A list of topics to be taught is included in the associated schedule for your reference. 

1. Be able to define chemistry and its role in the natural sciences. Students should understand the specific tasks undertaken by chemistry as opposed to other disciplines of inquiry, such as the social/behavioral sciences. They should be able to understand how chemistry contributes to the social/behavioral sciences and how it relates to the world in which we live.
2. Be able to describe the major discoveries of chemistry that have lead to our understanding of the structure of nature at the atomic and molecular level, and the methods of inquiry used to learn about this structure.
3. Be able to understand the basic laws and concepts of chemistry and how they apply to phenomena the student experiences daily and the relevance of these laws and concepts to the other natural sciences.
4. Be able to apply basic mathematical skills in the description of chemical phenomena and understand the critical thinking skills chemists use in problem solving.
5. Be able to understand the scientific method of discovery and advancement, including the aspects of experimentation validation of data and results, and the proper application of knowledge gained to personal and social issues.
6. Be able to read, understand, and apply scientific information through thinking more critically, discussing more meaningfully, arguing more persuasively, and writing more effectively.

1. Scientific method, metric system, definitions of science, research, development, applied and basic research, measurements quality of measurements.  (9%)
2. Basic chemical definitions: chemistry, elements, compounds, symbols, formulas, chemical and physical processes, matter, substances, mixtures.  (5%)
3. Study of the atom including protons, neutrons, electrons, historical experiments that led to our understanding of atoms and their structure, periodicity and the periodic chart.  (8%)
4. How atoms make molecules, including ionic bonding, covalent bonding, shapes and geometries of simple molecules, electronegativity, polar and nonpolar molecules.  (12%)
5. Representation of chemical reactions through chemical equations. Important aspects of reactions including stoichiometry, reaction energies, rates of reactions, and chemical equilibrium.  (10%)
6. Nuclear and radiochemistry, including types of radiation, nuclear reactions, applications to medicine, energy production, and dating techniques.  (6%)
7. Important concepts about gases, liquids, and solids, including the nature of crystals, nature and concentration of solutions, and basic gas laws.  (10%)
8. Types of chemical reactions, including acid-base chemistry, pH, oxidation-reduction chemistry, electrochemistry.   (10%)
9. Sources of chemicals, commercially important chemicals.  (5%)
10. Organic chemistry, including hydrocarbons, isomers, major functional groups, sources of organic chemicals and polymers.  (12%)
11. Special topics with environmental emphasis, including water, air, acid rain, and ozone-depletion chemistry.  (9%)
12. Safety with chemicals, types of hazards, toxicity, compressed gases.  (5%)

Self study is an important part of the class. As a rule of thumb, you are expected to spend two to three additional hours for every hour of lecture. Any questions raised during the self study can be discussed in the class or in my office. 

Any questions or unjustified grades can either be discussed during office hours in the week following the return of the assignment. Should you miss one or more exam due to illness or University-related activities, inform the instructor in advance. It is your responsibility to schedule an alternative exam date as soon as possible.

Exams and other graded assignments must be accomplished independently, except as noted by the instructor. 

The final grade will be assigned based approximately on the grading scale:
                 >90                 A
                 >80                 B
                 >70                 C
                 >60                 D

The instructor reserves the right to adjust this scale as necessary. I may adjust the scale downward but I will not adjust it upward. There will be no allowance for "extra credit." Study guides and review questions will be made available and responsible students will prepare themselves accordingly. You should expect a quiz every week, which you will have about five minutes to complete. In addition, at the end of most class periods you will be given a question over the material covered. You will turn in the answer to that problem at the beginning of the following class period. No late answers will be accepted. Some of these assignments, chosen at random, will be graded and used as quiz scores. 

Attendance—A strict attendance policy will be enforced.  Attendance is recorded on a sign–up sheet passed through the class.  This is an official document and serious consequences will befall those who sign another individuals name.  If you arrive late and it has already gone past your seat, stop at the podium after class to sign in as late.  If you accumulate three unexcused absences during the semester you will not pass the course.  In order to receive an excused absence, the procedure that must be followed is that you will call Student Affairs at 4276, 4277 or 5824 and inform them you will be missing class and the reason.  They, in turn, will notify your instructors.  Once you return to class you will check in with me for missed work.

Behavior—I expect students at FHSU to act in an adult, socially-responsible manner. The groundwork you are laying for yourself now will determine your path through the remainder of your life. I expect, therefore, that you will retain academic integrity (not cheat or plagiarize). I specifically retain the right to discharge from the classroom any student engaging in socially irresponsible or disruptive behavior, including, but not limited to: talking, eating or drinking, violent behavior,  sexual harassment or disorderly conduct, as defined in your student handbook.  The following is a reproduction of that statement :

"Disorderly conduct, individual or group behavior which disturbs individuals or groups, is prohibited. Such conduct includes (but is not limited to) assault, threats to the personal safety of one's self or others, throwing objects to create a danger, making excessive noise, unwelcome physical contact, hazing and any other type of interference with the normal operations of the university or its activities or any type of conduct that interferes with the ability of those who attend, visit or work at the University to enjoy the benefits of the purposes for which the University exists"

Makeup work—Makeup exams are given to deserving students provided I am notified prior to the exam and arrangements are made within a reasonable length of time (not later than one week after returning to class). Students are not allowed to makeup quizzes except in those cases where students miss a large number of quizzes for legitimate reasons. We will have a quiz about every week; therefore, I expect to give about fourteen quizzes and the best ten are used for evaluation. Students who miss quizzes may drop those provided they do not miss an excessive number.

Grades of incomplete—Incomplete are recorded only in those cases that comply with the current University policy.  This policy states that for an incomplete to be given, performed work must be of passing quality, and that if the incomplete work is not finished within 1 year the grade changes to “NC.”  However, any agreement with me will involve a grade change to something other than NC.  You have the right to appeal all grades earned at Fort Hays State University.  Details pertaining to this policy can be found on page 59 of the 2005–2008 Catalog.  Note, however, that I have the discretion as instructor to mold this policy.  In particular, I am likely to give less than one year to complete the requirements, and a grade will be assigned at the end of the time period.  The consequence of this is that if you do not complete the work, you will quite possibly fail the course.