Faculty Syllabus

CHEM-1111 General Chemistry I - Lab

Divya Ramamoorthy


Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

CHEM-1111-039 (15757)
LAB Th 4:30pm - 7:20pm RRC RRC2 2307.00

Course Requirements

COURSE DESCRIPTION  

 

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 Prerequisites/Corequisites  

Prerequisites: (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.  

Corequisite required: CHEM 1311 lecture 

Readings

This course is a ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost) section. In place of required textbooks, all text materials needed for the class will be available online to students free of charge. Students will be responsible for printing costs; free printing is available in ACC libraries, learning labs, and ACCelerators.

•    General Chemistry I Green Laboratory Exercises adapted for Austin Community College (available for free on course Blackboard page.)

•    Un-tinted, ANSI-approved safety goggles or safety glasses stamped Z87.(If you wear glasses, your eye protection must fit comfortably over them)

•    Closed-toe/heel shoes.

•    Scientific Calculator (You will NOT be permitted to use the calculator on your cell phone in the lab!)

•    Some software-aided graphing will be required for this course.  (Microsoft Excel is recommended and is available to students at no cost.)

•    You may be asked to submit scans of your work.  Free smart-phone scanner applications are available, and scanners are available in ACC libraries and ACCelerators for use at no charge.

Course Subjects

  1. Demonstrate safe laboratory practices. 
  2. Read NFPA, HMIS labels and understand the hazard of chemicals used. 
  3. Transfer sample to balance for weighing and tare the balance.  
  4. Measure temperature with a thermometer.  
  5. Correctly read a meniscus and accurately measure a liquid volume.  
  6. Light and adjust Bunsen burners.  
  7. Correctly use a hot plate.  
  8. Observe and interpret chemical reactions: color change, temperature change, precipitate formation, and gas evolution.  
  9. Use capillary tubes to transfer liquid samples used in paper chromatography. 
  10. Use laboratory generated data to reach sound conclusions about chemical phenomena.
  11. Meaningfully connect laboratory activities to models and concepts learned in class. 
  12. Develop good laboratory practices in conducting experiments and reporting experimental results.  
  13. Use a burette to perform a standard titration and observe color change to define the end point of the titration.  
  14. Use centrifuge and decanting techniques to separate solids from liquids. 
  15. Use a coffee cup calorimeter to measure heat flow.  
  16. Access and use peer-reviewed periodicals, journals and reference sources to write a paper on a chemistry topic.  

Course schedule

 

Days

Expt No.

 

Title of Experiment

Jan 20 -22

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Orientation

Jan 26 (Monday class)

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Orientation & Safety

Jan 27-29

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Safety

Feb 2-5

1

Measurements

Feb 9-12

2

Density of Solids and Liquids

Feb 16-19

3

How Much Sugar in a Can of Soda

Feb 23-26

10

Concentration of Unknown Using Beer’s Law 

Mar 2-5

4

Which Alkali Carbonate

Mar 9-12

5

Identification of a Compound

Mar 16-19

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SPRING BREAK

Mar 23-26

6

Limiting Reactants

Mar 30-Apr 2

7

Determination of Unknown Concentration of Sulfuric Acid by Titration

Apr 6-9

9

Determination of Specific Heat of Metal

Apr 13-16

11

Flame Test and Atomic Emission Spectra

Apr 20-23

12

Molecular Bonding Theories

Apr 27-30

8

Decomposition of hydrogen Peroxide

May 4-7

13

Library research

May 11-14

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Lab Finals

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

            PROGRAM

 

  1. Experiments: Students will design, carry out, and analyze the results of chemical experiments using appropriate instrumentation.
  2. Problem Solving: Students will solve problems by using appropriate chemical principles.
  3. Safety: Students will identify and follow appropriate procedures and regulations for safe handling of chemicals
  4. Communication:  Students are able to communicate the results of their work verbally, visually, and in writing to chemists and non-chemists.

Office Hours

Office Hours

Published: 01/12/2026 15:15:28