Syllabus for Organic Chemistry I

CHEM 2401K

Fall term, 2011

Waycross College

GENERAL INFORMATION

Instructor: Bernard Majdi

Office: 152A (also check 230A)

Telephone: (912) 449-7574

Email: bmajdi@waycross.edu

Web page http://www.waycross.edu/faculty/bmajdi/

Office Hours: 10:40 AM -12:00 PM MTWTH; 4:00-5:30 PM T & TH

Texts: Organic Chemistry, 7^th ed. , by L. G. Wade, Jr.

Laboratory handouts provided by the instructor

PREREQUISITES: General Chemistry I and II, or consent of instructor

INTRODUCTION

The Chemistry 2401/2402 series is an introduction to Organic Chemistry. The content of Organic Chemistry will be covered thoroughly in this sequence. All major functional groups will be studied; all important reaction types and reaction mechanisms will be examined. Other important topics such as chirality and isomerism will also be discussed.

Much of the course requires memorization. Students will be expected to classify and properly name compounds based on functional groups and to predict products given reactants and experimental conditions. However, the successful student will memorize principles and mechanisms instead of examples.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Exams will usually cover two chapters and will be short answer style or fill in the blank. Almost every test will require the prediction of products given reactants and experimental conditions. Almost every test will require the student to name compounds correctly.

4 Exams 400 points

Homework 200 points

Final 100 points

Lab 200 points

Total 800 points

The grading scale for the course will follow the traditional scale:

90 ‑ 100% A

80 ‑ 89 % B

70 ‑ 79% C

60 ‑ 69 % D

below 60% F

The lab grade will be based on lab reports and a final.

Lab reports 150 points

Final 50 points

OTHER INFORMATION

Dropping a Course Without Penalty

In order to officially drop a course without penalty, a student must obtain and fill out a drop/add form from the Registrar's Office, acquire appropriate signatures, and return the completed form to the Registrar's Office before the designated date published in the academic calendar in the Waycross College Catalog (October, 13 2011).

1. Because of the nature of the instructional method, it is very important to attend class every day. It may be possible to make up missed activities, but that option is not guaranteed. That includes unit exams, whether they are administered in class or at the Academic Support Center.

2. Waycross College has a stated policy that ‘students who have missed 20% of regularly scheduled class meetings may be dropped by the instructor and assigned a grade of WF. If such excessive absences are the result of extenuating personal hardship, the withdrawal grade will be either a W or WF, depending on the student's status at the time the drop occurred.’ I will record daily attendance and I will withdraw a student with excessive absences.

Classroom Etiquette:

Please do not use cell phones in class. Please turn off your cell phones when come to class. Please do not text-message while instructor is talking. No playing of cell-phone games. Please do not talk when the instructor is lecturing. No eating or drinking in laboratory.

ADA STATEMENT:  "The College is committed to providing accessibility to all students in accordance to ADA/504 guidelines.  Students should contact the Director of Student Life regarding accessibility."

EASE Statement: The Educational Assistance and Student Engagement (EASE) Center offers supplemental instruction and campus life resources to all students enrolled at the college. Educational assistance opportunities will allow students to develop strengths and to eliminate deficiencies. The EASE Center provides tutoring and supplementary materials in reading, writing, and mathematics; provides alternate learning strategies through audio-visual, individualized, computerized, self-paced, and one-on-one tutorial work; offers assistance in developing effective study skills; and helps students prepare for the Regents’ test. Various testing services are offered by appointment in the EASE testing center. Student Engagement resources available to students in The EASE Center consist of guidance services, orientation services, disability services, career planning, minority advising program, and student activities.

PLAGIARISM, WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL, IS PROHIBITED; IT WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT PLAGIARIZED AND COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE. Webster’s Dictionary defines plagiarism as the stealing and passing off of the ideas or words of another as one's own.  PLAGIARISM IS ACADEMIC DISHONESTY. IF PLAGIARISM IS EVIDENT, THE STUDENT WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF 0 ON THE ASSIGNMENT PLAGIARIZED AND COULD EARN A FAILING GRADE FOR THE COURSE. When an instructor discovers an incident of plagiarism, the instructor will discuss the situation with the student, complete a Plagiarism Form to record the incident, sign the form and obtain the student’s signature, provide the student a copy of the form, and file a copy of the form with the Dean’s office. If two incidents of plagiarism are reported, the student will be required to meet with the Dean to discuss academic integrity. REPEATED CHARGES OF PLAGIARISM COULD RESULT IN PERMANENT EXPULSION FROM THE COLLEGE.

Any student discovered plagiarizing (cheating) in this course will receive a grade of F for the course.

Class Attendance

Students are responsible for attending class and for the material presented in all classes. Students who have missed twenty percent of regularly scheduled class meetings may be dropped by the instructor and assigned a grade of WF. If such excessive absences are the result of extenuating personal hardship, the withdrawal grade will be either a W or WF, depending on the student's status at the time the drop occurred.

Course Outline:

Chapter 1. Introduction and review

Chapter 2. Structure and properties of organic molecules

Chapter 3. Structure and stereochemistry of alkanes

Chapter 4. The study of chemical reactions

Chapter 5. Stereochemistry

Chapter 6. Alkyl halides: nucleophilic substitution and elimination

Chapter 7. Structure and synthesis of alkenes

Chapter 8. Reactions of alkenes

Chapter 9. Alkynes

Chapter 10. Structure and synthesis of alcohols