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
  1. Solve various problems using unit cancellation methodology
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group work and labs
    Criteria
    you follow steps of unit cancellation methodology
    you set up valid solution using unit cancellation methodology
    you check solution by making sure that data and units are correct
    you check solution by making sure that the given and unknown are correctly identified
    you check solution by making sure that units cancel
    you check solution by making sure that numerators and denominator of conversion ratios are equivalent
    you calculate solutions including those containing data expressed in scientific notation

  2. Use mathematical formulas appropriately
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group work
    by successful completion of labs
    Criteria
    you choose correct formula for given problem
    you rearrange formula (as needed)
    you substitute correct values in a formula
    you solve expression for unknown variable

  3. Convert between English and metric system
    Assessment Strategies
    by successfully completing quizzes, exams
    by successfully completing group work and labs
    with the English-metric conversion table
    Criteria
    you identify basic metric units of mass, volume, length, and density
    you identify basic English units of mass, volume, length, and density
    you apply correct relationships between like metric units of kilo denominations from memory
    you apply correct relationships between like metric units of deci denominations from memory
    you apply correct relationships between like metric units of centi denominations from memory
    you apply correct relationships between like metric units of milli denominations from memory
    you apply correct relationships between like metric units of micro denominations from memory
    you use English-metric conversion table to obtain needed conversion equivalents

  4. Demonstrate use of scientific method in laboratory experiments
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of laboratory exercises and home labs
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you record detailed observations
    you distinguish between observations and interpretations
    you recognize patterns evident in observations
    you organize data in ways to make patterns more evident
    you formulate questions concerning the observations, interpretations and analysis
    you formulate a hypothesis that explains a set of observations

  5. Analyze current societal risks, problems, and proposed solutions caused by introduction of chemical species into ecosystem
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of group activities
    by successful completion of article reports
    by successful completion of exams
    Criteria
    you gather and organize pertinent information
    you determine variables that will affect risks of hazard
    you assess risk of hazard given information concerning a particular scenario
    you evaluate arguments and proposed solutions to chemical-related societal problems
    you state well-reasoned personal opinion on current chemical-related societal problems

  6. Apply chemical concepts, theories and/or models to everyday experience
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of laboratory exercises and home labs
    by successful completion of article reports
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you examine pertinent chemical concepts, theories and/or models
    you identify appropriate conditions and results in scenarios drawn from everyday scenarios
    you interpret conditions and results using pertinent concept, theory, or model
    you predict results of changing a variable in scenarios drawn from everyday experience

  7. Identify and Represent Matter and Its Changes
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    by successful completion of laboratory exercises and home labs
    by consulting a Periodic Table and a list of common ions
    Criteria
    you investigate the development of Atomic Theory
    you investigate the composition of pure substances
    you investigate the properties of pure substances
    you investigate the composition of mixtures
    you investigate the properties of mixtures
    you investigate the composition of elements
    you investigate the properties of elements
    you investigate the composition of compounds
    you investigate the properties of compounds
    you represent compounds using chemical symbols
    you represent elements using chemical symbols
    you represent chemical changes using balanced equations
    you represent physical changes using balanced equations

  8. Explain how the structure of the atom determines its identify, mass, and emission spectra
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you examine the composition of an isotope with respect to the three main subatomic particles
    you represent the composition of an isotope with respect to the three main subatomic particles
    you 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

  9. Describe the source, nature, effects, and applications of radioactivity
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you describe the source and nature of radioactive emissions
    you determine the type of emission, daughter isotope, and rate of decay of a radioactive transmutation
    you analyze factors that affect risk of biological damage from radiation
    you relate radioisotope type of decay in a number of common applications
    you relate radioisotope rate of decay in a number of common applications
    you relate radioisotope use in a number of common applications
    you relate radioisotope function in a number of common applications

  10. Use the Periodic Table predict chemical and physical properties of the elements
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activities
    Criteria
    you explain the spatial arrangement of the elements in the periodic table
    you use the periodic table to obtain basic information about the atoms of each element
    you use the Periodic Table to determine general chemical and physical properties the elements

  11. Compare and contrast ionic, polar covalent and nonpolar covalent bonds
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activities
    by consulting a periodic table and table of electronegatives
    Criteria
    you investigate the formation of ionic compounds in sentences
    you investigate the formation of ionic compounds in chemical symbols
    you investigate the formation of ionic compounds in pictures
    you investigate the formation of covalent compounds in sentences
    you investigate the formation of covalent compounds in electron dot structures
    you determine whether the bond between two atoms is ionic, nonpolar covalent, or polar covalent

  12. Apply Kinetic Molecular Theory to explain behavior of the phases of matter and phase changes
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you relate the general properties of each phase of matter with its corresponding arrangements of atoms, molecules or ions
    you relate changes in potential energy to phase changes
    you relate changes in kinetic energy to phase changes
    you draw pictures to explain the relationship between gas pressure, temperature, and volume

