Course Syllabus
Course: CHEM 2310
Division: Natural Science and Math
Department: Chemistry
Title: Organic Chemistry I
Semester Approved: Summer 2021
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2026
End Semester: Spring 2027
Catalog Description: CHEM 2310 is the first semester of a full-year course in organic chemistry, which is the study of the structures and properties of compounds primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen. Reactivity is studied in the context of mechanism patterns associated with functional groups, with emphasis on synthesis and biochemical applications. This course is required for all chemistry-centered majors, most pre-professional programs, and many life science majors, and is commonly taken in the second year of study.
Semesters Offered: Fall
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 4; Lecture: 4; Lab: 0
Prerequisites: CHEM 1210 and CHEM 1220
Corequisites: CHEM 2315
Justification: Organic chemistry is taught by chemistry departments at USHE institutions. It is a two-semester sequence that is numbered as CHEM 2310 for the first semester and CHEM 2320 for the second semester at USHE institutions. It is required for all chemistry-based majors and many pre-professional programs; some programs require only the first semester. This course will provide a thorough foundation in organic structures, reaction mechanisms, and elementary synthesis methods.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will learn the nomenclature, physical properties, chemical reactivity, preparation, and use in synthesis of common organic functional groups. Formative assessment will be done through homework assignments; summative assessment will be done through quizzes and exams. Quizzes and exams may involve both solo and group-work components. Quiz and exam problems will assess student ability to reason through chemical reaction scenarios that are novel and subtly complicated as well as those that are familiar (from homework and class discussions) and simple.
Students will be able to interpret and draw structures of organic molecules using a variety of representations, such as skeletal structures, Newman projections, Fisher projections, cyclohexane chairs, etc, and transform structures given in one representation into a different representation while maintaining correct regio- and stereochemistry. Formative assessment will be done through homework assignments; summative assessment will be done through quizzes and exams. Quizzes and exams may involve both solo and group-work components. Quiz and exam problems will assess student ability to reason through chemical reaction scenarios that are novel and subtly complicated as well as those that are familiar (from homework and class discussions) and simple.
Students will be able to correctly describe relationships between chemical structures, such as resonance contributors, tautomers, various types of isomers, and reactant-product transformations. Formative assessment will be done through homework assignments; summative assessment will be done through quizzes and exams. Quizzes and exams may involve both solo and group-work components. Quiz and exam problems will assess student ability to reason through chemical reaction scenarios that are novel and subtly complicated as well as those that are familiar (from homework and class discussions) and simple.
Students will be able to write correct curved arrow formalism mechanisms for foundational organic reaction types in isolation and as components of a moderately complex overall molecular transformation. Formative assessment will be done through homework assignments; summative assessment will be done through quizzes and exams. Quizzes and exams may involve both solo and group-work components. Quiz and exam problems will assess student ability to reason through chemical reaction scenarios that are novel and subtly complicated as well as those that are familiar (from homework and class discussions) and simple.
Students will understand the synthetic utility of foundational organic reaction types and be able to construct multi-step synthesis pathways for moderately complex molecules. Formative assessment will be done through homework assignments; summative assessment will be done through quizzes and exams. Quizzes and exams may involve both solo and group-work components. Quiz and exam problems will assess student ability to reason through chemical reaction scenarios that are novel and subtly complicated as well as those that are familiar (from homework and class discussions) and simple.
Students will apply principles of chemical reactivity and structure analysis to predict the major and minor products of organic reactions. Formative assessment will be done through homework assignments; summative assessment will be done through quizzes and exams. Quizzes and exams may involve both solo and group-work components. Quiz and exam problems will assess student ability to reason through chemical reaction scenarios that are novel and subtly complicated as well as those that are familiar (from homework and class discussions) and simple.
Students will be able to integrate spectral and reaction data to determine the structure of an unknown compound. Formative assessment will be done through homework assignments; summative assessment will be done through quizzes and exams. Quizzes and exams may involve both solo and group-work components. Quiz and exam problems will assess student ability to reason through chemical reaction scenarios that are novel and subtly complicated as well as those that are familiar (from homework and class discussions) and simple.
Content:
Chemistry 2310 is the first semester of a full-year introductory organic chemistry course. This course provides a fundamental and foundational description of the properties and behavior of carbon-based molecules, which are the primary constituents of all known living systems and many materials upon which modern lifestyles rely. Topics and concepts will be presented such that they build upon one another, with later topics reinforcing and developing concepts introduced with earlier topics.
Instructors may choose to cover the material in either of the following organizational patterns, with the corresponding pattern being used in the second semester.
Topic Set A: structure and bonding; elementary molecular orbital (MO) theory; acid/base properties of organic molecules; the arrow-pushing formalism for electron motion in a reaction mechanism; functional group identification & nomenclature; physical properties of organic molecules; conformational analysis; isomerism; chirality & stereochemistry; elementary reaction kinetics and thermodynamics; electrophilic addition to alkenes and alkynes, resonance delocalization & aromaticity; reactions of dienes; substitution and elimination reactions of alkyl halides; substitution and elimination reactions of alcohols, ethers, epoxides, amines, and thiols; use of the aforementioned reactions in simple synthesis of organic compounds; organolithium and organomagnesium compounds; transmetallation; organocuprates; palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions; radical halogenation of alkanes; radical addition to alkenes; radical substitution at benzylic and allylic positions; and use of radical reactions in synthesis.
Topic Set B: structure and bonding; elementary molecular orbital (MO) theory; acid/base properties of organic molecules; the arrow-pushing formalism for electron motion in a reaction mechanism; functional group identification & nomenclature; physical properties of organic molecules; conformational analysis; isomerism; chirality & stereochemistry; mass spectroscopy (MS); ultraviolet-visible light (UV-Vis) spectroscopy; infrared (IR) spectroscopy; nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy; elementary reaction kinetics and thermodynamics; electrophilic addition to alkenes and alkynes, resonance delocalization & aromaticity; reactions of dienes; substitution and elimination reactions of alkyl halides; substitution and elimination reactions of alcohols, ethers, epoxides, amines, and thiols; and use of the aforementioned reactions in simple synthesis of organic compounds.
When appropriate to the historical background and/or real-world applications of the content, the diversity (or lack thereof) in the field and/or the implications for underrepresented/underserved populations will be briefly discussed.
Key Performance Indicators:
Mastery of the material will be assessed through:
Exams 50 to 75%
ACS Final Exam 10 to 25%
Homework 10 to 25%
Service Learning Project 5 to 10%
Quizzes & other assignments 10 to 20%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
"Organic Chemistry", Paula Yurkanis Bruice, Pearson, current or penultimate edition; or comparable textbook
Molecular model kit
Pedagogy Statement:
This course is taught with a combination of lecture and active-learning methods such as pre-reading assignments, student board work, etc. Student feedback collected before each class period is used to guide the direction of lecture segments. Students are frequently given time to work individually or in small groups to solve practice or quiz problems, followed by class discussion of possible solutions to the problems and how to identify a valid solution or solutions.
An inclusive environment is fostered by frequent “instructor talk” about the structure of the course, rationale for learning specific topics, and how to approach learning different aspects of the material. Interactive discussion between instructor and students and between students during lecture segments is strongly encouraged.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 24
Optimum Class Size: 18
