Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Principles of Chemistry I Lab (Face-to-Face)

CHEM 1215-01

Course: CHEM 1215-01
Credits: 1
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: PSCI
CRN: 12238

Course Description

Chem 1215 – Principles of Chemistry I Lab is the laboratory supplement to Chem 1210. The course is for all majors requiring more than one year of chemistry, and can be taken to fulfill the General Education (GE) requirement for Physical Science. This lab course enables students to put into practice several concepts learned in the 1210 lecture portion, and introduces basic laboratory techniques and practices for experiments in chemistry.

Required Texts

  • Chem 1215 Experiments for Chemical Principles I Lab – Available only in the campus bookstore.
  • Safety Goggles – students are REQUIRED to have their own pair of safety goggles.

Course Requirements

Grading
Point Distribution
Pre-lab assignments | 10 points each | Due at the beginning of lab
Data Sheets | 30 points each | Due at beginning of the following lab
Quizzes/Lab Final | ~120 points | Comprehensive
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
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. 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. The final will be taken during lab time on the week indicated in the calendar.
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.

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

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.

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.

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

  • 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 – the process to schedule a make-up takes time. 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’s ok.
  • You should plan to attend that section, even if you haven’t gotten a response.

Course Outline

Tentative Course Schedule
Week of:Title, 1215
5-JanNO LAB
12-JanSafety in the Laboratory/LAB CHECK-IN
19-JanMeasurement
27-JanTwo labs: Nomenclature and Formulas
2-FebHydrates
9-FebLimiting Reactant and % Copper
16-FebSpectrophotometry (make sure to do the correct lab)
23-FebCalorimetry
2-MarSpectroscopy
9-MarNO LAB—SPRING BREAK
15-MarReactivity of Metals
23-MarTwo labs: Halogens and Molecular Geometry
30-MarFESTIVAL OF EXCELLENCE
6-AprGas Laws
13-AprLAB CHECKOUT/LAB EXAM

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

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.

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.