CHE 121 Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Fall 2024

BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The City University of New York

Department of Science

Title of Course Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Class Hours_3_____

Course Code CHE121______________________________ Laboratory Hours per Week_____3______

Semester__Fall 2023____________________________Credits________4_____________________

Instructor Information: ___srywkin@bmcc.cuny.edu Office hours by request on zoom or anytime

before the start of class in room N699Q

Course Description
Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I CHE 121

4 credits. 3 hrs. lecture and 3 hrs. lab (per term)

CHE 121-CHE 122 cannot be granted credit to fulfill degree requirements for

A.S. (Science) and for A.S. (Engineering Science).

THIS CLASS WILL NOT GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR PRE-MED, PT OR SCIENCE MAJOR
PROGRAMS.

Pre-requisite

Basic Skills___ RDG 062, ENG 088 or ESL 062, and MAT 051.

Required Text – These are used for Che 121 and Che 122.

1. Timberlake, Karen C., General, Organic and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life, 6th Edition. Pearson
Prentice Hall (2018). ISBN-10: 0134730682. ISBN-13: 9780134730684 Copies are available at the Reference
desk in the BMCC library.

2. Timberlake, Karen C., Laboratory Manual for General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, 3 rd Edition.
Pearson Prentice Hall (2014). ISBN-10: 0321811852| ISBN-13: 9780321811851. Copies are not in the
library. You must have a copy of the lab manual for this course. Students have told me that a free pdf
copy is available on line. If you make photocopies you must have an exact copy of each page as it
appears in the book. No reduced or enlarged copy or cut and paste pages. If you do not have access to a
printer you must buy a copy of the lab manual. You must come to lab #2 with your lab manual. Please
order ahead of time.

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 CHE 121 Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Fall 2024

Resources

A scientific calculator is required, cost is $10-15 . This will speed up your quiz time.
Please use a BMCC computer if you cannot open or view files on your personal device.
All work must be submitted by taking a pic on your phone, convert to pdf, merge and submit to BB
Please open a google drive account (NO charge) to view the recording of the lectures and exam reviews.
You do not need a computer for this course. A smartphone will do. BMCC has computers everywhere and
free printing is available in the library and any computer rooms.

Student Learning Outcomes

Course Student Learning Outcomes Measurements

1. Students will be able to explain that living systems are 1. Exam questions, quizzes and
made of elements and compounds with different chemical laboratory assignments.
and physical properties. Water is a common solvent.
2. Students will be able to compare different kinds of 2. Exam questions, quizzes and
chemical bonds in compounds, to contrast the names and laboratory assignments.
formulas of the compounds and to explain their solubility
in water.

3. Students will be able to identify different types of chemical 3. Exam questions, quizzes and
reactions as well as the contrast of endothermic and laboratory assignments.
exothermic reactions.
4. Students will be able to describe that many biological 4. Exam questions, quizzes and
molecules are made of building blocks consisting of smaller laboratory assignments.
organic molecular components with different functional
groups.
5. Students will be able to apply mathematical skills solving 5. Exam questions, quizzes and
problems such as density, moles, percent concentrations laboratory assignments.
(mass/mass, mass/volume, and volume/volume), molarity,
unit conversions and gas laws.

Below are the college’s general education learning outcomes, the outcomes that are checked in the
left-hand column indicate goals that will be covered and assessed in this course. (Check at least one.)
General Education Learning Outcomes Measurements (means of assessment
for general education goals listed in
first column)
Communication Skills- Students will be able to write,
read, listen and speak critically and effectively.
x Quantitative Reasoning- Students will be able to use To record experimental data with correct
quantitative skills and the concepts and methods of significant figures in the lab. To solve
mathematics to solve problems. quantitative problems, e.g. density,

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 CHE 121 Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Fall 2024
concentrations, and conversions. To plot
graphs with experimental data.
x Scientific Reasoning- Students will be able to apply the Exam questions, homework assignment,
concepts and methods of the natural sciences. laboratory assignments and case studies.
Social and Behavioral Sciences- Students will be able
to apply the concepts and methods of the social sciences.
Arts & Humanities- Students will be able to develop
knowledge and understanding of the arts and literature
through critiques of works of art, music, theatre or
literature.
Information & Technology Literacy- Students will be
able to collect, evaluate and interpret information and
effectively use information technologies.
Values- Students will be able to make informed choices
based on an understanding of personal values, human
diversity, multicultural awareness and social
responsibility.

