Chemistry 113 Course Information

This is a 4 unit course; 3 hours lecture and 3 hours of lab per week.

Text Matthew E. Johll, Investigating Chemistry: A Forensic Science Perspective

Lab Manual Chemistry 113 Lab Manual (provided the first lab period)
Purchase a “composition” notebook to be used as your lab notebook. We will discuss this in
lab.

Web Sites http://chem.jlehman.org or http://www.grossmont.edu/jlehman

Contact Office: Room 30-218

Phone: 619-644-7341 (If you want a timely response DON’T USE voicemail)
Email: jeff.lehman@gcccd.edu (email is best)
IM: GoogleTalk: grossmontchem
Twitter: Follow Chem113

Additional requirements and prerequisites

• Calculator – A standard scientific calculator is required for the course. If you have any questions concerning your
calculator check with your instructor, a calculator which could potentially give an unfair advantage may be disal-
lowed in testing situations!
• Safety Glasses – Available in bookstore and hardware stores.
• Lock for laboratory drawer – Must be Master Lock series V69. If a different lock is used, then it may get cut if
access to the drawer is required.
• Elementary Algebra

Chem 113, 115, or 120?
This is an introductory course for those students not
planning to take General Chemistry (120, 141, or 142).
It is not intended as preparation for Chemistry 120.
This course is designed to provide additional examples
that pertain to those activities commonly encountered by
field evidence technicians.
Since Chemistry 113 is equivalent to Chemistry 115, the
same topics must be covered. The primary difference
between 113 and 115 is that the 113 lab provides exer-
cises of a forensic nature.
Physical science, engineering, biology, or pre-med
majors should start with Chem 120. If you are heading
to a physicians assistant program, check the
requirements carefully. Some programs require Chemis-
try 115/113 while others require the traditional first-year
general chemistry, which means that you should be in
Chemistry 120.
given according to the schedule. The final is comprehen-
sive and will be given during finals week. A weekly quiz
will also be given. This quiz may be in your lecture or
laboratory section.
Computer work. There is a computer component to
Chemistry 113. The URL given at the top of this docu-
ment is the location of all computer resources for the
course. You will login with a username of “firstnam-
elastname” (If your name is Joan Winters then your
username is joanwinters. There are no spaces or capitals
in a username) and your password is your birthdate
(mmddyy). Computer quizzes will have due dates.
They must be completed by this time to receive credit.
More details will be provided by your instructor.
Other assignments. In addition to exams, quizzes,
labs, homework, and computer drills, you will also be
responsible for at least one day of course reporting.
Details of this assignment will be provided in class.

