Back to previous Page.. Syllabus for Organic Chemistry
(Chem 315, 316; 3 credits each) July 1, 2009
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, computer modeling of organic compounds, with organic synthesis, and with reaction mechanisms and the methods used to investigate them. Applications of organic chemistry to biochemistry and medicine are emphasized. The technical writing component introduces the student to current research topics in organic chemistry and to the applications of organic 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”.
Quizzes: In each semester, there will be short weekly quizzes for a total of approximately 50 points.
Exams: During each semester three exams will be given after appropriate segments of the course material have been discussed. The exact exam dates depend on progress made in the course. Dates will be announced at least one week in advance. Exams will consist of a combination of problems (usually 4) and multiple-choice questions (usually 30). Each examination is worth 100 points. Regular exams will be graded and returned but the final will not be returned. The best way to prepare for the exams is not to miss any lectures, read the text, work the problems in the “Organic Chemistry Problems”, and take the practice tests that the instructor hands out.
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 = 2 x (# of correct answers). 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, then the final grade will replace that lowest exam grade. If a student misses one exam, the final grade will be the grade counted for that exam. If a student misses two exams, a comprehensive make-up exam, consisting of problems only (no multiple choice) 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 any exam will be 100 points.
Research Papers: There will be 2 research papers each semester on topics of current interest in chemistry. On each of these you can earn a maximum of 20 points. You will usually have three weeks to write a paper. Topics and deadlines will be given out during the semester.
The format of the papers is as follows: They must be double-spaced and must consist of a minimum of 750 words exclusive of title, references, and illustrations. Two students may submit a joint paper of at least 1000 words. In the latter case, they must sign the statement "Both authors have contributed equally to this assignment". Papers should be stapled in the upper left-hand corner. No cover sheets or covers of any sort should be used. Each paper should start with
Title of Paper
Name of student(s)
Word count
This should be followed first by the list of references you have consulted, then by the body of the paper.
The text should be written as a coherent essay on the assigned topic, not as numbered answers to the corresponding questions on the instructor's handout, but the sequence of topics in the discussion must follow the handout exactly. Do not repeat the instructor's questions.
A good essay will address all issues raised by the instructor using separate (perhaps multiple) paragraphs but will do this with smooth transitions between paragraphs, showing how the different issues are linked logically.
If you copy verbatim from a source, that source should be one of your references and you should cite it by its reference number. In such a case you must use quotation marks. An example is "Semisynthetic penicillins are prepared from 7-APA by the technique of acylation ." (ref. 3)
Some criteria for the evaluation of a research paper are:
BEWARE: Copying of another student's work by whatever means, especially copying a computer file, will result in a ZERO grade for BOTH papers, but joint papers may be submitted, as described above.
Homework / Bonus: You can accumulate bonus points by completing and handing in the “OrganicChemistry Problems”. Each chapter is due on the day indicated in class. You may receive 0- 2 bonus points for each chapter, depending on how completely you answer all questions. While that sounds little, remember that by the end of the semester you may have accumulated more than 20 bonus points which are added to your total points earned in the course before your percentage is calculated. There will be a few literature assignments for bonus points as well.
Homework must be handed in on the pages of the printed homework booklet (or a photocopy thereof) that you buy in the bookstore. The name of the student must be prominently indicated on the front and the back of the homework. All pages must be stapled together in the upper left-hand corner. The homework will be spot-checked, that is, only selected problems will be evaluated in order to speed up turnaround time.
Additional materials: The reading library on the chemistry floor (BY 317) has a variety of short and long chemistry texts and lab manuals. Books in BY 317 can be borrowed based on the honor system.
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 have earned a "C".
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.