Chemistry 151- General Chemistry

Unit 1 Exam and Chapter 2 and 3 Topic Assignments

Thanks for submitting your Chapter 2 and 3 Topic Assignments and work for the Unit 1 exam by pdf.  I’ve been grading both and uploading feedback to D2L as they are graded.  I also had a family obligation outside of work last week that has delayed the grading, but I’m continuing to grade them over the weekend.  The grades for each will be posted to the gradebook once they are completed for all students.  In the meantime, you can see your grade and feedback in D2L without looking at the gradebook as follows:

1. click on “Course Progress”
2. in the pull down menu select “Class Progress”
3. Click the arrow to the right of Grades
4. click the links to see feedback.  Your graded copies of work submitted as pdf and jpg files will be attachments

Please let me know if this does not work for you to be able to see feedback and I’ll help you figure it out.  D2L recently changed the way it handles assignments and I am not 100% sure I have this piece figured out.

Why graded items in the gradebook say “dropped”

According to the course syllabus, you get to drop one exam and two topic assignments at the end of the semester. The D2L gradebook is set up to automatically drop the lowest exam and two lowest assignments, so it is doing that. The first ones are the lowest at that point in time, so they say dropped. This will correct and update as more items are completed and graded.

Reminders for the coming week

I hope your work on the topics of Aqueous Reactions and Solution Stoichiometry and Gases is going well.  See the Course Schedule for guidelines of where you should be to be on pace.

The Mastering Chemistry Assignment and Topic Assignments for Aqueous Reactions and Solution Stoichiometry  (Ch 4) are due Sunday September 26.  The Mastering Chemistry assignment is available now.  The Topic Assignment will be made available on D2L in the same place as the earlier Topic Assignments tomorrow or Monday

I hope you have a good weekend and please let me know if you have questions or need assistance!

Hi everyone!

Here are some reminders for the following week:

The Unit 1 exam is Monday, Sept 13.  Reminders and instructions for the exam are:

1. The exam covers Chapters 1 (Matter and Measurement), 2 (Atoms, Molecules, and Ions), and 3 (Stoichiometry)
2. You can take it on D2L at anytime between 8am and 11:59 pm on Monday Sept 13, 2021 – must be completed online by 11:59 pm on Monday, September 13, 2021.  Once you start you will only have 60 minutes (timer cannot be paused) so make sure you have an hour when you will not be interrupted.
3. It is located on D2L under the Assessments tab under Quizzes.  Click on assessments, then click on Quizzes from the pull down menu.
4. It is located on D2L under the Assessments tab under Quizzes.  Click on assessments, then click on Quizzes from the pull down menu.
5. You are allowed 60 minutes and only 1 submission 
6. You are not allowed to open it multiple times.
7. Choose a time to take it when you will not be interrupted, as the clock begins ticking as soon as you open it.
8. Please keep track of the time counting down on your screen.  You will be flagged with 5 minutes left and the computer will not allow you save any more answers once the 60-minute timer runs out.
9. There will be 15 multiple choice questions (number 1-15) and five 8 point fill in the blank or short answer questions (number 16-20).
10. You are allowed to work backwards.  Some of you might consider starting with the 8-pt questions so that you have enough time and then finish with the multiple choice questions.  If you get stuck on a question, don’t waste too much time before moving on.  You can always come back to it.
11. For the 8 pt questions (Questions 16-20), you must submit to me your work detailed on a sheet of paper in order to receive full credit (You will type the final answer in the box of the exam to be graded, but I need to see the accompanying work so that I can reward appropriate points).  Please see the next section for instructions for this.  

