Organic Chemistry I

Course
Semester
Spring
Year
2022
General Course Information

Course Lecturer Name(s):  Richard Jacques

Course Lecturer(s) Contact Information:  Richard Jacques

Course Lecturer(s) Office Hours:  N/A 

Course Lecturer(s) Office Location:  N/A

Course Support:   Anna Neckles-Thomas, anecklesthomas@sgu.edu, Ext. 3435  Akima Ventour,  aventou2@sgu.edu, Ext. 3402

Course Management tool: To learn to use Sakai, the Course management tool, access the link https://apps.sgu.edu/members.nsf/mycoursesintro.pdf

Course Curriculum Information

Course Description: 

This course is the first semester of a one-year course in Organic Chemistry.  It introduces students in science-related majors, Pre-med and Pre-vet programs to the basic principles and concepts of Organic Chemistry.  

It includes the nomenclature and classification of organic molecules; the structure and reactivity of the hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes and alkynes), alkyl halides and alcohols; the study of substitution and elimination reaction mechanisms; and an introduction to stereochemistry.

Course Objectives: 

This course introduces students in science-related majors to the basic concepts of Organic Chemistry.

The course would give students an understanding of the scope of Organic Chemistry and lay the foundation for future studies in Chemistry, Biology and Biochemistry.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students would 

1. Apply basic knowledge of chemistry towards understanding the fundamental principles of Organic Chemistry

  1. Apply knowledge of the functional groups present in organic compounds to understand the chemical reactions that they undergo
  2. Demonstrate problem solving and critical skills

Program Outcomes Met By This Course:

On successful completion of this course, students should transition seamlessly into Organic Chemistry 2.

SAS Grading Scale: Grades will be assigned as follows:

A  = 89.5% or better

B+ = 84.5 - 89.4%

B  = 79.5 - 84.4%

C+ = 74.5 - 79.4%

C = 69.5 - 74.4%

D = 64.5 - 69.4%

F = 64.4% or less 

Course Materials:

Text: Text:Organic Chemistry (9th Edition), L.G. Wade, Jr. (Pearson).  ISBN 10: 1-282 -15110 - 2.

Supplementary Readings/Resources: Organic Chemistry (8thEdition), Paula Yurkanis Bruice (Pearson). 

Supplemental Organic Chemistry resources available via the Internet – YouTube & other platforms

Course Schedule

Module 1: Introduction to Organic Chemistry Concepts

Objectives:

Students would be introduced to information towards the understanding of Organic Chemistry 1 content.

Students would cover: background of organic chemistry, molecular geometry, bond dipole moments and molecular dipole moments, formal charge, rules of electron movement, acid strength within a group & in a period, Isomerism – structural, positional & functional isomers

Module 2: Hybridization in carbon compounds

Objectives:

Students would understand the ability of carbon atoms to form three different types of hybrid atomic orbitals (the different types would be covered at different points of the course)

sp3 – the carbon atom bonds to four other atoms / sp2 – the carbon atom bonds to three other atoms / sp – the carbon atom bonds to two other atoms

Module 3: Physical and Chemical properties of the Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Objectives:

Students would be exposed to the structural formulae & isomerism; nomenclature; classes of carbon atoms – primary/ secondary/ tertiary/ quaternary; hybridization of single-bonded carbon atoms   

 Students would investigate the physical properties and the chemical reactions of alkanes – combustion reactions & free radical substitution reactions

Module 4: Chemistry of the Alkyl Halides

Objectives: 

Students would be cognisant of the physical properties of alkyl halides; classes of alkyl halides – primary/ secondary/ tertiary; nomenclature of alkyl halides

Students would be introduced to the substitution and elimination reactions of the alkyl halides, the mechanisms to achieve them & the factors which favour them: - SN1/SN2, E1/E2; strong/weak nucleophiles; strong/ weak bases;  concerted/ two-step reactions; etc.

Module 5: Alcohol Chemistry

Objectives: 

Students would be introduced to the physical properties of alcohols & the role of ‘hydrogen bonding’; nomenclature and classes of alcohols

Students would study the chemical reactions of the alcohols – combustion/ substitution and

elimination reactions (as for alkyl halides)/ oxidation/ esterification

Students would investigate the use of organometallic compounds in alcohol synthesis – Grignard reagents/ synthesis of primary, secondary & tertiary alcohols using epoxides/ aldehydes/ ketones   Module 6: Alkene Chemistry

Objectives: 

Students would understand the hybridization of the atoms in the carbon-carbon double bond; unsaturation of alkenes, the physical properties; nomenclature & cis-/trans- (also E/Z) isomerism Students would study the reactivity of the carbon-carbon double bond as a reactive functional group Students would investigate the reactions of alkenes – electrophilic addition reactions, oxidation reactions with peroxyacids & ozone; anti-Markovnikov reactions – hydroboration, free radical reactions;  synthesis reactions

Module 7:Alkyne Chemistry

Objectives: 

Students would investigate the hybridization of the atoms in the carbon- carbon triple bond

Students would understand the reactivity of the triple-bond functional group

Students would investigate the reactions of alkynes – the reactions of the triple bond; synthesis reactions

Module 8: Conformations & Stereochemistry of organic compounds / Resonance

Objectives:

Students would investigate the spatial relationships (conformations) of alkanes, cycloalkanes & their derivatives

Students would be able to identify orientation of organic molecules with asymmetric centers – enantiomers: designation of/ effect on polarized light 

Students would be introduced to the concept of resonance: movement of electrons/ bonds to create

School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections

Plagiarism Policy

Academic Integrity

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).

Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.

Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.

Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.

Attendance Requirement

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).

Examination Attendance

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).

For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.

Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services Policy

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).

Disclaimer

It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.