Evaluation and Requirements of Students

TBA Please consult the grade requirements for the course.

All students will receive 0 for submitting copied work

All work will be submitted by taking a pic of each page with your phone, convert to pdf, merge and upload on
BB.

Getting the course grade that you want

Complete all assignments on time, this includes the DB items and the lab HW.
Show up for all lab sessions.
Review the study guide and practice tests for each chapter each day when you come in for lecture. Do not wait
until the night before an exam to start studying.
Review the recording for the quiz review and focus you study on the concepts of each question. If it is not in
the review it is not in the test.
PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR GRADE TOWARDS THE END OF THE
SEMESTER. MANY OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR GRADE IMPROVEMENT DURING
THE COURSE OF THE SEMESTER, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. Extra credit work is only available
randomly in lecture. You must be present in lecture to get it.

Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course
must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. BMCC is committed to providing equal
access to all programs and curricula to all students.

BMCC attendance policy

The college policy indicates that you are allowed 7 hours of absence in this class. This means that you are
allowed only 2 lab absences. After that you risk the possibility of failing the course.
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 CHE 121 Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Fall 2024

BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement

Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one’s
own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified.
Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original source. Plagiarism
may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of
responsibility for plagiarism. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to
consult with their instructors. The library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited
work. The full policy can be found on BMCC’s website, www.bmcc.cuny.edu. For further information on
integrity and behavior, please consult the college bulletin (also available online).

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 CHE 121 Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Fall 2024
Lecture Syllabus
Week Title Pages

1 Chemistry and Measurements

2.1 Units of Measurement 27-29

2.2 Measured Numbers and Significant Figures 30-31
2.3 Significant Figures in Calculations 32-35
2.4 Prefixes and Equalities 36-39
2.5 Writing Conversion Factors 40-43
2.6 Problem Solving Using Unit Conversion 44-47
2.7 Density 49-53

2 Matter and Energy

3.1 Classification of Matter 64-66
3.2 States and Properties of Matter 67-69
3.3 Temperature 70-73
3.4 Energy 74-76
3.5 Energy and Nutrition 77-78
3.6 Specific Heat 80-81
3.7 Changes of State 82-88

3 Atoms
4.1 Elements and Symbols 100-101
4.2 The Periodic Table 102-104
4.3 The Atom 107-109
4.4 Atomic Number and Mass Number 110-111
4.5 Isotopes and Atomic Mass 113-116
4.6 Electron Energy Levels 117-122
4.7 Electron Configurations 122-126
4.8 Trends in Periodic Properties 129-134

4 Nuclear Chemistry
5.1 Natural Radioactivity 146-148
5.2 Nuclear Reactions 149-155
5.3 Radiation Measurement 156-158
5.4 Half-Life of a Radioisotope 159-161
5.5 Medical Applications Using Radioactivity 163-165
5.6 Nuclear Fission and Fusion 166-167

5-6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds

6.1 Ions: Transfer of Electrons 175-178

6.2 Ionic Compounds 179-181
6.3 Naming and Writing Ionic Formulas 182-185
6.4 Polyatomic Ions 186-189
6.5 Molecular Compounds: Sharing Electrons 190-193
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CHE 121 Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Fall 2024
6.6 Lewis Structures for Molecules and Polyatomic Ions 194-196
6.7 Electronegativity and Bond Polarity 199-201
6.8 Shapes and Polarity of Molecules 202-206
6.9 Intermolecular Forces in Compounds 207-209