Submitting work for the 8 point questions (Questions 16-20).  I do not need to see your work for the multiple choice questions (1-15)

1. The way you will submit the work for the 8 point questions is in a separate folder in the assignments tab (similar to the way you submitted the Readiness and Topic Assignments)
2. You will type the final answer for questions 16-20 in the box of the exam to be graded, but I need to see the accompanying work so that I can reward appropriate points and partial credit.  This submitted work is how I will do this.
3. To submit it, you can simply take a picture with your phone, as long as I am able to view your work clearly.
4. Please use this procedure if possible: How to Scan Documents with Apple and Android Mobile Devices for generating files to submit, rather than sending me a different file for every picture.  Once you learn it, it is less work for you and for me than uploading a separate file for each page of work!
5. Do NOT submit Word (.docx) files.
6. The submission to be uploaded immediately after submitting your exam into a drop box that you will find on D2L(Assessments tab, Assignments, Exam 1 Submissions).
7. You must upload your work to the 8-pt questions for credit.  Even if you have the correct answer, you will not receive full credit if I cannot follow your work (or you are missing units, sig figs, do not show the equation you are using).  Be thorough.
8. Submissions must be made to the Submissions folder.  Do not email your work to me.
9. Submissions must be made within 10 minutes of completing your exam.  Note that I am able to see what time you complete your exam and what time you upload your submission
10. Be sure that your answer on paper matches the answer that you type into the computer.  Be sure to include units and be conscious of sig figs.

Practice and study resources for the Exam

1. Many students find the Chapter Practice Quizzes available in the course D2L site (click on content then Unit 1) to be helpful study aids
2. There is a Unit 1 Practice Exam available in the same Unit 1 folder on D2L.  See the section titles “Practice Exam CHEM 151” in the Unit 1 – additional study resources page on this website for tips on how to best use the practice exam
3. There is a second practice exam for the Unit 1 exam.  It is located on D2L.  To access it, click assessments then quizzes from the pull down menu (same location as the actual exam). It will provide practice on how the exam will look and how you will enter answers.  Like all practice exams, It does NOT mean that your real exam will contain the same questions or very similar questions with the numbers changed.  It will likely not be helpful to you to memorize the questions on the practice exam in the hope that you will get the same or similar questions on the real exam.

Finally, remember the CHEM 151 Exam Prep sessions hosted by LCC tutoring.  Click the link for more info.

Reminders for items due Sunday 9/12

1. The Chapter 2 and 3 Topic Assignment is posted on D2L like the Chapter 1 and Nomenclature Topic Assignment.  It is due Sunday 9/12
2. Mastering Chemistry on Chapter 3 will be due Sunday 9/12.

Have a good weekend and feel free to reach out with questions or if you have difficulties as you finish up your Unit 1 assignments and prepare for the exam.

Your Unit 1 exam in this class is next Monday, Sept 13.  I will send out more information about the exam this Friday.  I wanted to let you know now that LCC Tutoring is offering Exam 1 Prep help sessions free to all CHEM 151 students.  Information about the sessions is shown here .  Please let me know if you have questions about these sessions.

I’m getting out next week’s reminders a little earlier than usual due to the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.  Here are some updates and reminders for the coming week:

1. The Mastering Chemistry Chapter 2 Assignment (covering Atoms, Molecules, and Ions)  is due Sunday 9/5
2. The next Topic Assignment, covering Atoms, Molecules, and Ions(Chap 2) and Stoichiometry (Chap 3) will be made available Monday 9/6 and due Sunday 9/12. It will be found in D2L by clicking the Assessments tab then Assignments (same location as Readiness and Ch 1 Topic Assignments).
3. The Mastering Chemistry Chapter 3 Assignment (covering Stoichiometry)  is due Sunday 9/12
4. Remember, you can see all deadlines on the Course Schedule.

Have a good weekend and let me know if you have questions!

