Syllabus for Organic Chemistry (Chem 315, 316; 3 credits each) January 1, 2012
Notes: 1. This syllabus can be found at http://webpages.shepherd.edu/evolker/main.htm
2. The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. It is not a contract.
Instructor: Dr. Eugene J. Volker, 304 876 5285. The best way to contact me outside of class is by email at evolker@shepherd.edu.
Content: The Organic Chemistry course is a treatment of the structure, nomenclature, and the physical and chemical properties of organic compounds. In this course the student becomes acquainted with the principles of chemical and instrumental methods of structure determination of organic compounds, with organic synthesis, and with reaction mechanisms and the methods used to investigate organic reactions. The technical writing component introduces the student to current research topics in organic chemistry and to the applications of organic chemistry to problems important for society.
CHEM 315 treats chapters 1-12. CHEM 316 treats chapters 13-24 For the titles of these chapters see below.
Textbook: 1. Vollhardt and Schore, "Organic Chemistry", 5th edition, Freeman and Co, 2006.
2. The manual by E. Volker, “Organic Chemistry Problems”.
Note: The use of cell phones or cameras in the classroom is prohibited. Cell phones cannot be used as calculators.
Quizzes: There will be frequent short quizzes for 10 points each. If you are absent for any quiz for whatever reason, temporarily you get a zero grade for that quiz. During finals period at the end of the semester a comprehensive make-up quiz will be given and the grade earned on it will be substituted for up to two (but no more than two) missed quizzes.
Exams: Exams will consist of a combination of problems and multiple-choice questions. Each examination is worth 100 points. The highest grade allowed on any exam, including the final, is 100 points. Regular exams will be graded and returned. The final will not be returned. The best way to prepare for the exams is not to miss any lectures, read the textbook, work the problems in the “Organic Chemistry Problems” manuscript.
Final Examination: At the end of each semester there will be a comprehensive final examination worth 100 points.
The American Chemical Society final exam at the end of the Spring semester is comprehensive for the whole two-semester sequence of organic chemistry. Grading of this exam, worth 100 points, will be by the formula, grade = 1.8 x (# of correct answers). As an illustration, if a student has 50 correct answers (from the 70 possible on this test), his/her recorded grade will be 1.8 * 50 = 90. The highest score allowed will be 100 points.
If the grade on the final is higher than the lowest grade among the three examinations, and the student has taken all three examinations, the final grade will replace the lowest exam grade. If a student misses one exam, the final grade will replace the missed exam only. If a student misses two exams, a comprehensive make-up exam, consisting of problems only will be given to him/her along with the final. The final grade will replace one of the missed exam grades, while the make-up exam grade will replace the other missed exam grade. The highest score allowed on the make-up exam will be 100 points.
Homework: You can accumulate bonus points by completing and handing in the “Organic Chemistry Problems”. Each chapter is due on the day indicated by the instructor. You may receive 0- 2 points for each chapter, depending on how completely you answer all questions. While that sounds little, by the end of the semester you may accumulate more than 20 bonus points which are added to the points earned in the course before your percentage is calculated. Besides, working the homework teaches you a lot of chemistry. Additionally, there will be a few literature assignments for bonus points.
Homework must be handed in on the pages of the printed “Organic Chemistry Problems” booklet (or a photocopy thereof) that you buy in the bookstore. The text of the homework must be the original, written by hand. The name of the student must be prominently indicated on each page of the homework. All pages must be stapled together in the upper left-hand corner. Only selected problems of the homework will be evaluated in order to speed up turnaround time. Late homework will be accepted (maximum ˝ of the available points) at the meeting of the next scheduled class.
Grading: An "A" is given to the student who obtains 87.5% or more of the (required) points possible for the course, a "B" if he/she is within the next 12.5% bracket, and so on. You can compute your grade at any time during the course. Let's say you have a 60 and a 70, respectively, on the first two exams. You have also accumulated 10 bonus points on homework. So you have earned a total of 140 points of the 200 possible so far. (Remember, the homework is "bonus"). Your grade at this point is (140/200)*100=70% and you stand at a "C".
Puzzled by organic chemistry? If organic chemistry proves difficult for you, organize or join a study group. Still not happy? Make use of the tutoring service available at the Academic Support Center through its website of http://www.shepherd.edu/ascweb/
Titles of the Chapters In Vollhardt studied in CHEM 315
Ch 1 Structure and Bonding in Organic Molecules
Ch 2 Alkanes
Ch 3 Reactions of Alkanes
Ch 4 Cyclic Alkanes
Ch 5 Stereoisomers
Ch 6 Properties and Reactions of Haloalkanes
Ch 7 Further Reactions of Haloalkanes
Ch 8 Hydroxy Functional Group
Ch 9 Further Reactions of Alcohols and the Chemistry of Ethers
Ch 10 Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Deduce
Structure
Ch 11 Alkanes and Infrared Spectroscopy
Ch 12 Reactions of Alkenes
Titles of the Chapters in Vollhardt studied in CHEM 316
Ch 13 Alkynes
Ch 14 Delocalized Pi Systems
Ch 15 Unusual Stability of the Cyclic Electron Sextet
Ch 16 Electrophilic
Attack on Derivatives of Benzene
Ch 17 Aldehydes and Ketones
Ch 18 Enols and Enones
Ch 19 Carboxylic Acids
Ch 20 Carboxylic Acid Derivatives and Mass Spectrometry
Ch 21 Amines and Their Derivatives
Ch 22 Chemistry of Benzene Substituents
Ch 23 Ester Enolates and Acyl Anion Equivalents
Ch 24 Carbohydrates
If time permits, further chapters will be included.
