Syllabus

Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals

CHEM 1011: General Chemistry II – Lecture (Summer 2021)

Credits - 3 (Lecture)

Description

This is the second-semester general chemistry course with a laboratory designed for individuals with a baccalaureate degree who need the second-semester general chemistry as a prerequisite to apply for admission to health professions programs. These may include graduate programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, dental medicine, nursing, physical therapy, and physician assistant.

Materials

Textbooks

OpenStax Chemistry 2e, available for free in Brightspace.

Resources

Dry-Erase Whiteboard with Marker and Eraser (Optional for Proctored Exams) 

This course permits the use of a dry-erase whiteboard for scratch work during one or more of your proctored exams. No scratch paper is permitted. The whiteboard must be purchased from the following seller.

Mandatory UNE-approved webcam and whiteboard – To be used during proctored exams

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Outcomes

In lecture courses, students should be able to:

  • Communicate scientific concepts and information clearly.
  • Illustrate fundamental laws, theories, and principles of scientific disciplines.
  • Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to scientific problems.

In lab courses, students should be able to:

  • Ask a question or define a problem that can be tested.
  • Hypothesize possible result(s).
  • Plan and/or conduct an investigation individually and/or collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence.
  • Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (i.e. computational, mathematical, graphical, etc.) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.
  • Communicate the results by constructing an explanation based on multiple pieces of valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
  • Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence gained from various experiments, as well as other observations and/or research, to provide an explanation of phenomena and solve design problems, taking into account possible unanticipated effects.

Course Objectives

After completing the lecture section of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the properties of solids, liquids, solutions, and colloids.
  2. Describe the fundamentals of equilibria, including gas, solution, and acid-base equilibria.
  3. Identify the thermodynamic and kinetic forces that determine if a reaction will occur, how quickly it will proceed, and the extent to which it will proceed.
  4. Describe the basics of electrochemistry, identify the parts of an electrochemical cell, and perform calculations with electrochemical reactions
  5. Relate the properties and structures of non-metals, metals, metalloids, and their compounds.
  6. Identify the structures of organic functional groups and naming conventions for simple organic molecules.
  7. Describe the structure of the nucleus and nuclear processes.

SELF PACED DESIGN

On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.

Assignments

Course Details

The General Chemistry II course is divided into 16 weeks. Each week contains a reading assignment and homework problems that address the course objectives. There are several short lecture videos that cover some of the major concepts covered that week. There is a lecture quiz each week. Three discussion questions are spread throughout the course.

Assigned Reading and Homework Problems

Each week’s Learning Module includes a reading assignment within each chapter that covers the specific course objectives for the week. Every chapter includes “Guided Notes”, a document that can be downloaded in the “Course Text” section of your use. Within the reading there are practice problems that should be worked as you move along. The assigned homework problems from the end of the chapter will allow you to review the material that was covered. Be sure to ask your instructor for help with any problems that you do not understand. Also, there are many more problems at the end of the chapter. You should work through problems other than those assigned in any area where you feel extra practice is necessary.

Discussion Board Posts

Discussion questions cover interesting current events or materials that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. There are a total of three required discussion questions found in weeks 1, 9, and 15. Most of the discussion questions are designed to accompany particular chapters (see specific discussion questions for more information). Each question may require you to conduct internet research. Then you will write a response following the guidelines in the assignment.

To earn full credit: you will need to post a response, respond to the original posts of at least two other students, and then contribute to an ongoing discussion. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.

Discussion Question Guidelines

  1. Read the assignment carefully so that you are familiar with the materials that you need to cover and how to craft your post.
  2. Respect each other’s ideas, feelings, and experience. Some of the questions involve areas of disagreement. Expect your classmates to have different opinions.
  3. Use proper writing style. Correct spelling and sentence structure are expected just as if you were writing a regular paper. Use spell check and grammar check before you submit.
  4. Create your post in a word document initially. That way you can save a copy and use spell check and grammar check.
  5. Cite the sources that you use to write your response. Follow the AMA guidelines.
  6. Avoid posting large blocks of text. Break your writing into paragraphs and use a space between paragraphs to make your posting easier to read online.
  7. Subscribe to the discussion so that you get email updates when there is activity.
  8. Use the “reply” button rather than the “compose” button when responding to someone else’s post.
  9. When responding to a classmate, address them by name.
  10. Do not use postings such as “I agree,” “I don’t know either,” or “ditto.” They do not add to the discussion, take up space on the Discussions, and lower your grade.
  11. Everyone benefits from an active discussion. Check back frequently to see what others are saying.
  12. Plan your time carefully. You will need to give your classmates time to respond to your postings. This is an asynchronous class where students will be in different points of the class.