I hope you have all gotten off to a good start in the course and in the semester!  Here are some updates and reminders for the coming week:

1. I will be going through and grading the Readiness Assignments you turned in over the next few days.  I’m not grading them for correctness — if you completed and submitted it, your score is 10/10, even if the technical questions are incorrect.
2. The first Topic Assignment, covering Matter and Measurement (Chap 1) and Formulas and Nomenclature) is due Sunday 8/29.  The topic assignments will be graded for correctness — you can think of them as take home quizzes.  They will all be found in D2L by clicking the Assessments tab then Assignments.
3. The Mastering Chemistry Chapter 1 Assignment is due Sunday 8/29 as well.
4. Next week’s topic is Atoms, Molecules, and Ions. It will have a Mastering Chemistry assignment (Ch 2) due 9/5.
5. The next topic assignment will cover the next two topics (Atoms, Molecules, and Ions and Stoichiometry)
6. Remember, you can see all deadlines on the Course Schedule.

Have a good weekend and let me know if you have questions!

I hope you all had a good weekend and have been able to access your course materials and get started!  Please see below for some reminders and deadlines for the coming week, and some information on my online office hours (on WebEx) :

Reminders and Upcoming Deadlines

1. The introduction to Mastering Chemistry assignment is due tonight (8/23) at 11:59 pm.  If you need instructions on how to access it from D2L, see this link:How to access Mastering Chemistry Online Homework
2. The CHEM 151 Readiness Assignment is due 8/26.  It is available in D2L by clicking on assessments then assignments.
3. The Chapter 1 Mastering Chemistry Homework is due 8/29.
4. The Chapter 1 and Formulas and Nomenclature Topic Assignment is due 8/29
5. All assignments are due at 11:59 pm on their due date
6. This week’s topic is Matter and Measurement.  Reading the material at the link and the textbook reading will help you with both the homework and the topic assignment.

Office Hours

All LCC professors hold regular “office hours”, in which they are available to help students, answer questions, etc in a one on one or small group setting.  I do have an in-person office hour weekly on campus on Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 pm at A&S 3203.  Remaining office hours will be online on WebEx at https://lccedu.webex.com/meet/farrisb

I have no idea when most students can meet, so I’m asking you for info now on when you would be available to meet. I will then do my best to select times that work for the most students possible.  Please fill out the times that will work for you for online office hours at this link.

Once I select times, they will be regular days and times that will repeat each week for the semester.

I get that I cannot pick a time that is best for everyone.  So I will be very flexible and available to talk other times — just ask.  I can talk via phone, text message, video conference, or online chat.

 In the meantime, please contact me if you have questions.

Welcome to the first semester of general chemistry, CHEM 151. My name is Bruce Farris. I am your instructor for the course and I look forward to working with you this semester!

The Unit 5 exams are graded.  The exam average was 77.7.

The Final exam is Friday, May 7. It is two hours, available at 8 am and due by 11:59 pm

The exam is comprehensive, covering the entire course.  It will be similar to the unit exams in pretty much every way except it is twice as long (40 questions total, 30 4 point questions, 10 8 point questions for which work must be submitted).  You will have 2 hours, so make sure you arrange for that in your scheduling.

Specific reminders for the exam are below. Before that, a couple more items.

“What should I study?”

Students often ask me what are good things to study to prepare for the final.  That is a difficult question as it depends on how you learn.  A big part of success in college is figuring out what study approaches work for you!  That said, many students have told me that looking over their old exams, the practice quizzes, and the practice exams has been very helpful to them — them going back and studying the items they do not understand-can’t answer.  So if you are unsure that might be a good thing to do.

“What happens next/when will I see grades/etc”

I will start grading the 10 8 point questions Saturday. I have a family event Saturday and a Mother’s Day celebration Sunday, but otherwise I will be grading much of the weekend.  As I grade them, I will put your exam grade in the comments when I return your 8 point questions in the submissions folder.  Once they are all graded (it will probably be Monday because in addition to grading these, I will be grading materials and answering questions and helping my CHEM 152 students in preparation for their Monday finals.), I will release the final grade to D2L and put the final course grade in the D2L gradebook as well.  Before I do that, you should be able to calculate your course grade by putting in your final exam score and looking at the grading scale in the syllabus.  I know many of you are anxious about/and to know your grades – that said, please see the next paragraph 🙂

