Organic Chemistry

Chemistry 141

Fall 2006

 

Alexander (Sandy) Wurthmann

Office: A109 Cook Physical Sciences

Lab: A231 Cook Physical Sciences

Tel. 656-8999

Alexander.Wurthmann@uvm.edu

Office Hours 11AM- 12Noon, M/W/F or by appt.

 

Welcome to Organic Chemistry.  The reactions and structures you learn throughout this semester are cumulative and will be applied to discussions later in the semester and into the spring.

 

Outline of Lecture Material:

 Chapter           Material

1             Chemical Bonds, Octet Rule, Electronegativity/ Polarity,

                        Formal Charge, Resonance, Quantum Mechanics, Atomic                                                         Orbitals, Molecular Orbitals, Hybridization.

2             Carbon-carbon covalent bonds. Hydrocarbons.

                        Functional groups; alkyl halides, alcohols, amines,

                        carbonyls, carboxylic acids, amides, esters and nitriles.

3             Organic reaction mechanisms. Acid-Base Reactions.

Carbocations, carbanions and radicals.  Introduction to arrow-pushing.

4             Alkanes, alkenes and alkynes.

5             Stereochemistry/chirality.

6             Substitution/elimination reactions.

7             Alkenes, alkynes; elimination reactions

8             Alkenes, alkynes; addition reactions

10           Radical reactions

   11           Alcohols and ethers

12           Oxidation and reduction reactions

 

Texts: “Organic Chemistry”, Solomon’s and Fryhle, 8th ed., Wiley,

            “Organic Chemistry”, Study guide by same authors.

            “Macroscale and Microscale Organic Experiments”, Williamson, 5th Edition., Houghton and Mifflin.

 

Equipment:       Molecular Structure Model Kit, HGS.

                        Lab Notebook

                        Lab coat (optional)

                        Lab safety glasses

                        Pencil, and Extra fine permanent marker (“Sharpie” brand).

                        Ruler, calculator.

 

 

Lab Schedule:

Week Beginning           Experiment                               Reference

Sept 11                        Check-in, Molecular Models    Handout

Sept 18                        Melting Points                           Chpt 3, part 2 expt 2,3 +4 p.46-54                                          http://www.uvm.edu/ctlmedia/chem141/1_ch141.html

Sept 25                        Crystallization                           Chapt 4, Macro Expt 2 p81.

Expt 7 p. 85.

http://www.uvm.edu/ctlmedia/chem141/2_ch141.html

Oct 2                           Distillation                                 Chapt 5, Expts 4A+5A p95-101.

                                    http://www.uvm.edu/ctlmedia/chem141/3_ch141.html

Oct 9                           Extraction                                 Chapt 7, Expt 1 p151-153.

                                    http://www.uvm.edu/ctlmedia/chem141/4_ch141.html

Oct 16                         Thin-Layer Chromatography     Chapt 8, Expts 1,2 p183-189.

                                                                                    No video available                               

Oct 23                         Column Chromatography          Chapt 9, Expt 2 p205-206

                                                                                    microscale

Oct 30                         Alkenes from alcohol                Chapt 10, Expt 1 p227-228

                                    & GC Analysis             Half-Macroscale

                                    http://www.uvm.edu/ctlmedia/chem141/5_ch141.html

Nov 6                          Synthesis of an Alkyne  Chapt 58, Expts 2,3 p.734-737

                                                                                    Microscale

                                    http://www.uvm.edu/ctlmedia/chem141/6_ch141.html

Nov 13                                    Synthesis of alkyl-halide            Chapt 16, Expt 2 p329-330

                                                                                    Half-macroscale          

                                    http://www.uvm.edu/ctlmedia/chem141/7_ch141.html

LAB:

 

Lab sections, rooms and times are posted on my door A109 Cook.  Check ahead of time and bring any scheduling conflicts to me at least a week in advance of your first class.

 

Attendance:  Students must attend the lab section to which you are assigned.  Official documentation of sickness or family crisis is required if a lab is missed.  Unexcused absences will result in a ZERO graded for the lab experiment.  If more than 2 labs are missed, for any reason (even excused absences), you will receive an F for the whole course.  An incomplete can only be granted by the Dean of the college in which you are enrolled.

 

Breakage Card:  A breakage card ($40.00) must be purchased from the first floor stockroom, A-143 Cook, prior to your first lab.  It is advisable to purchase this card as soon as possible in order to avoid having to wait in yet another line.  The $40.00 is refunded at the end of the semester if you don’t break anything!!  Remember your card as it is your deposit for additional pieces of equipment required week by week.

 

Safety eyewear: OSHA approved safety glasses or goggles must be worn by everyone once any experiment has started in the bench areas of the lab.  Students not observing this rule will receive a ZERO for that experiment.  Eye protection is extremely important.  Safety eyewear can be purchased at the UVM bookstore.  CONTACT LENSES are a potential health hazard and should only be worn in the lab if you have no other type of corrective lenses.  If you wear contact lenses you must wear goggles with them, and inform your TA.

 

Footwear:  Only shoes that cover the toes are permitted in the lab.  Sandals and open-toed shoes are not permitted.

 

Exam Dates and Times:

Wednesday 13th September      EXAM 1, 7-9:30PM. MLS 235 and CC Theater 101

Wednesday 4th October           EXAM 2, 7-9:30PM  MLS 235 and Fleming 101

Wednesday 25th October         EXAM 3, 7-9:30PM  MLS 235 and CC Theater 101

Wednesday 15th November      EXAM 4, 7-9:30PM  MLS 235 and CC Theater 101

Tuesday 12th December            Section A, FINAL EXAM, 8-11AM. Angell B106

Thursday 14th December          Section B, FINAL EXAM, 11:45AM-2:45PM. B106          

 

Any conflicts with an exam date or time must be resolved a week in advance.  Alternate exam times must be prior to scheduled exam dates and times.

 

Course Grade:

            The course grade will be based on four mid-semester exams and a compulsory, cumulative final exam.  Of the four mid-terms the lowest grade will be dropped.  The final exam grade will not be dropped.  No curves will be applied to mid-semester exams.  Each exam will constitute 20% of your grade, providing 80% of your course grade.  The lab component of the course will deliver the remaining 20%.

                        4 exams (3 mid-terms and the final)       80%

                        lab grade                                              20%                                                                                                                                         100%

 

Wednesday Evening Review:

            Each Friday I will email a few problems to be discussed at the following Wednesday Evening Review.  This is a perfect opportunity to practice problems and work through some of the tricky points in regards to the new concepts.  The questions are not graded but many students find these review sessions very helpful. I usually bring donuts for volunteers!!  7pm~8pm (approx. 1hr) MLS 235.