CHEM 103 General Chemistry I with Lab 4 Credits
Prerequisites: High school chemistry (recommended, but not required)
Instructor: Kenneth Hartman, PhD
Facilitator: Rodney Austin, PhD
Heather Dorman, PhD
H Elaine Frey, MHA
Kathy Austin, MEd
Contact Information: Faculty may be contacted through the Portage messaging system
Additional Information: www.portagelearning.com*
Course meeting times: CHEM 103 is offered continuously
Course Description: A systematic investigation of the fundamental principles of chemistry and the scientific
method. The laws, theories and mathematical concepts surrounding chemical reactions are examined.
Discussions on the metric system, stoichiometry, thermochemistry and atomic structure are included. Intra and
intermolecular interactions, bonding and the physical properties associated with the solid, liquid and gas
phases are also covered in detail. The laboratory component of this course is delivered using virtual labs and
interactive simulations with detailed instruction and demonstrations from an experienced chemist.
Course Outcomes: As a result of this course experience a student should be able to:
• Apply the principles of the scientific method and measurement
• Describe the electron structure and chemical periodicity of atoms
• Name and write formulas for common inorganic compounds
• Perform stoichiometric, thermochemical and molarity calculations
• Determine the bonding, geometry and polarity of molecules and use these to explain the physical
properties of these molecules
• Balance simple and redox chemical equations
• Understand gases and perform gas law calculations
• Explain solid and liquid properties and phase diagrams
*Please see the Module & Lab Topics section below for expanded course outcomes.
Lab Outcomes: As a result of this laboratory experience a student should be able to:
• Practice safe procedures in the chemical laboratory
• Perform accurate volume and mass measurement
• Carry out and describe chemical reactions
• Perform gas manipulations and calculations
* Portage Learning college courses are offered by Geneva College, which is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on
Higher Education. Portage Learning is included in the College’s Department of Professional and Online Graduate Studies; courses are
delivered through the PortageLearning.com platform.
, • Carry out temperature and thermochemical measurements
• Carry out filtration and distillation procedures
• Analyze and apply solubility data
The CHEM 103 student learning outcomes are measured:
Directly by: (1) module application problems (with instructor feedback)
(2) exams
(3) lab reports and lab exams
(4) comparison of pre-course / post-course exam results
Indirectly by an end of course student-completed evaluation survey
Course Delivery: This course is asynchronously delivered online and is composed of 10-15 hours of module
assignments, 20-25 hours of video lectures, 10-15 hours of secure online exams, 10-15 hours of
demonstration labs, 5-10 hours of lab notebook maintenance, 10-15 hours of written lab reports/exams.
Course Progression: It is the policy for all Portage Learning courses that only one lecture module and the
accompanying exam be completed each day. Research on the best practices in learning indicates that time is
needed to process material for optimal learning. This means that once an exam has been completed, the next
exam will not unlock until the following day. This allows for instructor feedback/class expectations as the
student moves through the material. Instructors, like the College, are not available during the weekend;
grading, therefore, is M-F and may take up to 72 hours during these days. Also, it is the policy of Portage
Learning to support a minimum of 21 days; this is not a negotiable time period. Please plan your time
accordingly.
Required readings, lectures and assignments: Portage courses do not use paper textbooks. Students are
required to read the online lesson modules written by the course author which contain the standard information
covered in a typical course. Please note the exam questions are based upon the readings. Video lectures
which support each lesson module subject should be viewed as many times as is necessary to fully
understand the material.
Module Review Questions: The practice problems within the modules are not quantitatively part of your final
grade, but the module work is a pass/fail component of the course and will be reviewed for completeness by
the instructor. Be sure to answer all of the problems, being careful to answer the questions in your own
words at all times since this is an important part of adequate preparation for the exams. After you
answer the practice problems, compare your answers to the solutions at the end of the module. If your
answers do not match those at the end, attempt to figure out why there is a difference. If you have any
questions please contact the instructor via the My Messages tab.
