Basic Information for General Chemistry
First-Year Chemistry at the
University of Chicago
Successful
completion of Chemistry 111-112-113 (Sections A or B) or Chemistry
121-122
prepares you for a variety of future options: a concentration in
chemistry
or another field of the physical sciences, a concentration in the
biological
sciences, or a premedical program. As a component of the Common
Core,
it also serves as a coherent introduction to the Physical Sciences for
prepared non-science students. In selecting which of these
courses to
take, you should thus be aware that any of them keeps open all options.
If
you have
a weak high school background in math and science, we recommend Nat.
Sci.
151-152-153 in the first year, followed by Chemistry 111-112-113 in the
second. Sections A and B of Chemistry 111-112-113 cover the same
topics
in chemistry at about the same level, but in slightly different orders
and with different organizing principles.
Grading policy:
The course grades will be determined by the following weightings:
Tests 30%
Laboratory
35%
Final Exam
30%
Homework 5%
Satisfactory
performance in both lecture and lab is required to pass the
course. The
median grades in Chemistry 121-122 are generally higher than in
Chemistry
111-112-113. You will not typically improve your grade by
dropping down,
unless you are unprepared for the faster pace of Chemistry 121.
![](rule15.gif)
Laboratory:
Laboratory
reports are due one week after the lab is performed; late penalties
will
be applied after that and no labs will be accepted after a date that
will
be announced near the end of the quarter. All the labs must be
completed
and will contribute to the grade.
Tests: Three
in-class tests will be given in each quarter on dates announced by the
course instructor; the lowest one will be dropped in setting the final
grade. No re-tests will be given; if you miss a test for any
reason, you
will need to count the other two. Thus, it is important to take
every
test seriously, in case something comes up later in the quarter that is
beyond your control.
![](rule15.gif)
Final
Exam:
The final exam this quarter is at 8:00 a.m. on ###, June ###.
****
No special or
make-up exams will be given. Please make your travel arrangements
accordingly.
![](rule15.gif)
Homework:
Homework
is due in class on the date set by the lecture instructor. No late
homeworks
will be accepted. The lowest homework score will be dropped in
setting
the final grade. Although the homework is only 5% of the grade, it is
far
more important than that in preparing you to take the tests.
Academic
Honesty:
You are encouraged to discuss homework and lab reports with other
students,
but to prepare your own work yourself. See the Laboratory Manual
for a
more thorough discussion of the distinction between collaborative
learning
and cheating on homework, lab reports, and tests.
![](rule15.gif)
Withdrawal from
Course: Courses may be dropped (through your College adviser)
until the
end of fifth week. After that point, you may request and receive
a grade
of W at any point up to the beginning of the final exam. Such
requests
must be made in writing to the course instructor or the laboratory
manager.
Grades of Incomplete (I) are limited to students with written medical
excuses.
Return to
Chem 113b
home page.