NAT SCI 211 - CHEMISTRY

Engr. Jose Felimar B. Valenzuela

Instructor, DBC

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Code: NAT SCI 211

Credit Units: 3 units

No. of Hours: 3 hours per week

Instructor: Engr. Jose Felimar B. Valenzuela

Email address: jfbvalenzuela@yahoo.com

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the

instructor for questions, additional information or

any other related matter. Office hours are WTh,

10:30am – 12:00nn, no appointment required.

Any other time can be scheduled by appointment

(request by email or in class).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is an introductory course that focuses on the

fundamental principles of chemistry and the impact of

chemistry in society. It is intended for non-science majors

that might not have a background in chemistry. There are

three units in this course:

1. Fundamental Principles of Chemistry: introduces

students to the building blocks of matter, chemical

bonding, principles of reactivity, intermolecular forces,

solutions, thermodynamics and kinetics, as well as the

basics of nuclear, organic and biochemistry

2. Health Applications of Chemistry: explains, in a general manner, the input of chemistry in the health sciences, ranging from the process to develop a new drug and the mechanisms of action in the body, to chemistry in the food industry and the molecular basis of exercise

3. Societal Applications of Chemistry: the relation between chemistry and other sciences or areas of society will also be discussed, like energy production, the impact of human activity on the environment, forensic science to study a crime scene or the chemistry behind painting a work of art.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

- To introduce students to the fundamental principles of chemistry

- To establish relations between learned concepts and a series of topics on health and society

- To promote an understanding of the importance of chemistry in many aspects of every day life and the implications in other fields and sciences, from the arts to environmental science

- To provide the student a scientific basis to help him/her developing a critical, educated analysis of

major societal matters.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who complete this course will be able to:

Know and define the basic principles of chemistry

Formulate basic chemical equations and perform

calculations with quantitative material

Relate those concepts to other sciences and aspects of

everyday life

Recognize and value the impact of chemistry in our society

Distinguish between the different areas of chemistry and

their applications

- Describe the chemical basis of energy production,

including some renewable sources

- Analyze the impact of human activity on the environment

and discuss some possible ways of remediation

- Summarize the processes for drug discovery and

development in pharmaceutical companies

- Explain the mechanisms of action of medicinal

compounds that have a profound impact on society, from

medicinal drugs to “recreational” drugs

- Explain the basis of cutting-age biochemical topics

(cloning, genetic engineering, etc) and discuss their

implications)

VALUES FORMATION

Logical thinking

Analytical thinking

Diligence

Patience

Problem solving

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1 : Introduction , Chapter 1: Chemistry in the Sciences

Week 2 : Chapter 2: Historic Perspective

Week 3 : Chapter 3: Atomic Structure ; Chapter 4: Nuclear Chemistry

Week 4 : Chapter 4: Nuclear Chemistry ; Chapter 5: Chemical Bonds

Week 5 : Chapter 6: Mass and volume Relationships

Test 1 (Chapters 1-6)

Week 6 : Chapter 7: Acids and Bases ; Chapter 8: Oxidation and Reduction

Week 7 : Chapter 8: Oxidation and Reduction ; Chapter 9: Introduction to

Organic Chemistry

Week 8 : Chapter 10: Polymers ; Chapter 11: Metals and Minerals

Week 9 : Chapter 11: Metals and Minerals ; Topic 1: Biochemistry

Test 2 (Chapters 7-11)

Week 10 : Topic 1: Biochemistry ; Chapter 16: Chemistry and Food

Week 11 : Topic 2: Chemistry, Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Industry

Week 12 : Chapter 20: Chemistry and Toxicology

Test 3 (Topics 1, 2 and Chapters 16, 20)

Week 13 : Topic 3: Chemistry and Art ; Topic 4: Chemistry and Forensic Science

Week 14 : Topic 4: Chemistry and Forensic Science; Topic 5: Chemistry and the Environment

Week 15 : Topic 5: Chemistry and the Environment ; Topic 6: Chemistry and Energy

Week 16 : Topic 6: Chemistry and Energy

Week 17 FINAL TEST (Topics 3, 4, 5, 6)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Lecture Long Exams (Prelims, Midterms, Final)

Quizzes

Assignments

Class Participation

Group Report

Laboratory Laboratory Report

Practical Exam

Quizzes

Performance

GRADING SYSTEM

65% Class Standing

Quizzes – 15%

Participation/ Performance (Lab & Lec)– 15%

Project / Group Presentation – 10%

Assignment/Seatwork– 10%

Attendance / Behavior – 10%

Lab Report - 5%

35% Major Exams

Prelims – 10%

Midterms – 10%

Finals – 10%

Practical Exam (Lab) 5%

CONVERSION TABLE FOR THE FINAL GRADE

RAW SCORE FINAL GRADE

96.01 – 100.00 1.00 Outstanding

91.51 – 96.00 1.25

87.01 – 91.50 1.50

82.51 – 87.00 1.75

78.01 – 82.50 2.00 Above Average

73.51 – 78.00 2.25

69.01 – 73.50 2.50 Satisfactory

64.51 – 69.00 2.75

60.00 – 64.50 3.00 Passing

58.00 – 59.99 4.00 Conditional

LESS THAN 58 5.00 Failure

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance:

Late – the student arrives 5 minutes after the scheduled class period.

3 tardy marks = 1 absence

Anyone who comes in after 23 minutes is considered absent.

The maximum number of hours of absences is 11 hours (for a 3-unit

course). Above this, the student gets a failing grade and earns no credit

for the subject.

If a student incurs 50% of the tolerated number of absences will be

issued his/her 1st written warning by the OSA.

Dropping of Subjects:

Should have endorsement of the subject teacher.

Should be done within a week after Midterm Exam.

REFERENCES

Lemkin, William Ph.D. “Graphic Survey of Chemistry.” Revised and enlarged

edition. Oxford Book Company, Inc. 1971.

Mortimer, Charles E. “Chemistry.” Sixth edition. Wadsworth Publishing

Company. 1986.

Sienko, Michell J. & Plane, Robert A. “Chemistry.” McGraw Hill Book

Company. 1976.

Silberberg, Martin S. “Principles of General Chemistry.” International

Edition. McGraw Hill. 2007.

Course curriculum adapted from the course

CHEM 100 – Chemistry and Society of

University of Hawai’i Manoa, under Dr. Oscar

Navarro, PhD. Permission granted by the

author.