Syllabus

Chemistry 1B - Winter 2026 - UCSB
Second Quarter of General Chemistry for Science Majors
Lecture: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00-8:50 - CHEM 1179

Students are responsible for checking their UCSB email accounts regularly.
Important announcements will be emailed.

Instructor: Dr. Darby Feldwinn
e-mail:
Office: CHEM 1105
Office Hours: Tuesday 10:30 - 11:30 am & Friday 9:15 - 10:15 am
or by appointment
Phone: 805-893-2127
Website: people.chem.ucsb.edu/feldwinn/darby/Chem1B/Home.html

Required Text and Materials


  1. Chemical Principles (8th Ed) by Steven S. Zumdahl
  2. ALEKS online homework: aleks.com
  3. iClicker Student, UCSB provides this for free
  4. Calculator, please bring your calculator to every class

Additional Help


TAs:
The TAs for CHEM 2AL are also the TAs for CHEM 1B. You are welcome to attend any TA's office hours, even if you are not currently enrolled in CHEM 2AL. Please refer to the course website for the exact office hour times, locations, and TA email addresses.

CLAS:
CLAS offers organized tutor groups and drop-in sessions. The organized tutor groups meet twice a week for one hour each. For more information, visit their website at clas.sa.ucsb.edu. I highly recommend signing up for a CLAS tutor group; many students have shared positive feedback about their experiences.

Financial Energencies


UCSB has aid for students during financial emergencies. If you have already used up your loan eligibility, you are welcome to email FinancialCrisis@sa.ucsb.edu, and share your situation and they may be able to help you pay for ALEKS or other Chemistry related materials.

DSP


If you require disability-related accommodations for this course, please reach out to the DSP office at dsp.sa.ucsb.edu. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me directly.

Student Conduct


I do not tolerate any form of cheating in this class, and all instances will be reported to the Student-Faculty Conduct Committee. Please review the UCSB Standards of Student Conduct for more information: sa.ucsb.edu/regulations/student-conduct-code/student-conduct-code.

Grading


3 Quizzes (1/14/26, 2/6/26, and 3/4/26)

* Up to 12 iClicker points can replace one quiz score

3 @ 9 pts 5.4%
3 Midterms (1/28/26, 2/23/26, and 3/13/26) 3 @ 100 pts 60%
1 Final (3/20/26) 1 @ 100 pts 20%
5 Homework Assignments

* Lowest homework score will be dropped.
* ~45% of your homework grade will come from the percentage of the pie you finish (33 pts).
* If you do better on the final then on your total ALEKS score, your percent on the final will replace
all of your homework scores.

5 @ 8 pts
33 pts pie
14.6%


NO MAKE-UP MIDTERMS OR FINAL WILL BE OFFERED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE A SCHOOL APPROVED INCOMPLETE IS WARRENTED.

If you miss a midterm for any reason (e.g. illness, sporting event, funeral, wedding), that midterm will be dropped and the final exam will be weighted at 40% of your overall class grade. Any additional missed midterms will not be replaceable.

You must take the final to pass the class.

If you take all the midterms and score higher on the final exam than your lowest midterm score, then your lowest midterm score will be dropped and the final exam will be weighted at 40% of your overall class grade.

Quiz Guidelines


  • All quizzes are administered through Canvas.
  • You have a 12-hour window (9:00 am and 9:00 pm) to complete each quiz. Start early enough to finish by the deadline.
  • Each quiz is timed at 30 minutes.
  • Quizzes include both short answer and multiple-choice questions.
  • No partial credit is awarded for incorrect answers.
  • Use only the exam information sheet, calculator, and scratch paper during quizzes.
  • If a quiz is not completed by its due date, you can still view the questions and answers on Canvas.
    • Click on the quiz.
    • DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS; simply hit submit to see the correct answers.
    • Answering after the deadline results in a quiz score of -2 points.

Midterm and Final Guidelines


  • The midterms and final exam will feature short answer and multiple-choice questions.
  • No partial credit is awarded for incorrect answers.
  • Exams are graded and returned via GradeScope: gradescope.com.
  • Calculators are permitted during exams.
  • An exam information page, including the periodic table, constants, unit conversions, and equations, will be provided.
  • Bring your student I.D. (or another government issued I.D.) to the final exam.
  • Looking at a cell phone during the exam results in an exam score of 0 that cannot be dropped.
  • Sitting next to someone with the same version of the exam, incurs a penalty of 5 points.
  • Headphones are NOT allowed during exams.
  • Continuiing to work on your exam after time is called, incurs a penalty of 5 points.

