20806200Chemistry for Non-Science Majors
Course Information
Description
This course is designed for non-science majors seeking a one-semester chemistry course to fulfill the college-level lab science requirement. It consists of four hours of lecture, a two-hour laboratory and a one-hour quiz section each week. Emphasis on application of chemical concepts to phenomenon observed in everyday life, technology, and related social issues. Includes discussion of measurement, classifying matter, physical and chemical changes, chemical symbols, writing equations, atomic structure, nuclear changes, periodicity, states of matter, chemical bonding, the mole, solutions, acids and bases, redox reactions, fossil fuels and the history and methodology of chemistry. This course is not acceptable as a replacement for Gen Organ & Biol Chemistry, 20-806-201, or College Chemistry, 20-806-209. Recommendation: high school algebra with a "C" or better.
Total Credits
5
Course Competencies
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Solve various problems using unit cancellation methodologyAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group work and labsCriteriayou follow steps of unit cancellation methodologyyou set up valid solution using unit cancellation methodologyyou check solution by making sure that data and units are correctyou check solution by making sure that the given and unknown are correctly identifiedyou check solution by making sure that units cancelyou check solution by making sure that numerators and denominator of conversion ratios are equivalentyou calculate solutions including those containing data expressed in scientific notation
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Use mathematical formulas appropriatelyAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group workby successful completion of labsCriteriayou choose correct formula for given problemyou rearrange formula (as needed)you substitute correct values in a formulayou solve expression for unknown variable
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Convert between English and metric systemAssessment Strategiesby successfully completing quizzes, examsby successfully completing group work and labswith the English-metric conversion tableCriteriayou identify basic metric units of mass, volume, length, and densityyou identify basic English units of mass, volume, length, and densityyou apply correct relationships between like metric units of kilo denominations from memoryyou apply correct relationships between like metric units of deci denominations from memoryyou apply correct relationships between like metric units of centi denominations from memoryyou apply correct relationships between like metric units of milli denominations from memoryyou apply correct relationships between like metric units of micro denominations from memoryyou use English-metric conversion table to obtain needed conversion equivalents
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Demonstrate use of scientific method in laboratory experimentsAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of laboratory exercises and home labsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou record detailed observationsyou distinguish between observations and interpretationsyou recognize patterns evident in observationsyou organize data in ways to make patterns more evidentyou formulate questions concerning the observations, interpretations and analysisyou formulate a hypothesis that explains a set of observations
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Analyze current societal risks, problems, and proposed solutions caused by introduction of chemical species into ecosystemAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of group activitiesby successful completion of article reportsby successful completion of examsCriteriayou gather and organize pertinent informationyou determine variables that will affect risks of hazardyou assess risk of hazard given information concerning a particular scenarioyou evaluate arguments and proposed solutions to chemical-related societal problemsyou state well-reasoned personal opinion on current chemical-related societal problems
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Apply chemical concepts, theories and/or models to everyday experienceAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of laboratory exercises and home labsby successful completion of article reportsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou examine pertinent chemical concepts, theories and/or modelsyou identify appropriate conditions and results in scenarios drawn from everyday scenariosyou interpret conditions and results using pertinent concept, theory, or modelyou predict results of changing a variable in scenarios drawn from everyday experience
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Identify and Represent Matter and Its ChangesAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesby successful completion of laboratory exercises and home labsby consulting a Periodic Table and a list of common ionsCriteriayou investigate the development of Atomic Theoryyou investigate the composition of pure substancesyou investigate the properties of pure substancesyou investigate the composition of mixturesyou investigate the properties of mixturesyou investigate the composition of elementsyou investigate the properties of elementsyou investigate the composition of compoundsyou investigate the properties of compoundsyou represent compounds using chemical symbolsyou represent elements using chemical symbolsyou represent chemical changes using balanced equationsyou represent physical changes using balanced equations
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Explain how the structure of the atom determines its identify, mass, and emission spectraAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou examine the composition of an isotope with respect to the three main subatomic particlesyou represent the composition of an isotope with respect to the three main subatomic particlesyou contrast the terms mass number and atomic weight (average atomic mass)you relate the absorption and re-emission of energy from a population of atoms to the position of electrons within the atoms
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Describe the source, nature, effects, and applications of radioactivityAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou describe the source and nature of radioactive emissionsyou determine the type of emission, daughter isotope, and rate of decay of a radioactive transmutationyou analyze factors that affect risk of biological damage from radiationyou relate radioisotope type of decay in a number of common applicationsyou relate radioisotope rate of decay in a number of common applicationsyou relate radioisotope use in a number of common applicationsyou relate radioisotope function in a number of common applications
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Use the Periodic Table predict chemical and physical properties of the elementsAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activitiesCriteriayou explain the spatial arrangement of the elements in the periodic tableyou use the periodic table to obtain basic information about the atoms of each elementyou use the Periodic Table to determine general chemical and physical properties the elements
