CHEM-1111 General Chemistry I - Lab

Samantha Soebbing

Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

CHEM-1111-004 (15732)
LAB Tu 7:30am - 10:20am RRC RRC2 2307.00

CHEM-1111-006 (15734)
LAB Tu 4:30pm - 7:20pm RRC RRC2 2307.00

CHEM-1111-008 (15735)
LAB M 10:30am - 1:20pm RRC RRC2 2307.00

CHEM-1111-023 (15748)
LAB Th 7:30am - 10:20am RRC RRC2 2307.00

CHEM-1111-025 (15749)
LAB W 10:30am - 1:20pm RRC RRC2 2307.00

Course Requirements

COURSE PRE- AND COREQUISITES

PRE-REQUISITE(S):

(1) High School Chemistry or CHEM-1305 + CHEM-1105 or equivalent preparation with a grade of C or better AND (2) MATH 1314 or MATH 1414 or equivalent academic preparation with a grade of C or better.
BOTH the chemistry AND math requirements must be fulfilled BEFORE attempting CHEM 1311+1111.

CO-REQUISISTE(S):

CHEM 1311 (General Chemistry I Lecture)
Requests for exemption from the co-requisite must be submitted to the Chemistry Department Administrative Assistant (Mark Jones, mjones5@austincc.edu) BEFORE Wednesday 4 February 2026 . Requests submitted after this date will be denied and subject to the standard withdrawal policy.
To be eligible for exemption from the co-requisite, you must demonstrate successful completion of CHEM-1311 or CHEM-1111 on a college transcript.

Readings

Students should expect to work a MINIMUM of 60 minutes preparing for each laboratory exercise; outside-of-class time requirements will depend greatly upon students’ time-management of in-class time. While there is a possibility that a student may complete their laboratory exercise and leave the lab session early, students should plan to be in class for the ENTIRE scheduled laboratory session.

Blackboard should be consulted regularly for important announcements regarding further readings or changes to an assignment.

BETWEEN CLASS SESSIONS:

•   Complete the previous exercises’ data & report worksheets (if not already finished in class)
•   Print out upcoming procedures, pre-labs and reports, and read them thoroughly.
•   Complete the assigned pre-lab assignment(s)
•   Pop quizzes may be given to assess student preparation for lab experiments.

DURING CLASS:

•   Upon arriving, turn in the previous exercises’ data & report worksheet (if you had not already submitted in previous class) and current exercises’ pre-lab assignment. Work turned in later than 10 minutes after class has started will be considered “late.”
If a student knows they will miss class, scans of their work may be submitted electronically via the 2026 Spring Chem-1111 electronic work submission form: https://forms.gle/7kbbanHJQusoK6Ur8. A link to this form is also available in our course Blackboard site.
•   If there is a pop quiz, it will be given at the beginning of class. If you miss the quiz, you will earn a zero for that assignment.
•   Class will begin with a brief pre-lab discussion and review of the day’s laboratory exercise: theory, methods, safety, waste handling, etc. The pre-lab discussion may continue with a short demonstration of laboratory procedures. During this discussion, students are encouraged to ask any questions they may have regarding the exercise or the course. If you miss ANY part of the pre-lab discussion, (1) you will not be allowed to perform the laboratory exercise, (2) the missed experiment will count as an absence, and (3) you will earn a zero for that day’s work.
•   After pre-lab discussion, students must don their personal protective equipment. If you fail to bring your eye and foot protection, (1) you will not be allowed to perform the laboratory exercise, (2) the missed experiment will count as an absence, and (3) you will earn a zero for that day’s work.
•   Students will perform the assigned laboratory exercise individually (unless instructed otherwise) and record their data on their data & report worksheets. Every student is responsible for their own data & report worksheet.
•   Students may notify their instructor if they need to occasionally and briefly excuse themselves from the lab, but the experiment must be completed in the allotted class time. Failure to complete an experiment will result in loss of points. Further, repeated comings/going will be considered disruptive behavior and could result in a warning to the student and possible disciplinary action.
•   Students may notify the instructor and excuse themselves from class after completion of their laboratory experiment.

Course Subjects

COURSE DESCRIPTION

•   Credit Hours: 1
•   Classroom Contact Hours per Week: 0
•   Laboratory Contact Hours per Week: 2 h 50 min (1 day/week)
The course is the laboratory to accompany CHEM 1311 lecture. Emphasis is placed on techniques, properties and reactions, and reinforcing principles offered in the lecture portion of the course.

COURSE RATIONALE

This course covers the fundamental facts; laws, principles, theories and concepts of chemistry necessary for further work in science or science related subjects.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to perform the following skills:

•    Understand and demonstrate safe laboratory practices.
•    Read NFPA, HMIS labels and understand the hazards of chemicals used.
•    Transfer samples to a balance for weighing and tare the balance.
•    Measure temperature with a thermometer.
•    Correctly read a meniscus and accurately measure a liquid volume.
•    Light and adjust Bunsen burners.
•    Correctly use a hot plate.
•    Observe and interpret chemical reactions: color change, temperature change, precipitate formation, and gas evolution.
•    Use capillary tubes to transfer liquid samples used in paper chromatography.
•    Use a buret to perform a standard titration and observe color change to define the end point of the titration.
•    Use centrifugation and decanting techniques to separate solids from liquids.
•    Use a coffee cup calorimeter to measure heat flow.
•    Access and use peer-reviewed periodicals, journals and reference sources to write a paper on a chemistry topic
•    Use laboratory-generated data to reach sound conclusions about chemical phenomena.
•    Meaningfully connect laboratory activities to models and concepts learned in the class.
•    Develop laboratory skills to a high-level including attention to detail and high-quality, reproducible results.

GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate competence in:

•    Critical Thinking:  Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information.
•    Interpersonal Skills:  Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals.
•    Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning:  Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods.
•    Technology Skills:  Using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information.
•    Written, Oral and Visual Communication:  Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

Please see complete syllabus available on our course Blackboard site for further information.