Welcome to CHEM 1315! In this course, we will explore select concepts in organic chemistry, with a focus on developing strong fundamentals rather than trying to cover a large quantity of reactions, and helping you develop the ability to reason in a structured manner when faced with a wide variety of molecule-based situations.
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
• accurately draw and represent the structures of organic chemicals in 2 & 3 dimensions
• analyze structures to predict their fundamental properties and reactivity
• understand how structures can be evaluated using techniques such as NMR & FTIR
• understand how organic chemistry intersects with current topics in sustainability
Organic Chemistry, 10th Edition, by John McMurry, 2023, OpenStax
Grades are comprised of three midterm exams, a final exam, and homework/participation/in-class assignments. Final exams are cumulative, and performance on respective sections of the final can replace the score of any or all midterm exams (if the score on the final is better). A small amount of extra credit is also offered.
Class is both in-person, and live-streamed on Zoom. Lectures are recorded for students to be able to watch at a later time as desired. In-class assignments are not due until a future date (typically the following week), meaning there is no penalty for missing class, allowing students the flexibility to interact with the class in the way that best suits their schedule.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. That being said, all assignments other than exams can be freely worked on in groups, and with any resources the student wishes to use. In fact, we will at times utilize ChatGPT and evaluate the quality of responses. On exams, all work must be the student's own - cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate removal from the classroom and a report will be sent to OSI.
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