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The Course Syllabus
Chemistry 251/253L and 252/254L
Combined Lecture/Laboratory Course in Organic Chemistry
(3+1 credits)
Instructor: Timm Knoerzer, Ph.D.
.Phone Number: 389-2588
Email: tknoerz7@naz.edu
Meeting Times/Location:
Tuesday and Thursday in
Smyth 327 (class)
from 8:00 - 9:15 am
and either
Monday from 1:30-4:30 pm or Tuesday
from 1:10 - 4:10 pm
in Smyth 321 (lab)
Office Hours:
Typically by appointment, but the best times are later on W,
Th, and F afternoons or MW mornings between 8:00-9:00 am. I am also around on T and Th right after class. I am not available between 12 and
1:45 pm on MWF.
Course Objectives:
Organic chemistry is taught in a two-semester sequence in CHM
251/253L and CHM 252/254L.
(A) The first semester course is designed to introduce some
of the basic concepts in organic chemistry to students planning science-related
careers in which some knowledge of organic chemistry is important. In addition,
students should gain an appreciation for the important role that organic
chemistry plays in life processes. We will cover chapters 1-8, 15 as well as
sections of chapters 12, 13, 16, 18 and 19 of the Jones text. In general, each
student, upon completion of the first semester of this course, should be able
to:
- recognize organic molecules and the various functional groups associated
with them
- have a working knowledge of organic nomenclature
- understand and evaluate the three-dimensional structure of organic
molecules
- outline and discuss the (basic) logistics of an organic reaction mechanism
- know the general categories of organic reactions
- interpret spectral data using spectroscopic data
- have a basic understanding of the theory underlying the various
spectroscopic methods
- establish conceptual connections between topics of general chemistry with
organic chemistry (especially with regard to acid-base chemistry, kinetics,
thermodynamics, and structures)
- predict properties and/or reactivity of molecules based upon a given set
of information
- apply some basic knowledge of organic chemistry to molecules of biological
interest (e.g. amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, drugs,
etc.)
(B) The second semester course is designed to build upon the
basic concepts in organic chemistry that you learned in the first semester. In
particular, we will expand our understanding of reaction mechanisms and begin to
learn specific reactions in order to tackle multistep syntheses. It is
absolutely imperative that you be constantly prepared to apply knowledge and to
employ critical thinking skills. Rote memorization is less important than
understanding the underlying chemical rationale in organic chemistry. Be on the
lookout for the application of most of the basic concepts that you learned last
semester. They will come up often and you need to know them (e.g. acid-base
concepts and stereochemistry). Upon completion of the second semester of this
course, each student, should be able to:
- develop a working "tool box" of organic reactions
- complete a reaction by predicting the reactants, products, or reagents
required to perform that particular transformation
- assemble a synthetic sequence that takes you from a given starting
material to a particular target molecule
- provide the rationale (using the curved arrow formalism and structures)
for the mechanism of a given reaction
- solve critical thinking problems by applying basic concepts in organic
chemistry (e.g. nomenclature, stereochemistry, spectroscopy, etc.)
- use acquired information to more clearly understand how biological systems
function at the molecular level
- propose and conduct an independent research project involving organic
chemistry
Course Materials:
 | Organic Chemistry, Third Edition by Maitland Jones |
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| Study Guide and Solutions Manual to Accompany Organic Chemistry,
Third Edition
by Maitland Jones |
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| The Molecular Modeling Workbook for Organic Chemistry by Warren J.
Hehre, Alan J. Shusterman, and Janet E. Nelson |
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| Molecular Visions Molecular Model Kit |
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| Laboratory notebook (hard bound and available in the bookstore) |
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| Safety Glasses (available in the bookstore) |
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| Weekly experimental handouts (supplied by the instructor) |
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| Organic Chemistry: A Guided Inquiry by Andrei Straumanis |
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| Students Companion: Laboratory Techniques for Organic Chemistry by John Lehman |
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Grading:
| follow-up laboratory assignments (6) |
(50 points each) |
300 |
| laboratory notebook check (2) |
(50 points each) |
100 |
| laboratory report (1) |
(100 points) |
100 |
| poster (1) |
(100 points) |
100 |
| homework assignments (4) |
(50 points each) |
200 |
| mid-term exam |
|
150 |
| final exam |
|
150 |
| TOTAL |
|
1100 points |
Grading scale:
| 87.0% - 100.0% |
A |
| 75.0% - 86.9% |
B |
| 63.0% - 74.9% |
C |
| 55.0% - 62.9% |
D |
| less than 55.0% |
F |
(1) + and - grades are assigned at the discretion of the
instructor.
(2) Your final grade for the course will be determined as a weighted
average (3 +1) of your performance in the lecture and laboratory portions of the course.
You will receive this same grade for both sections on your grade
report.
Notes:
- LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
- Make-up exams will NOT be given, except under a very limited set of extraordinary
circumstances and only with explicit approval of the instructor.
- Attendance will NOT be taken. It is your responsibility to initiate making up any
missed work.
- The final exam will be held during finals week at a time and place to be determined.
- Laboratory summaries and procedures, as well as homework assignments will be posted
online on the assessment page.
- I will evaluate both your laboratory notebook and your laboratory technique.
You are expected to clean-up after yourself in lab and to have all
equipment/glassware put away in its proper location.
- Each laboratory experience will be followed-up with a series of post-laboratory
exercises. These exercises are to be completed as if they are a homework assignment and
are due according to the schedule provided.
- In addition to the routine laboratory follow-up exercises, you will be
asked to write a
formal report and to create a
professional, scientific poster. These assignments are to be completed in lieu of the post-laboratory exercises for that
experiment.
- In order to best assist you, I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has a special
educational need that results from a documented disability. Please see me after class or
set up an appointment as soon as possible during the semester.
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