7 Chemical Reactions and Quantities

7.1 Equations for Chemical Reactions 224-230

7.2 Types of Reactions 230-234
7.3 Oxidation-Reduction Reactions 235-237
7.4 The Mole 238-242
7.5 Molar Mass 242-244
7.6 Calculations Using Molar Mass 245-247
7.7 Mole Relationships in Chemical Equations 248-250
7.8 Mass Calculations for Chemical Reactions 251-252
7.10 Energy in Chemical Reactions 258-259

8 Gases

8.1 Properties of Gases 276-279

8.2 Pressure and Volume (Boyle’s Law) 281-282
8.3 Temperature and Volume (Charles’s Law) 284-285
8.4 Temperature and Pressure (Gay Lussac’s Law) 286-288
8.5 The Combined Gas Law 289-290
8.6 Volume and Moles (Avogadro’s Law) 291-293
8.7 The Ideal Gas Law 293-295
8.8 Partial Pressures (Dalton’s Law) 298-300

9 Solutions

9.1 Solutions 311-314

9.2 Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes 314-317
9.3 Solubility 319-324
9.4 Solution Concentrations and Reactions 325-333
9.5 Dilution of Solutions 335-337
9.6 Properties of Solutions 338-344

10 Reaction Rates and Chemical Equilibrium

10.1 Rates of Reactions 356-359

10.2 Chemical Equilibrium 360-362
10.3 Equilibrium Constants 363-365
10.4 Using Equilibrium Constants 366-368
10.5 Changing Equilibrium Conditions: Le Chatelier’s Principle 369-374

11-12 Acids and Bases

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CHE 121 Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Fall 2024
11.1 Acids and Bases 383-384
11.2 Bronsted-Lowry Acids and Bases 385-387
11.3 Strengths of Acids and Bases 388-392
11.4 Dissociation of Acids and Bases 393-395
11.5 Dissociation of Water 395-397
11.6 The pH Scale 398-404
11.7 Reactions of Acids and Bases 405-408
11.8 Buffers 409-410

13 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes

12.1 Organic Compounds 427-429

12.2 Alkanes 430-432
12.3 Alkanes with Substituents 433-437
12.4 Properties of Alkanes 438-441

Functional Groups See back cover of

Alcohol, ether, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, and ester textbook, bottom.

14 Biomolecules

15.1 Carbohydrates 522-523

15.6 Disaccharides 542-544
15.7 Polysaccharides 546-548

17.1 Lipids 587-587

17.2 Fatty Acids 588-589
17.3 Waxes and Triacylglycerols 594-595

19.1 Proteins and Amino Acids 661-662

19.2 Proteins: Primary Structure 665-666
19.3 Protein Structure: Secondary Structure 670-671

21.1 Components of Nucleic Acids 722-723

21.2 Primary Structure of Nucleic Acids 725-726
21.3 DNA Double Helix and Replication 727-729

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 CHE 121 Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Fall 2024

Laboratory Syllabus

Expt. Title Pages

Laboratory Safety and Procedures

1 Measurement and Problem Solving 1-10
2 Conversion Factors in Calculations 11-22
3 Density and Specific Gravity 23-34
5 Energy and Matter 47-60
6 Atoms and Elements 61-71
8 Nuclear Chemistry 85-94
9 Compounds and Their Bonds 95-108
10 Chemical Reactions and Equations 109-120
11 Moles and Chemical Formulas 121-131
12 Gas Laws 133-153
15 Soluble and Insoluble Salts 167-178
14 Solutions, Electrolytes and Concentration 155-166
18 Reaction Rates and Equilibrium 201-212
20 Acid-Base Titration 225-234
21 Organic Compounds: Alkanes 235-250
Updated on
March 13, 2018