About emailing me

For the next week as we wind up the semester, I’ll get a lot of email.  And I’m totally good with that – I enjoy working with and hearing from each of you and assisting you as you learn!  And I take questions about the course seriously.  But as I have four sections of students and get a lot of email volume at the end of the semester I prioritize them as I can’t get back to everyone quickly and complete grading.  So I will not answer emails in the order received, rather I will answer them in this order:

1. Questions about chemistry course material that students need to understand concepts and prepare for finals come first.  They will move to the front of the line immediately.
2. Questions calling my attention to any errors I made in grading (or possible errors) come next.
3. I won’t look at emails asking me to round up grades or if any other work can be done to improve your grade until I’ve answered all the emails above and completed all of my grading for all my courses.  This allows me to get grades back to everyone as soon as possible! Also, in most cases, the answer will be no.
4. I will ignore emails asking when items will be graded or final grades will be posted. The college deadline is Wed 5/12 by 8am but I hope to beat that.  I know you want to know your grades, and I want to complete them too!  Rest assured I’m doing it as quickly as I can, while taking breaks to answer student questions.  Again, this allows me to get grades back to all of you as quickly as possible!

As always, contact me if you have questions about the class or have any last minute questions about the material before beginning the exam.

Reminders for the exam are:

1. You can take it on D2L at anytime between 8am and 11:59 pm on Friday , May 7, 2021 – must be completed online by 11:59 pm on Friday, May 7, 2021.  Once you start you will only have 120 minutes (timer cannot be paused) so make sure you have two hours when you will not be interrupted.
2. You are allowed 120 minutes and only 1 submission 
3. You are not allowed to open it multiple times, like the chapter quizzes.
4. Choose a time to take it when you will not be interrupted, as the clock begins ticking as soon as you open it.
5. Please keep track of the time counting down on your screen.  You will be flagged with 5 minutes left and the computer will not allow you save any more answers once the timer runs out.
6. You are allowed to work backwards.  Some of you might consider starting with the 8-pt questions so that you have enough time and then finish with the multiple choice questions
7. There are 30 Multiple Choice Questions (4 pts each) and ten 8-pt questions
8. You will also be asked to submit your work for the 8 point questions in a separate folder in the assignments tab (similar to the way you submit quizzes).
9. For the 8 pt questions, you must submit to me your work detailed on a sheet of paper in order to receive full credit (You will type the final answer in the box of the exam to be graded, but I need to see the accompanying work so that I can reward appropriate points).
10. You can simply take a picture with your phone, as long as I am able to view your work clearly.
11. The picture needs to be uploaded immediately after submitting your exam into a drop box that you will find on D2L(Assessments tab, Assignments, Final Exam Submissions).
12. You must upload your work to the 8-pt questions for credit.  Even if you have the correct answer, you will not receive full credit if I cannot follow your work (or you are missing units, sig figs, do not show the equation you are using).  Be thorough.  I do not need to see your work for the multiple choice questions.
13. Submissions must be made to the Submissions folder.  Do not email your work to me.
14. Submissions must be made within 10 minutes of completing your exam.  Note that I am able to see what time you complete your exam and what time you upload your submission
15. Be sure that your answer on paper matches the answer that you type into the computer.  Be sure to include units and be conscious of sig figs
16. You will be able to use your own periodic table for the exam and obviously will have access to other supporting materials.  Be careful, as that can become a “crutch.”  I worry that you might end up spending too much time flipping through subsequent materials and whittle away the time on the clock if you are not well-prepared.

 

 

Hi everyone!

Here are some reminders and updates for the next two days:

Reminders for items due Sunday 5/2

1. The Chapter 11 and 13 quiz is posted on D2L in assessments/assignments (not assessments quizzes).  This is the same location as all of the quizzes this semester.  It is due Sunday 5/2
2. MyLabsPlus on Ch 13 will be due Sunday 5/2.