  13. Relate the melting and boiling points of various compounds to the type of bonding in the smallest unit of the compound
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you determine the polarity of a molecule
    you predict whether it is ionic, nonpolar covalent, and polar covalent given the formula for a simple compound
    you identify the type of the intermolecular forces between the particles in the liquid phase given the formula for a simple compound
    you identify the relative strength of the intermolecular forces between the particles in the liquid phase given the formula for a simple compound
    you predict the relative melting points of ionic compounds
    you predict the relative melting points of nonpolar covalent compounds
    you predict the relative melting points of polar covalent compounds
    you predict the relative boiling points of ionic compounds
    you predict the relative boiling points of nonpolar covalent compounds
    you predict the relative boiling points of polar covalent compounds
    you explain why the properties of water are so different than those of methane

  14. Relate the dissolution of a compound with the properties of the aqueous solution
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you explain how water dissolves polar compounds
    you examine the components of a solution using appropriate terms
    you examine the relative concentration of a solution using appropriate terms
    you examine the degree of saturation of a solution using appropriate terms
    you predict the solubility of a compound in water
    you predict the conductivity of a compound in water

  15. Use the mole to calculate the amount of reactant and/or product involved in the chemical reaction
    Assessment Strategies
    with pertinent chemical formulas and a periodic table
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activities
    Criteria
    you explain the purpose of the mole in quantifying mass of products and reactants in chemical reactions
    you calculate amounts of any reactant or product in a chemical reaction using stoichiometric principles

  16. Relate the properties of acid and basic solutions to the concentration of hydronium and hydroxide ions present
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you investigate the reaction of acids dissolved in water and define each term accordingly
    you investigate the reaction of bases dissolved in water and define each term accordingly
    you investigate properties of acids
    you investigate properties of bases
    you investigate common applications of acids
    you investigate common applications of bases
    you contrast the definition and behavior of weak acid, strong acids, weak bases, and strong bases
    you relate the pH of a solution to its acidity and concentration of hydronium and hydroxide ions

  17. Relate the use of the three main fossil fuels to structure and properties of the organic compounds therein
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you interpret structural formulas of organic compounds
    you investigate the relative composition and use of the fossil fuels
    you investigate refinement and use of gasoline as a fuel

  18. Explain the relationship between functional groups, physical properties, and function of various organic compounds
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you predict the physical properties of various organic compounds
    you predict the ramifications of the solubilities of various organic compounds
    you examine the production and use of soap

  19. Examine the synthesis, structure and function of common polymers
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activities
    Criteria
    you investigate the synthesis of common addition and condensation polymers
    you investigate the composition of common addition and condensation polymers
    you investigate the composition of polymers with recycling codes 1-6 plus CLPE
    you investigate the structure of polymers with recycling codes 1-6 plus CLPE
    you investigate the general use of polymers with recycling codes 1-6 plus CLPE

  20. Explain how the oxidation of food molecules provides energy for cells in mammalian systems
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you analyze redox reactions
    you identify which contains the most stored energy given the structure of various organic molecules involved in catabolic pathways
    you investigate the purpose of starch hydrolysis in a cell
    you investigate the conditions in the cell of starch hydrolysis
    you investigate the location in the cell of starch hydrolysis
    you investigate the overall reactants in a cell of starch hydrolysis
    you investigate the products of starch hydrolysis in a cell
    you investigate the products of starch hydrolysis in a cell
    you investigate the conditions in the cell of starch glycolysis
    you investigate the location in the cell of starch glycolysis
    you investigate the overall reactants in a cell of starch glycolysis
    you investigate the products of starch glycolysis in a cell
    you investigate the purpose of the Citric Acid Cycle in a cell
    you investigate the conditions of the Citric Acid Cycle in the cell
    you investigate the location in the cell of the Citric Acid Cycle
    you investigate the overall reactants in a cell of the Citric Acid Cycle
    you investigate the products of the Citric Acid Cycle in a cell
    you explain how the body harnesses the energy produced by the oxidation of glucose in the cell

  21. Explain how the fission process is used to produce power safely in a nuclear plant
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of group activities
    Criteria
    you investigate process of fission
    you draw a schematic of the components of a nuclear power plant
    you explain the components of a nuclear power plant
    you explain the important of each component to the operation of the plant
    you predict what will happen if one of the components of a nuclear power plant malfunctions

  22. Use collision theory to explain the effect of various factors on the rate of a chemical reaction
    Assessment Strategies
    by successful completion of quizzes, exams
    by successful completion of laboratory exercises and group activities
    Criteria
    you draw potential energy diagram for that change given a description of a chemical change
    you draw pictures to illustrate the effect of temperature, concentration of reactant, physical subdivision of reactant, and catalyst on reaction rate