It is very important for the student to stay current and

Evaluation seek assistance when it is needed. If you have a question
PLEASE ASK. Your instructor is there to help you
Exams and Quizzes. There will be four exams and learn the material. They can’t do it for you, but you must
one final exam this semester. The four exams will be ask questions and work hard to facilitate understanding.
It is recommended that you keep a file of all work done
to use for study material and as a record of scores.
Laboratory
We will meet for lab one day a week for three hours. It is
important for you to read the experiment prior to
coming to lab. You must also complete any pre-lab
questions.
Registration should be completed before checking into
lab. If registered late, bring your validated receipt to lab.
You are responsible for any lost or broken equipment in
the laboratory and will be charged for all missing equip-
ment at the end of the semester. In addition, a $10 fee
will be assessed for any student who fails to
check out of the laboratory.
Because of potential safety problems, children may not
attend lab. This will include not being in the adjacent
computer area while the parent is in lab. Also no lab
work may be done without an instructor present in the
laboratory.
Computer Course Materials
The course materials for this class are accessed via the
Web at the URLs given at the beginning of this docu-
ment.
In addition to grades and online assignments, it is also
recommended that you create a Twitter account at
www.twitter.com and follow Chem113. If you
would like to receive the posts on Twitter in a timely
manner, then it is also recommended that you enroll
your cell phone to receive the Twitter posts.
Academic Integrity
Please be aware of the College’s and the Chemistry
Department’s academic integrity policy. In particular,
exam work and lab results are to be entirely your own.
There is no tolerance for breaches in academic integrity.
If you choose to betray your instructor’s trust, you will
receive a zero on the assignment or an “F” in the course.
Your instructor does not have to observe the cheating. If
a fellow classmate makes an allegation, this allegation
will be acted upon as if seen by the instructor..
Attendance
Regular attendance is expected. (A roll sheet may be
passed at each class.) The instructor will plan to drop
any student who misses over (4) classes. You are an
adult and in a college course. If you wish to drop, you
must turn in the forms and get a receipt.
Grading
Those enrolled at the end of the semester must receive a
letter grade unless they have chosen the CR/NC option.
An “incomplete” may be arranged for completion of a
particular item such as the final exam, but will not be
given to allow repeat of the course. Withdrawal or CR/
NC grading is available through admissions and records.
Grading Criteria
Exams 40%
Final Exam 10%
Lab Reports 25%
Quizzes 15%
Computer Drills &
10%
Worksheets
Total 100%
Approximately 90% will be an A, 80% a B, 65% a C
and 55% a D grade. Please note however that anyone
with less than a 55% average on the exams (including
final), or the labs will receive an F. Also the final grade
will be no more than 1 letter grade higher than the exam
average.
Additional Chemistry
Assistance
There is a free tutoring service in the library building,
and chemistry instructors are available to all students
during “open” help times. Chemistry 115T, the com-
puter drill course, is recommended.
Computer Tutorials. These tutorials are available
to anyone who registers for Chemistry 115T. They are
useful study tools and completion of 85% of these drills
will earn 1 unit of credit. Talk to your instructor for
more information on the tutorial course.
Student Accessibility
For accommodations due to a disability, please see your
instructor within the first two weeks of the semester.
 113 Schedule – Fall 2008
Week Chapter and Topic Lab Experiment
1 Into to Forensic Chemistry Safety
2 Evidence Collection & Exponential Notation
Aug 25
Preservation Exp 1—Exponential Notation & Sig. Figs.
(Intro to chemical calculations) Start nomenclature (Chapter 7) Exp 3—Nomen.
No Monday Lecture (Labor Day) Check-in
Sep 1
2 More chemical calculations Exp 2—Measurement & Calculation practice
Sep 8 3 Atomic Clues Exp 3—Nomenenclature
4 Chemical Evidence
Sep 15 Balancing and writing chemical Review
reactions
Sep 22 Exam #1 Exp 4–Density (Bring Lab Notebook)
4 Completing chemical equations and
Sep 29 Exp 5–Single Replacement Reactions
solubility rules
Oct 6 4 Moles and stoichiometry Exp 6–Double Replacement
Oct 13 4 Stoichiometry Exp 7–Inks & Lipstick (Bring Lab Notebook)
5 Properties of Solutions I: Aque-
Oct 20 ous Solutions Exp 7–Inks & Lipstick (Bring Lab Notebook)
Exam #2
Exp 8–Drug Analysis by TLC
Oct 27 5 Acids and bases
(Bring Lab Notebook)
6 Properties of Solutions II: Inter-
Exp 8–Drug Analysis by TLC
Nov 3 molecular Forces &
(Bring Lab Notebook)
Colligative Properties
No Monday Lectur (Veterans Day) Exp 9–Blood Alcohol Conc. by GC
Nov 10
8 Chemistry of Addiction (Bring Lab Notebook)
7 Drug Chemistry Exp 9–Blood Alcohol Conc. by GC & Review
Nov 17
Exam #3 (Bring Lab Notebook)
Exp 10–Analysis of Drugs and Poisons by IR
Nov 24 10 Chemistry of Explosions (Bring Lab Notebook)
No Thursday Lab (Thanksgiving)
12 Dirty Bombs and Nuclear Exp 10–Analysis of Drugs and Poisons by IR
Dec 1
Terrorism (Bring Lab Notebook)
14 Identification of Victims: DNA
Exp 12–Molecular Models
Dec 8 Analysis
Check-out
Exam #4
F I N A L E X A M
Dec 15
Consult your instructor for actual date and time