Weekly Quizzes

All weekly lecture quizzes are open book and open notes. You can take up to 30 minutes to complete each of the 10 multiple-choice lecture quizzes. Although the quizzes are open book and open notes, you need to study the material and work the problems in order to do well on the quizzes. The quizzes will be taken online through the course Brightspace site. Doing well on the quizzes will help prepare you for the midterm and final exam, which are timed and proctored. The quizzes are graded immediately and you may access your graded quizzes at any time in the Learning Module folder by clicking on the quiz attempt. This will allow you to use the quizzes to study for your midterm or final.

Lecture Midterm and Final Exams

The midterm and final exams are CLOSED book, CLOSED notes, timed and proctored by ProctorU. If you use the official UNE whiteboard (see Materials Section, above), you will be required to show your proctor that your whiteboard is clear at the beginning of your testing session, and you must erase your whiteboard in front of the proctor before disconnecting from your session. If you do not do this, your exam will not be credited.  You will also be required to set up a UNE-authorized webcam as described above in the “Materials” section.  

You may use:

  • The provided PDF entitled “Chem 1010 Exam Information and Equations”
  • The official UNE whiteboard, marker, and eraser
  • A stand-alone scientific, non-programmable calculator
  • Nothing else

Detailed instructions for registering for your exams with ProctorU are located in Brightspace’s Welcome and Getting started module.

The lecture midterm and final each consists of 40 multiple choice questions and you can have up to 120 minutes to complete them.  

Your exam scores will be available after you take the exam, but exams will not be released to students for review. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment CategoryPoints Available
Lecture Component
Weekly Quizzes28%
Discussion12%
Midterm Exam30%
Final Exam30%
Total100%

Schedule

Week

Objectives

Readings/Resources

Assignments

1

  • Identify the types of intermolecular forces, including dispersion, dipole-dipole, and hydrogen bonding 
  • Relate properties of liquids to their intermolecular forces
  • Describe the role of intermolecular forces in changes of state and determine the energy involved in changes
  • Use phase diagrams to identify stable phases under specific conditions and to describe transitions
  • Relate characteristics of ionic, molecular, metallic, and covalent network solids

Chapter 10 (Sections 10.1-10.5)

Week 1 Quiz

&

Week 1 Discussion

2

  • Describe the dissolution process and the energy involved in terms of the forces of their components.
  • Relate properties of electrolytes to solute/solvent interactions
  • Identify factors that affect the solution process
  • Define colligative properties and predict changes in solutions due to these properties
  • Describe the composition, properties, and applications of colloids.

Chapter 11 (Sections 11.1-11.5)

Week 2 Quiz

3

  • Calculate rates for chemical reactions
  • Describe the effects of chemical nature, physical state, temperature, concentration and catalysis on reaction rate.
  • Use rate and concentration data to determine reaction order and derive rate laws
  • Perform integrated rate law calculations for zero, first, and second order reactions

Chapter 12a (Sections 12.1-12.4)

Week 3 Quiz

4

  • Relate collision theory to factors that affect the rate of chemical reactions.
  • Define activation energy, transition states, and perform calculations with the Arrhenius equation.
  • Identify molecularity and derive a rate law based upon a given reaction mechanism.
  • Identify the role of catalysis in reactions.

Chapter 12b (Sections 12.5-12.7)

Week 4 Quiz

5

  • Describe the dynamic nature of equilibrium.
  • Derive reaction quotients from homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions
  • Calculate quotients and the equilibrium constant from concentrations and pressures.
  • Predict the effect of stressing a system at equilibrium using LeChatelier’s Principle.
  • Perform calculations to determine equilibrium concentrations or the equilibrium constant.