Homework


  • Online homework will be assigned through ALEKS (aleks.com). Your ALEKS course code for this class is: MKLNM-PQCNQ.
  • INSTRUCTIONS IF YOU HAVE AN ALEKS ACCOUNT:
    • Open a web browser
    • Go to aleks.com
    • Sign into your account
    • Click on "Add/Change Classes"
    • Enter the course code: MKLNM-PQCNQ
    • If time remains on your subscription, switch to the ALEKS account for this course using the steps below, otherwise purchase a new subscription.
      • Select "Use remaining time from …"
      • Verify your perm number by navigating to "manage my classes" through the ≡ icon (3 bars) in the upper left corner of the screen. Click the down arrow next to your name and select "account settings." Click "edit" next to your school and check and change your perm number, if needed.
  • INSTRUCTIONS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ALEKS ACCOUNT:
    • Open a web browser
    • Go to aleks.com
    • Click on "SIGN UP NOW"
    • Enter the course code: MKLNM-PQCNQ
    • Purchase an ALEKS subscription.
      • You will use ALEKS for CHEM 1C. You may either purchase a subscription just for this quarter or to cover you in CHEM 1C as well.
    • Enter your personal information
      • There will be a box that says "optional, enter your student ID;" you MUST enter your perm number (enter seven characters, do NOT include any dashes or spaces). If your perm number is not entered or wrong you will not get credit for the assignments.
    • To edit account details such as your perm number, navigate to "manage my classes" through the ≡ icon (3 bars) in the upper left corner of the screen. Click the down arrow next to your name and select "account settings." Click "edit" next to your school and correct your perm number.
  • If this is your first time using ALEKS, refer to the instructions at: people.chem.ucsb.edu/feldwinn/darby/ALEKS.htm.
  • Due dates for ALEKS assignments will be announced in class and sent via UCSB email. Assignments are due by 10:00 pm on the due date.
  • Your lowest ALEKS score will be dropped.
  • If you do better on the final exam then on your total ALEKS score, your percent on the final can replace all of your homework scores.
  • Book problems assigned per chapter are mandatory, although not collected. These significantly impact your overall grade. Expecting an A or B in the class without completing these is unrealistic.

iClickers


  • iClickers will be used during class.
  • Each question is worth 0.3 points:
    • 0.15 points for attempting the question.
    • An additional 0.15 points for each correct answer.
  • Up to 12 iClicker points can be used to replace your lowest quiz score.
  • There are no exceptions or excuses for missed iClicker points.
  • More than 12 iClicker points will be available throughout the quarter.

Support for Students in Distress


  • Personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationships, depression, or cultural differences, can impact students' ability to succeed and thrive.
  • If you find yourself in a distressing situation and wish to speak with someone confidentially, consider the following free options:
    • UCSB's Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS): Provides resources and confidential counseling. Contact at 805-893-4411 or visit caps.sa.ucsb.edu.
    • UCSB's Social Work Services: Offers confidential services to support students' health and wellness. Contact at 805-893-3371.
    • The Office of the Ombuds: Provides confidential consultation on various issues. Contact at 805-893-3285 or visit ombuds.ucsb.edu
    • In emergency or extreme situations, call 911 immediately.
  • If a faculty member becomes aware of a student in distress, they are required to report the situation to UCSB's Student Mental Health Coordination Services. Note: faculty are not considered confidential resources for these matters.

Important Dates


Last day to add class: Monday, January 26th 2026
Last day to drop: Monday, February 2nd 2026
Last day to change grading option: Friday, March 13th 2026

This is a tentative lecture schedule. Midterm, quiz, and final exam times will not change. The class may be forced to deviate from this syllabus in the case of natural disasters, pandemics, or other things outside of the instructor's control. If this happens, plans laid out in the syllabus (including but not limited to: timing, location of class, and point values of assignments) are subject to change.

Monday Wednesday Friday
Jan. 5 Welcome
Chap 6: Chemical Equilibrium
Jan. 7

Chap 6: Chemical Equilibrium

Jan. 9 Chap 6: Chemical Equilibrium
Jan. 12 Chap 6: Chemical Equilibrium
Chap 7: Acids & Bases
Jan. 14

Chap 7: Acids & Bases
Quiz 1 (Chapter 6; Canvas)

Jan. 16

Chap 7: Acids & Bases

Jan. 19

Holiday

Jan. 21 Chap 7: Acids & Bases
Jan. 23

Chap 7: Acids & Bases
Chap. 8 - Applications of Aqueous Equilibrium

Jan. 26 Chap. 8 - Applications of Aqueous Equilibrium

Jan. 28 MIDTERM 1 (Chapters 6 & 7) Jan. 30 Chap. 8 - Applications of Aqueous Equilibrium
Feb. 2
Drop Deadline
Chap. 8 - Applications of Aqueous Equilibrium Feb. 4 Chap. 8 - Applications of Aqueous Equilibrium
Chap. 9 - Energy, Enthalpy, & Thermochemistry
Feb. 6

Chap. 9 - Energy, Enthalpy, & Thermochemistry
Quiz 2 (Chapter 8; Canvas)

Feb. 9
Chap. 9 - Energy, Enthalpy, & Thermochemistry Feb. 11
Chap. 9 - Energy, Enthalpy, & Thermochemistry Feb. 13 Chap. 9 - Energy, Enthalpy, & Thermochemistry
Feb. 16 Holiday Feb. 18

Chap. 9 - Energy, Enthalpy, & Thermochemistry
Chap. 10 - Spontaneity, Entropy, & Free Energy

Feb. 20 Chap. 10 - Spontaneity, Entropy, & Free Energy
Feb. 23 MIDTERM 2 (Chapters 8 & 9)
Feb. 25
Chap. 10 - Spontaneity, Entropy, & Free Energy Feb. 27 Chap. 10 - Spontaneity, Entropy, & Free Energy
Mar. 2 Chap. 11 - Electrochemistry Mar. 4 Chap. 11 - Electrochemistry
Quiz 3 (Chapter 10; Canvas)
Mar. 6 Chap. 11 - Electrochemistry
Mar. 9 Chap. 11 - Electrochemistry Mar. 11 Chap. 11 - Electrochemistry Mar. 13 MIDTERM 3 (Chapters 10 & 11)

FINAL
Friday, Mar. 20, 8:00 - 9:05 am, CHEM 1179

Printable Syllabus