CHEM 142 A&B

Instructor:Colleen Craig

COURSE MATERIALS AND REQUIRED CONNECTIVITY

Except where indicated, all items are required and available from the University Bookstore.

Course Materials

• Chemical Principles, 8th ed., Zumdahl/Decoste; Chem 142 covers Chapters 2, 12, 13, 3, 4, & 5. The University Bookstore provides two weeks of free access to an electronic version of the text, accessible through the Day One Access Materials link on Canvas (this link is also included in the left-hand navigation pane). More information about the Day One Access Program can be found Course Materials FAQ the University Bookstore website. If you have trouble accessing the ebook, email dayoneaccess@ubookstore.com.

• UW General Chemistry 142 Laboratory Manual E-Book, Autumn 2025-Summer 2026 (Van Griner Learning; look for the VitalSource tool in the Day One Access Materials via the navigation link in the course Canvas site)

• Laboratory Notebook with numbered pages and carbonless duplicate pages. You may continue to use a notebook from a previous course if it meets the stated criteria and has at least 30 pages available. 

• Lab coat and safety goggles (NO safety glasses or any other type of goggles).

• Scientific calculator or Graphing calculator. Graphing calculators (such as TI-83/84/89) will be allowed on exams as long as the memory is cleared before the exam starts. 

  • Only a purpose-built, dedicated calculator unit will be allowed on exams (that is, you may not use the calculator app on your cell phone, tablet, or laptop during exams).

  • You MAY NOT use your calculator to store any information, including (but not limited to) constants, conversions, or formulas.

  • Calculators with a full text-entry keyboard (such as TI-nspire) WILL NOT be permitted on exams. 

• ALEKS access. Consult the ALEKS module for more information. If your financial aid is delayed, contact your instructor for a temporary access code.

CHEM 142 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete CHEM 142 will be able to

• Explain the chemical and physical behavior of matter based on the modern atomic theory, quantum mechanics, and the resulting atomic periodicity.

• Describe and predict the formation of chemical bonds and classify chemical compounds using Lewis structures, VSEPR theory, and electronegativity principles.

• Qualitatively and quantitatively describe the chemical and physical changes at both the particulate level and the macroscopic level.

• Classify and analyze reactions in aqueous solutions including dissociation reactions, precipitation reactions, acid-base reactions, and redox reactions.

• Describe and predict the behavior of gases using the ideal gas law, Dalton’s law of partial pressures, and kinetic molecular theory.

• Interpret graphical and pictorial representations of data to draw conclusions about chemical systems.

• Clearly define a problem and develop solutions for that problem including the use of central and auxiliary equations and conversion factors.

• Relate empirical observations, particularly in the laboratory portion of the course, to concepts listed above.

• Demonstrate laboratory techniques and skills including collecting, analyzing, and interpreting experimental data, scientific writing, and scientific communication.

NOTE: The Unit modules contain a more detailed list of the learning objectives for each Unit and Lesson in this course.

COURSE COMPONENTS AND GRADING

Course Components

• 3 class sessions per week, focusing on content discussion and problem-solving. In person attendance at these sessions is strongly encouraged, but optional. Class will be recorded via Panopto for those who cannot be present in person. 

• 1 in person discussion section per week in every week of the quarter (barring holidays)

• 1 in person three-hour laboratory session certain weeks of the quarter (6 labs total See the 142 Laboratory Resources page of the course website for details.) 

• Daily work in the ALEKS online learning environment

• Online prelab assignments and online submission of post-lab reports, delivered via Canvas

• TWO in-person midterm exams, delivered approximately every four weeks during the regularly scheduled class sessions. Consult the course schedule linked at the top of this Syllabus page or the Canvas Calendar for information about the exact dates of the midterm exams for this course.

• ONE in-person final exam, delivered according to the official Finals Week schedule for UW Seattle. Consult MyPlan, MyUW, or the Canvas Calendar for information about the day and time of your final exam for this course.

Course Category Weights

Category weights for overall course grade