Chapter 13

Week 5 Quiz

6

  • Write equations for acid and base ionization for Bronsted-Lowry acid-base pairs.
  • Use Kw for calculating the concentrations of hydronium and hydroxide concentrations.
  • Classify solutions as acid, base, or neutral based upon pH and POH concentrations
  • Perform calculations relating to pH and pOH
  • Perform equilibrium calculations on acid-base systems.

Chapter 14a (14.1-14.3)

Week 6 Quiz

7

  • Classify salts as acid, base or neutral.
  • Perform calculations when acid or base is added to a buffer system.
  • Describe characteristics of titration curves
  • Calculate pH at various stages of a titration
  • Describe characteristics of acid/base indicators 

Chapter 14b (14.4, 14.6-14.7)

Week 7 Quiz

8

NA

NA

Midterm Exam

9

  • Calculate Ksp and perform calculations involving Ksp, Qsp, and solubility.
  • Describe practical examples of the common ion effect.
  • Identify coupled chemical equilibria

Chapter 15.1 & 15.3

Week 9 Quiz

&

Week 9 Discussion

10

  • Differentiate spontaneous and nonspontaneous reactions in terms of energy distribution
  • Describe the relationship between thermodynamics and kinetics
  • Define entropy and predict the sign of entropy for chemical and physical processes

Chapter 16.1-16.2

Week 10 Quiz

11

  • Define the second and third laws of thermodynamics
  • Define Gibbs free energy and describe its relationship to spontaneity
  • Calculate free energy change using enthalpy, entropy, free energies of formation, and enthalpies of formation
  • Describe the role of temperature on spontaneity
  • Relate standard free energy changes to equilibrium and calculate Keq using Gibbs free energy

16.3-16.4

Week 11 Quiz

12

  • Describe the function of a galvanic cell and its parts
  • Calculate cell potentials from half reactions, predicting spontaneity.
  • Perform calculations using the relationship between cell potential, free energy, and Keq.
  • Use the Nernst equation to determine cell potential under nonstandard conditions.
  • Describe the electrochemistry associated with some common batteries, fuel cells, and corrosion.

17.1-17.6

Week 12 Quiz

13

  • Classify elements and predict their properties based on their electronic structure and position in the periodic table
  • Describe the properties and occurrence of representative metals, metalloids, and nonmetals

18.1-18.4

Week 13 Quiz

14

  • Describe the basic structure of organic molecules
  • Name saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, including molecules with alkyl and halogen substitutions
  • Identify alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides, and amines

20.1-20.4

Week 14 Quiz

15

  • Describe nuclear structure and the energy considerations that lead to instability.
  • Identify common particles and write and balance nuclear equations, including radioactive decay.
  • Identify types of decay and calculate decay kinetics, including half-life and radioactive dating
  • Describe the practical uses of radioisotopes, including fission, fusion, and medical technologies
  • Summarize the effects, both positive and negative, of radiation on biological tissues

21.1-21.7

Week 15 Quiz

&

Week 15 Discussion

16

   

Final Exam

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you - they will monitor course progression and provide assistance or guidance when needed. Please don’t hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, course materials, billing, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Science Prerequisites page

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

Student Lounge

The Student Lounge Discussion Forum is a designated support forum in which students may engage with each other and grapple with course content. Feel free to post questions, seek clarification, and support each other, but be mindful of UNE's Academic Integrity Policy.

Your instructor will monitor this forum. However, if you are seeking specific and timely answers to questions about course content or your personal grades, please contact your instructor via course messages. For questions about course materials, program policy, and how to navigate and proceed through the course, please contact your Student Service Advisor through the Student Portal.

Policies

Proctored Examinations

Your course may have proctored exams. The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.

Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded any required additional software. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.

Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.

Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.

Exam Attempts Policy

Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade. Students can schedule their second attempt by following the same ProctorU instructions as with the original exam.

All students are encouraged to utilize a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.

Course Discussions

Discussion topics cover events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each discussion topic may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials, visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video before writing a response following the specific guidelines in the discussion topic prompt.

To earn full credit you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You may need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.

Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each discussion topic. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.

Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion is worth.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.

  1. Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 16 weeks
  2. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
  3. Course start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please visit the enrollment page to review the withdrawal and refund policies.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.

Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework

Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.

In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.

Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.

Unauthorized Use

Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.

Citing AI Use

If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools. 

Instructor responsibility

Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE Online’s Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester. 

Student responsibility

Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.