Prerequisites: High school chemistry (recommended, but not required)
Instructor: Kenneth Hartman, PhD
Facilitator: Rodney Austin, PhD
Heather Dorman, PhD
H Elaine Frey, MHA
Kathy Austin, MEd
Contact Information: Faculty may be contacted through the Portage messaging system
Additional Information: www.portagelearning.com*
Course meeting times: CHEM 103 is offered continuously
Course Description: A systematic investigation of the fundamental principles of chemistry and the scientific
method. The laws, theories and mathematical concepts surrounding chemical reactions are examined.
Discussions on the metric system, stoichiometry, thermochemistry and atomic structure are included. Intra and
intermolecular interactions, bonding and the physical properties associated with the solid, liquid and gas
phases are also covered in detail. The laboratory component of this course is delivered using virtual labs and
interactive simulations with detailed instruction and demonstrations from an experienced chemist.
Course Outcomes: As a result of this course experience a student should be able to:
• Apply the principles of the scientific method and measurement
• Describe the electron structure and chemical periodicity of atoms
• Name and write formulas for common inorganic compounds
• Perform stoichiometric, thermochemical and molarity calculations
• Determine the bonding, geometry and polarity of molecules and use these to explain the physical
properties of these molecules
• Balance simple and redox chemical equations
• Understand gases and perform gas law calculations
• Explain solid and liquid properties and phase diagrams
*Please see the Module & Lab Topics section below for expanded course outcomes.
Lab Outcomes: As a result of this laboratory experience a student should be able to:
• Practice safe procedures in the chemical laboratory
• Perform accurate volume and mass measurement
• Carry out and describe chemical reactions
• Perform gas manipulations and calculations
* Portage Learning college courses are offered by Geneva College, which is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on
Higher Education. Portage Learning is included in the College’s Department of Professional and Online Graduate Studies; courses are
delivered through the PortageLearning.com platform.
, • Carry out temperature and thermochemical measurements
• Carry out filtration and distillation procedures
• Analyze and apply solubility data
The CHEM 103 student learning outcomes are measured:
Directly by: (1) module application problems (with instructor feedback)
(2) exams
(3) lab reports and lab exams
(4) comparison of pre-course / post-course exam results
Indirectly by an end of course student-completed evaluation survey
Course Delivery: This course is asynchronously delivered online and is composed of 10-15 hours of module
assignments, 20-25 hours of video lectures, 10-15 hours of secure online exams, 10-15 hours of
demonstration labs, 5-10 hours of lab notebook maintenance, 10-15 hours of written lab reports/exams.
Course Progression: It is the policy for all Portage Learning courses that only one lecture module and the
accompanying exam be completed each day. Research on the best practices in learning indicates that time is
needed to process material for optimal learning. This means that once an exam has been completed, the next
exam will not unlock until the following day. This allows for instructor feedback/class expectations as the
student moves through the material. Instructors, like the College, are not available during the weekend;
grading, therefore, is M-F and may take up to 72 hours during these days. Also, it is the policy of Portage
Learning to support a minimum of 21 days; this is not a negotiable time period. Please plan your time
accordingly.
Required readings, lectures and assignments: Portage courses do not use paper textbooks. Students are
required to read the online lesson modules written by the course author which contain the standard information
covered in a typical course. Please note the exam questions are based upon the readings. Video lectures
which support each lesson module subject should be viewed as many times as is necessary to fully
understand the material.
Module Review Questions: The practice problems within the modules are not quantitatively part of your final
grade, but the module work is a pass/fail component of the course and will be reviewed for completeness by
the instructor. Be sure to answer all of the problems, being careful to answer the questions in your own
words at all times since this is an important part of adequate preparation for the exams. After you
answer the practice problems, compare your answers to the solutions at the end of the module. If your
answers do not match those at the end, attempt to figure out why there is a difference. If you have any
questions please contact the instructor via the My Messages tab.
