Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry is the study of carbon-based compounds, such as found in biological systems, polymers, petroleum-based products, and pharmaceuticals. This course is designed for students interested in pursuing majors in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, medicine, and forensics. This introductory course will cover major aspects of carbon chemistry, such as the nature and consequence of covalent bonding, molecular geometry, Lewis structures, basic nomenclature, aromatic compounds, stereochemistry, acid-base chemistry, chemical kinetics, thermochemical considerations, chemical equilibriums,and reaction mechanisms. This course is considered a lab science, as students can expect to complete several labs on their own at home, but with instructor assistance.

We can expect to cover the equivalent of a sophomore college level one-semester chemistry majors organic chemistry course.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, the learner will be able to:

1. Both interpret and write out organic molecules using Lewis diagrams, Haworth projections, Newman projections, Fisher projections, dash-wedge notation, and chair diagrams
2. Identify the types of bonds between organic molecules, based upon their structure and electronic properties (ionic, London dispersion forces, hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, etc.)
3. Predict the physical and chemical properties of molecules, based off of structure
4. Both name and write out organic compounds using IUPAC nomenclature rules
5. Identify isomer-types (conformers, enantiomers, diastereomers) and locate stereocenters
6. Identify and write out the ten elementary steps of organic reactions (proton-transfer, substitution, elimination, addition)
7. Devise reasonable mechanisms for basic reactions
8. Identify species on energy diagrams, and use them to predict products (thermodynamic or kinetic products)
9. Describe how kinetic factors impact reaction rates and how thermodynamic factors impact product species
10. Describe the progress of a chemical reaction (reaction mechanism) and the associated energy changes
11. Predict products of familiar reaction-types, provided only the reactants, and reaction conditions
12. Devise ways to synthesize compounds using reactions with which you are already familiar

Texts:

You should be able to purchase the text on eBay, or Abebooks.com, for a reasonable price, since it is the first edition, and a second has come out.

• Organic Chemistry: Principles and Mechanisms (1st Ed.) text by Joel Karty
• Study Guide and Solutions Manual to accompany Organic Chemistry: Principles and Mechanisms by Joel Karty and Marie M. Melzer
• Ryler Enterprises Organic Chemistry Molecular Modeling Kit (ORG-1) - I will provide this for you

NOTE: Price of $700.00 includes the cost of materials for several labs, shipping charges, and the organic modeling kit ($100.00 value)