The Unit 5 exam is Monday, May 3.  Reminders for the exam are:

1. Exam covers Chapters 11 (Liquids, Solids, and Intermolecular Forces), and 13 (Properties of Solutions)
2. You can take it on D2L at anytime between 8am and 11:59 pm on Monday May 2, 2021 – must be completed online by 11:59 pm on Monday, May 2, 2021.  Once you start you will only have 60 minutes (timer cannot be paused) so make sure you have an hour when you will not be interrupted.
3. It is located on D2L under the Assessments tab under Quizzes.  Click on assessments, then click on Quizzes from the pull down menu.
4. You are allowed 60 minutes and only 1 submission 
5. You are not allowed to open it multiple times, like the chapter quizzes.
6. Choose a time to take it when you will not be interrupted, as the clock begins ticking as soon as you open it.
7. Please keep track of the time counting down on your screen.  You will be flagged with 5 minutes left and the computer will not allow you save any more answers once the 60-minute timer runs out.
8. You are allowed to work backwards.  Some of you might consider starting with the 8-pt questions so that you have enough time and then finish with the multiple choice questions.  If you get stuck on a question, don’t waste too much time before moving on.  You can always come back to it.
9. For the 8 pt questions, you must submit to me your work detailed on a sheet of paper in order to receive full credit (You will type the final answer in the box of the exam to be graded, but I need to see the accompanying work so that I can reward appropriate points).  Please see the next section for Instructions for this.

Submitting work for the 8 point questions (Questions 16-20).  I do not need to see your work for the multiple choice questions (1-15)

1. The way you will submit the work for the 8 point questions is in a separate folder in the assignments tab (similar to the way you submitted the Chapter 1 and Chapter 2/3  quizzes).
2. The questions requiring submission of work are numbers 16-20 only.
3. You will type the final answer in the box of the exam to be graded, but I need to see the accompanying work so that I can reward appropriate points.  This submitted work is how I will do this.
4. To submit it, you can simply take a picture with your phone, as long as I am able to view your work clearly.
5. If possible, please use this procedure: How to Scan Documents with Apple and Android Mobile Devices for generating files to submit, rather than sending me a different file for every picture.  Once you learn it, it is less work for you and for me than uploading a separate file for each page of work!
6. Do NOT submit Word (.docx) files.
7. The submission to be uploaded immediately after submitting your exam into a drop box that you will find on D2L(Assessments tab, Assignments, Exam 5 Submissions).
8. You must upload your work to the 8-pt questions for credit.  Even if you have the correct answer, you will not receive full credit if I cannot follow your work (or you are missing units, sig figs, do not show the equation you are using).  Be thorough.
9. Submissions must be made to the Submissions folder.  Do not email your work to me.
10. Submissions must be made within 10 minutes of completing your exam.  Note that I am able to see what time you complete your exam and what time you upload your submission
11. Be sure that your answer on paper matches the answer that you type into the computer.  Be sure to include units and be conscious of sig figs.

Practice and study resources for the Exam

1. Unit 5 Exam and Exam Preparation Help SessionThere will be Review/Help Sessions provided by the Learning Commons at various dates and times.  Click on the link to see when they are and how to access them.  They are free of charge.
2. Many students find the Chapter Practice Quizzes available in the course D2L site (click on content then Unit 5) to be helpful study aids
3. There is a Unit 5 Practice Exam available in the same Unit 3 folder on D2L.  See the section titles “Practice Exam CHEM 151” in the Unit 5 – additional study resources page on this website for tips on how to best use the practice exam.
4. See the list of resources in Unit 5 – additional study resources

Have a good Sunday and feel free to reach out with questions or if you have difficulties as you finish up your Unit 5 assignments and prepare for the exam.

Hi everyone!

Here are some reminders and updates for the following week:

Videos updated

The videos on the ICE tables for Chapter 15 and 16 have been uploaded, replacing the videos which were not working.  If you haven’t looked at the ICE table videos in the Acid Base notes for a couple days and they weren’t working when you last looked, check again.  Sorry for that inconvenience.

