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CHE 101

I. TITLE:  Consumer Chemistry

II. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  A brief course in chemistry for those who plan to take no more chemistry.  Designed specifically to satisfy the general education physical science requirement.  Explores social and cultural issues associated with science and technology to provide knowledge of resource conversion in a world dominated by an information explosion.  Considers the impact of chemistry and technology on history, art, business, and medicine.

III. PURPOSE:  Chemistry impacts our individual lives - as well as the life of our society as a whole - on a daily basis.  In CHE 199 students will first learn the fundamentals of chemistry at a level sufficient to understand the chemistry of substances which influence the lives of many or most of us.  After gaining an understanding of fundamental chemical principles, students will learn many of the specific ways in which chemistry impacts our lives and society as a whole.

IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES: To introduce the student to the fundamentals of chemistry ('familiarity' learning)
To understand the chemistry of substances and chemically-related subjects that influence our lives, including energy transitions ('understanding' learning)
To learn specific ways in which chemistry impacts our lives and that of society as a whole ('application' learning)
To learn fundamentals of hands-on chemistry in the laboratory, drawing appropriate conclusions and formulating results from lab-collected data. ('application' and 'analysis' learning)
To express learning in the form of written laboratory reports.

V. CONTENT OUTLINE: The Fundamentals of Chemistry
Radiation, Nuclear Energy, and Nuclear Weapons
Energy from Chemicals:  Fuels, Foods, and Oxidation
Acids, Bases, and Heredity
Drugs, Poisons, and Cosmetics
Chemistry and Light
The Economics and Politics of Chemistry

VI. INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:  This course consists of three lecture hours per week, and one two-hour laboratory period.  Lecture hours may be utilized for:  lecture; multimedia presentations; laboratory demonstrations; etc.  Laboratory is a required component of the course.

VII: FIELD AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCES:  Not applicable

VIII. RESOURCES:  Each student must purchase:  the required textbook; the required laboratory manual; adequate splash eye protection for use in the laboratory; a calculator capable of scientific notation.

IX. GRADING PROCEDURES:  Grades will be based on 1000 points for the semester:
Four regular examinations  500 pts                      A=900 pts
Quizzes                             200 pts                      B=800 pts
Homework                        100 pts                     C=700 pts
Laboratory                        200 pts                      D=600 pts

X. ATTENDANCE POLICY:  Students are expected to attend classes in which they are enrolled.

XI. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:  the policy outlined in the Undergraduate Student Bulletin will be followed.

XII. TEXTS AND REFERENCES:  Lecture:  C.H. Snyder, The Extraordinary Chemistry of Ordinary Things, 2nd edition.  Laboratory:  Consumer Chemistry Laboratory Manual, MSU Department of Chemistry.

XIII. PREREQUISITES:  None, although a basic knowledge of high school algebra is assumed.

Last updated February 14, 2000. Designed and maintained by Kyosung Koo