This course, the first of a two-semester sequence, is an introduction to the chemistry of carbon compounds and discusses common functional groups from the perspective of molecular structure. Areas of emphasis include structure, characterization, preparation, organic synthesis, stereochemical concepts, and the relationship of physical and chemical properties to molecular structure.
Athena Title
Modern Organic Chemistry I
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in CHEM 2311H, CHEM 2411
Prerequisite
(CHEM 1212-1212D or CHEM 1312H or CHEM 1412) and (CHEM 1212L or CHEM 1312L or CHEM 1412L)
Corequisite
CHEM 2211L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the class, the student should be able to draw and manipulate structures when given names or provide names given structures of organic compounds (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, ethers, alkyl halides, and amines) using common and IUPAC nomenclature including stereochemistry. Elucidate structures using spectroscopic data.
By the end of the class, the student should be able to describe the bonding, resonance, and molecular structures of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, ethers, alkyl halides, and amines as well as the types of hybridization and isomerism that occurs in the three groups of hydrocarbons.
By the end of the class, the student should be able to represent mechanisms of organic reactions with arrows, reaction energy diagrams, and orbitals interactions for the major classes of organic reactions: substitution, elimination, and addition.
By the end of the class, the student should be able to apply kinetics and thermodynamics of a reaction to predict how the rates and product compositions are affected by changing the substrate, adding a catalyst, and changing the temperature or solvent.
By the end of the class, the student should be able to predict fundamental reactions, and products and mechanistic pathways of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and alkyl halides.
Topical Outline
1. General Chemistry Review and Resonance
2. Alkanes and Constitutional/Conformational Isomers
3. Cycloalkanes and cis/trans Isomers
4. Stereochemistry at Tetrahedral Centers
5. Mass Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy
6. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
7. Acids and Bases and Polar Covalent Compounds
8. Alkene Structure and Reactivity
9. Alkene Reactions and Synthesis
10. Alkynes
11. Organohalides, Radical Reactions, and Organometallics
12. Nucleophilic Substitutions and Eliminations
General Education Core
CORE II: Physical Sciences
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