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Compare and contrast ionic, polar covalent and nonpolar covalent bondsAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activitiesby consulting a periodic table and table of electronegativesCriteriayou investigate the formation of ionic compounds in sentencesyou investigate the formation of ionic compounds in chemical symbolsyou investigate the formation of ionic compounds in picturesyou investigate the formation of covalent compounds in sentencesyou investigate the formation of covalent compounds in electron dot structuresyou determine whether the bond between two atoms is ionic, nonpolar covalent, or polar covalent
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Apply Kinetic Molecular Theory to explain behavior of the phases of matter and phase changesAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou relate the general properties of each phase of matter with its corresponding arrangements of atoms, molecules or ionsyou relate changes in potential energy to phase changesyou relate changes in kinetic energy to phase changesyou draw pictures to explain the relationship between gas pressure, temperature, and volume
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Relate the melting and boiling points of various compounds to the type of bonding in the smallest unit of the compoundAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou determine the polarity of a moleculeyou predict whether it is ionic, nonpolar covalent, and polar covalent given the formula for a simple compoundyou identify the type of the intermolecular forces between the particles in the liquid phase given the formula for a simple compoundyou identify the relative strength of the intermolecular forces between the particles in the liquid phase given the formula for a simple compoundyou predict the relative melting points of ionic compoundsyou predict the relative melting points of nonpolar covalent compoundsyou predict the relative melting points of polar covalent compoundsyou predict the relative boiling points of ionic compoundsyou predict the relative boiling points of nonpolar covalent compoundsyou predict the relative boiling points of polar covalent compoundsyou explain why the properties of water are so different than those of methane
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Relate the dissolution of a compound with the properties of the aqueous solutionAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou explain how water dissolves polar compoundsyou examine the components of a solution using appropriate termsyou examine the relative concentration of a solution using appropriate termsyou examine the degree of saturation of a solution using appropriate termsyou predict the solubility of a compound in wateryou predict the conductivity of a compound in water
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Use the mole to calculate the amount of reactant and/or product involved in the chemical reactionAssessment Strategieswith pertinent chemical formulas and a periodic tableby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activitiesCriteriayou explain the purpose of the mole in quantifying mass of products and reactants in chemical reactionsyou calculate amounts of any reactant or product in a chemical reaction using stoichiometric principles
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Relate the properties of acid and basic solutions to the concentration of hydronium and hydroxide ions presentAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou investigate the reaction of acids dissolved in water and define each term accordinglyyou investigate the reaction of bases dissolved in water and define each term accordinglyyou investigate properties of acidsyou investigate properties of basesyou investigate common applications of acidsyou investigate common applications of basesyou contrast the definition and behavior of weak acid, strong acids, weak bases, and strong basesyou relate the pH of a solution to its acidity and concentration of hydronium and hydroxide ions
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Relate the use of the three main fossil fuels to structure and properties of the organic compounds thereinAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou interpret structural formulas of organic compoundsyou investigate the relative composition and use of the fossil fuelsyou investigate refinement and use of gasoline as a fuel
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Explain the relationship between functional groups, physical properties, and function of various organic compoundsAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou predict the physical properties of various organic compoundsyou predict the ramifications of the solubilities of various organic compoundsyou examine the production and use of soap
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Examine the synthesis, structure and function of common polymersAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activitiesCriteriayou investigate the synthesis of common addition and condensation polymersyou investigate the composition of common addition and condensation polymersyou investigate the composition of polymers with recycling codes 1-6 plus CLPEyou investigate the structure of polymers with recycling codes 1-6 plus CLPEyou investigate the general use of polymers with recycling codes 1-6 plus CLPE
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Explain how the oxidation of food molecules provides energy for cells in mammalian systemsAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou analyze redox reactionsyou identify which contains the most stored energy given the structure of various organic molecules involved in catabolic pathwaysyou investigate the purpose of starch hydrolysis in a cellyou investigate the conditions in the cell of starch hydrolysisyou investigate the location in the cell of starch hydrolysisyou investigate the overall reactants in a cell of starch hydrolysisyou investigate the products of starch hydrolysis in a cellyou investigate the products of starch hydrolysis in a cellyou investigate the conditions in the cell of starch glycolysisyou investigate the location in the cell of starch glycolysisyou investigate the overall reactants in a cell of starch glycolysisyou investigate the products of starch glycolysis in a cellyou investigate the purpose of the Citric Acid Cycle in a cellyou investigate the conditions of the Citric Acid Cycle in the cellyou investigate the location in the cell of the Citric Acid Cycleyou investigate the overall reactants in a cell of the Citric Acid Cycleyou investigate the products of the Citric Acid Cycle in a cellyou explain how the body harnesses the energy produced by the oxidation of glucose in the cell
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Explain how the fission process is used to produce power safely in a nuclear plantAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of group activitiesCriteriayou investigate process of fissionyou draw a schematic of the components of a nuclear power plantyou explain the components of a nuclear power plantyou explain the important of each component to the operation of the plantyou predict what will happen if one of the components of a nuclear power plant malfunctions
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Use collision theory to explain the effect of various factors on the rate of a chemical reactionAssessment Strategiesby successful completion of quizzes, examsby successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activitiesCriteriayou draw potential energy diagram for that change given a description of a chemical changeyou draw pictures to illustrate the effect of temperature, concentration of reactant, physical subdivision of reactant, and catalyst on reaction rate