.
  1. Demonstrate understanding of science as a way of knowing about the physical world;
  2. Demonstrate understanding of forces in the physical world; Discuss the flow of matter and energy through systems (in large and small scales);
  3. Develop evidence-based arguments regarding the effect of human activity on the Earth;
  4. Describe how the physical sciences have shaped and been shaped by historical, ethical, and social contexts.
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

Assigned Homework and In-Class Quizzes

  • Homework will be available through Canvas.
  • Problems may be assigned in class. These assignments will be due the following class period, unless otherwise specified. Partial credit may be awarded, so you need to show all your work.
  • It is recommended that you use the same calculator for your homework as what you plan to use for the exams for the sake of familiarity.
  • Quizzes may be announced or may be ‘pop’ quizzes. Either way, it is important to attend class.

Midterm Exams

  • Exams will be administered in the testing center on the day outlined on the calendar, unless a change to the calendar is made in class. It is important to attend class to be aware of any changes to the calendar. Reasonable notice will always be given for changes to exam dates.
  • Barring a university excused absence, all exams must be taken on the date outlined. In the event of a university excused absence, the exam must be taken before the deadline (not after). Exam make-ups will not be permitted.
  • Any exam accommodation will require that the student take the exam before the rest of the class, not after.
  • It is departmental policy that exams will not be returned indefinitely; however, there will be ample opportunity to review completed exams in class, during office hours, or by appointment.
  • Scientific (not graphing) calculators are allowed for examinations; however, under no circumstances will a smart phone or other internet-capable device be allowed during any of the exams.
  • Mastery quizzes will be administered prior to each exam to ensure that students have mastered some of the bigger topics prior going into the exam.
    • For each unit, the mastery quizzes will be worth 10% of the total exam value.
    • Each quiz will allow at least two attempts; however, this does not mean the quiz will have identical questions.

Final Exam

The Final is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10th from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Barring a university excused absence, the final must be taken at this time. The final exam will be comprehensive. It will be a standardized American Chemical Society (ACS) exam featuring multiple-choice questions. Therefore, a scantron and pencil are required. The department requires that you use one of their calculators on the final.

Curving of Final Grades

Chemistry is a difficult course, and students want a curve. I do not curve individual tests or assignment, but will often curve final grades. However, I think that you must meet a minimum requirement to be eligible of having your grade curved. These requirements are listed below, and you must meet ALL these requirements.
  • Complete assignments with at least a 75% average.
  • Have no more than 1 missing quiz or assignment.
  • Students must score above 75% on each mastery quiz.
  • Take every exam.

Grading Breakdown

Homework and quizzes | 25% 
Midterm exams | 50% 
Final exam | 25%

Grade Scale

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

Final date and time are definite as they are set by the University, other items are subject to change.
Aug 27 | 1 | Syllabus / Matter, Energy, and Measurement 
Sept 1 |  | Labor Day 6 No Class 
Sept 5 | 2 | Atoms, Molecules, and Ions 
Sept 12 | Exam 1 | Exam 1 (Chapters 1-2) 
Sept 15 | 3 | Chemical Reactions and Reaction Stoichiometry 
Sept 22 | 4 | Reactions in Aqueous Solution 
Sept 29 | Exam 2 | Exam 2 (Chapters 3-4) 
Sept 30 | 5 | Thermochemistry 
Oct 8 | 6 | Electronic Structure of Atoms 
Oct 13 |  | Fall Break 6 No Class 
Oct 14 |  | Fall Break 6 No Class 
Oct 22 | Exam 3 | Exam 3 (Chapters 5-6) 
Oct 24 | 7 | Periodic Properties of the Elements 
Oct 29 | 8 | Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding 
Nov 4 | 9 | Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories 
Nov 11 | Exam 4 | Exam 4 (Chapters 7-9) 
Nov 12 | 10 | Gases 
Nov 19 | 11 | Liquids and Intermolecular Forces 
Nov 24-28 |  | Thanksgiving Break 
Dec 2 | Exam 5 | Exam 5 (Chapters 10-11) 
Dec 3 |  | Supplemental information 
Dec 5 |  | ACS Review 
Dec 10 | FINAL | Final from 9-11 a.m.

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

Late Work

Homework and quizzes will be due on regularly scheduled class days. Work will be turned in at the beginning of class and is assumed late if turned in at the end of the lecture and will not be given credit. Mastering Chemistry has a 20%/day late submission penalty. Late work will only be accepted with official documentation from a university official stating the reason for such circumstances.

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

  • Students are expected to attend lectures. Aside from missing crucial course topics/discussions, announcements regarding homework and quizzes will also be missed if unattended.
  • If class is missed due to “special” circumstances, please contact the instructor. Generally, the sooner the instructor is alerted to an absence, the more options available proceeding forward.
  • Attendance during scheduled exams is mandatory and accommodations will not be made after the date has passed. If a student cannot be present due to “special” circumstances, arrangements must be made prior to the scheduled date.

Course Fees

$54 Fee

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.