Reminders for items due Sunday 4/18

1. The Chapter 15 and 16 quiz is posted on D2L in assessments/assignments (not assessments quizzes).  This is the same location as all of the quizzes this semester.  It is due Sunday 4/18
2. MyLabsPlus on Ch 16 will be due Sunday 4/18.

The Unit 4 exam is Monday, March 29.  Reminders for the exam are:

1. Exam covers Chapters 15 (Chemical Equilibrium), and 16 (Acids and Bases)
2. You can take it on D2L at anytime between 8am and 11:59 pm on Monday March 29, 2021 – must be completed online by 11:59 pm on Monday, April 19, 2021.  Once you start you will only have 60 minutes (timer cannot be paused) so make sure you have an hour when you will not be interrupted.
3. It is located on D2L under the Assessments tab under Quizzes.  Click on assessments, then click on Quizzes from the pull down menu.
4. You are allowed 60 minutes and only 1 submission 
5. You are not allowed to open it multiple times, like the chapter quizzes.
6. Choose a time to take it when you will not be interrupted, as the clock begins ticking as soon as you open it.
7. Please keep track of the time counting down on your screen.  You will be flagged with 5 minutes left and the computer will not allow you save any more answers once the 60-minute timer runs out.
8. You are allowed to work backwards.  Some of you might consider starting with the 8-pt questions so that you have enough time and then finish with the multiple choice questions.  If you get stuck on a question, don’t waste too much time before moving on.  You can always come back to it.
9. For the 8 pt questions, you must submit to me your work detailed on a sheet of paper in order to receive full credit (You will type the final answer in the box of the exam to be graded, but I need to see the accompanying work so that I can reward appropriate points).  Please see the next section for Instructions for this.

Submitting work for the 8 point questions (Questions 16-20).  I do not need to see your work for the multiple choice questions (1-15)

1. The way you will submit the work for the 8 point questions is in a separate folder in the assignments tab (similar to the way you submitted the Chapter 1 and Chapter 2/3  quizzes).
2. The questions requiring submission of work are numbers 16-20 only.
3. You will type the final answer in the box of the exam to be graded, but I need to see the accompanying work so that I can reward appropriate points.  This submitted work is how I will do this.
4. To submit it, you can simply take a picture with your phone, as long as I am able to view your work clearly.
5. If possible, please use this procedure: How to Scan Documents with Apple and Android Mobile Devices for generating files to submit, rather than sending me a different file for every picture.  Once you learn it, it is less work for you and for me than uploading a separate file for each page of work!
6. Do NOT submit Word (.docx) files.
7. The submission to be uploaded immediately after submitting your exam into a drop box that you will find on D2L(Assessments tab, Assignments, Exam 4 Submissions).
8. You must upload your work to the 8-pt questions for credit.  Even if you have the correct answer, you will not receive full credit if I cannot follow your work (or you are missing units, sig figs, do not show the equation you are using).  Be thorough.
9. Submissions must be made to the Submissions folder.  Do not email your work to me.
10. Submissions must be made within 10 minutes of completing your exam.  Note that I am able to see what time you complete your exam and what time you upload your submission
11. Be sure that your answer on paper matches the answer that you type into the computer.  Be sure to include units and be conscious of sig figs.

Practice and study resources for the Exam

1. Unit 4 Exam and Exam Preparation Help SessionThere will be Review/Help Sessions provided by the Learning Commons at various dates and times.  Click on the link to see when they are and how to access them.  They are free of charge.
2. Many students find the Chapter Practice Quizzes available in the course D2L site (click on content then Unit 4) to be helpful study aids
3. There is a Unit 4 Practice Exam available in the same Unit 3 folder on D2L.  See the section titles “Practice Exam CHEM 151” in the Unit 4 – additional study resources page on this website for tips on how to best use the practice exam.
4. See the list of resources in Unit 4 – additional study resources

Have a good weekend and feel free to reach out with questions or if you have difficulties as you finish up your Unit 4 assignments and prepare for the exam.