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Chem1184 SYLLABUS
REQUIRED MATERIALS
1. Chemistry 1184 Laboratory Manual
2. Laboratory Notebook meeting the following criteria
 String or spiral-bound notebook (consider one that is top-bound if you write left-handed)
 It must have at least 100 pages (50 pairs), each about 8½ x 11.
 Alternate or all pages must be perforated for easy removal.
 Carbonless paper which makes copies of readable density
3. High-impact, splash-protective, chemical goggles. Select goggles for comfort and good
ventilation. You will wear these throughout each period.
4. Calculator
5. Dish towel or paper towels
6. Small bottle of liquid dish soap
7. Metric ruler

These projects and this schedule are designed to build your skills AND to reinforce what you
just covered in lecture. The lab and lecture cover the same material, and mutually reinforce each
other. Topics are not necessarily introduced at the same time in lecture as in lab and some may
appear only in one or the other. Your success in lecture and lab is dependent on your ability to
retain knowledge gained in both and to apply it later during and following the current term. If a
topic is introduced in lab, your conclusions are expected to arise from lab data, not from lengthy
study of text material scheduled for the future. You are also expected to use the textbook as a
resource for lab.

LETTER GRADES
Your final letter grade will be based upon the straight 90, 80, 70, 60 scale (i.e. 100-90 is an
A, 90-80 is a B, etc). Plus and minus grades will be given for the upper and lower 3% of each
letter grade (no grades of C- will be assigned). Your final grade will be based upon the
percentage of all points earned: reports 960 points, quizzes 100 points, exams 320 and lab
practices 80 points = TOTAL of 1460 points.

LAB REPORTS
Your grade for each project is based on your laboratory notebook (all experimental work,
related calculations, class data if specified and conclusions), any graphs drawn and report/data
sheets. All components submitted should be the originals, stapled together and turned in at the
end of that lab period unless otherwise indicated by your laboratory instructor. Copies of all
graphs should also remain attached within your notebook. Points for each project are assessed
according to the completeness, correctness and accuracy of your work. More specific guidance is
given in the lab manual for most projects. Each project is worth 80 points except the first
experiment which is worth 40 points and the last experiment which is worth 120 points.
Instructors will deduct 10 points per day late. Consult your instructor no later than
the date due if you need an extension.

LAB EXAMS
These 80 point exams will consist of multiple choice, short answer, data calculations and other
styles of questions. They are exams and will require solid knowledge of the projects covered and
the concepts within. If you prepared for labs, paid attention to lab instructions, understood what
you were doing in lab, and knew how to process the data obtained… you have a great start, but
probably have not done enough to ensure your success. You must pass the nomenclature
exam before you will be allowed to do the Anion Analysis Project. (That test will
concentrate on formulas from Project L.) If you do not pass the nomenclature exam, you may
retake it but your maximum score will be a 70% or 56/80.
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PRE-LAB QUIZZES
These 10 point quizzes are available electronically on Blackboard (blackboard.unomaha.edu).
They will test your preparedness for each project and must be completed each week before
coming to lab. The quiz for project A will not be graded, and the two lowest scores will be
dropped – this way, you will not be penalized for occasional technology failure (or memory lapse,
etc.).

LABORATORY PRACTICES AND NOTEBOOK

A clean, safe work area is a communal responsibility. This duty and proper notebook practices
constitute the laboratory practices credit worth 80 points. Instructors will penalize students for
deviation from the “UNO Chemistry Laboratory Rules, Practices and Policies.” Laboratory
practices offenses include not wearing safety goggles, not wearing closed-toed shoes and inability
to work independently. Students will be asked to leave the lab for particularly hazardous
behavior and will not receive credit for the day’s lab. Notebook offenses include: notes taken in
pencil (pencil is OK for graphs); data not placed directly in the notebook; missing data tables or
data, incorrect/missing page headings, missing safety information, skipped notebook pages and
duplicate pages or notebooks.

ATTENDANCE
Arrive promptly and prepared for class and perform assigned work as scheduled. (Frequent
absence is the most common cause of Fs.) Outside of extenuating circumstances to be decided
upon by the instructor, make-up labs are not allowed. However, your lowest grade will be
dropped, no questions asked, with the exception of project N. Students are required to do project
N. Students are also responsible for knowing material that is covered when they miss a lab as it
may show up on a subsequent lab exam. The grade for the lab exam is not dropped if a student
misses a day when a lab exam is scheduled. They can make it up at the instructor’s discretion.

WITHDRAWAL FROM LECTURE

You may not audit this class. If you withdraw from lecture, you need your lab instructor’s
permission to remain in lab. Usual criteria are: the semester is over 60% complete, you are able
to work independently and your lab work is at least at the B level. Incomplete grades are
appropriate only for those with extreme medical or personal problems; they will not be issued for
students with outstanding lab reports.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
A zero score will be assigned for any work in which cheating is demonstrable. Higher
penalties are possible for obnoxious dishonesty; refer to the Student Handbook. The instructor
will notify any individual whose behavior arouses concern, without penalty or prejudice. Those
notified should discuss acceptable practices with the instructor. Repetition of the behavior will
be taken as demonstration of cheating.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Reasonable accommodations are provided for students who are registered with Accessibility
Services Center (ASC) and make their requests sufficiently in advance. For more information,
contact ASC (Location: HK 104, Phone: 402.554.2872, Email: unoaccessibility@unomaha.edu.)
The ASC recognizes that amidst the rolling transition back to campus, some students may still
need to exercise physical distancing. This is especially the case for students who have underlying
health conditions or who may be taking care of others who are at-risk for COVID-19. Please
contact the ASC if there are concerns about on-campus courses and programming related to
COVID-19. If you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor, please do
so privately ASAP.