SYLLABUS Organic Chemistry I CHEM253 Fall 2008

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8 Some Reflections On Teaching and Learning: My job is to identify and develop the major conceptual issues for the course and then to show how those concepts are used in understanding chemical reactivity. In addition, I hope to articulate the connections between concepts in this class, lab, and other classes that you are taking. I would also like to share with you some of the exciting modern advances in organic chemistry and the applications. In order to accomplish these goals, I would like to have an interactive classroom with feedback from you. This possibility means less lecturing and more discussion with a focus on problem solving and conceptual understanding. Hopefully, we can create an environment where it is possible to ask questions, take risks and even fail. Listed below are some suggestions which will help you to learn organic chemistry and will also help set up an interactive, constructive environment. 1. Come to class. Regular attendance is expected. You are responsible for all information disseminated at all class meetings. If you are not there, you will miss the flow of events, the questions and discussion of your peers, and information given in the lecture. 2. Work problems. Work all of the problems in the text and at the end of the chapter. Try to work the problems in a reflective manner. Test your understanding of concepts. Don't jump to the solutions manual if the answer is not immediately apparent. As the exams and quizzes will test your ability to apply the material to new situations and problems, it is critical that you understand the concepts. There are also be problems and exercises on-line at the Organic Chemistry Companion Page. If you are having difficulties, this might be a place to find extra insight. 3. Read the chapter ahead of time. This suggestion does not have to be an intensive effort. A look at which functional groups are involved, the topic headings, and the type of reaction will give you some sense of where we are headed. 4. Study diagrams and tables. They are more than pretty pictures. They can pull together what is being described in the text in a very vivid way. 5. Explore the on-line supplementary materials. The animations are awesome and show chemical structure and reactivity in a very dramatic way. 6. It is absolutely essential that you learn the vocabulary of organic chemistry. Important words and terms must be memorized. The textbook puts key terms in boldface and includes them in the "Key Terms" section at end of each chapter. 7. If you are in trouble, ask for help. I have posted office hours at which time I will be available to answer questions. I will also be glad to make an appointment for other times. If you have a quick question, feel free to contact me by email. In addition, I will organize help sessions if a group of students are having difficulty with a particular topic or if the class requests a review session before an exam. Remember, in the end, you are responsible for learning.
9 What do I need to remember from General Chemistry? There are several concepts from General Chemistry that we will assume you have learned and learned well. While we will review all of them in class, the reviews will be rather brief. It is absolutely essential that you have a solid understanding of these concepts. If you don’t, you had best go back and review them. 1. Atomic structure and Periodic Trends You should know about atomic orbitals and electron configurations. In Organic Chemistry we will be playing “Where’s the electron?” from beginning to the end. It is important to have a basic understanding of electrons of atoms in order to understand electrons of molecules. Periodic trends especially that of electronegativity, are useful to remember. 2. Bonding and Molecular Geometry The principles of covalent bonding, ionic bonding, hybrid atomic orbitals and molecular geometries (Valence Shell Electron Repulsion Theory) are absolutely essential to understanding the behavior of organic molecules. It is very important to be able to draw the Lewis Structure, complete with non-bonding electrons and formal charges, of every molecule you come across. 3. Electronegativity and Molecular Polarity Combining electronegativities of atoms in a molecule with its molecular geometry allows one to predict the overall molecular polarity, which is an essential step in predicting physical and chemical properties of organic molecules. 4. Acid-Base Concepts Almost every single reaction in organic chemistry can be described in terms of an acidbase reaction, either by the Bronstead definition or by the Lewis definition. (The latter being far more common and important.) Also important is the concept of conjugate acids and bases and their relative strengths (weaker acid means stronger conjugate base, etc…) Know these concepts like the back of your hand! 5. Equilibrium, Kinetics and Thermodynamics To understand organic reactions and mechanisms, we make extensive use of the principles of equilibrium (Including Le Chatelier’s principle), thermodynamics and kinetics. Unlike General Chemistry, though, we do very little mathematics in Organic Chemistry. Rather, we are more often concerned with qualitative relationships between these principles, and we make extensive use of reaction coordinate diagrams to describe them. Be able to read, interpret, and draw reaction coordinate diagrams (also called potential energy diagrams).
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SYLLABUS Organic Chemistry I CHEM253 Fall 2008

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