Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 2423)

Chem 2423 Course Guide

 

Instructor: Paul Donald Roy          [email protected]          713-944-7021

                                                     [email protected]

 

Course Title:  Organic Chemistry I

 

Prerequisites: Chem 1412 (or equivalent)

 

Required Materials:     Organic Chemistry (7th ed), John McMurry

                                    Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 2nd Ed., Bell/Clark/Tabor/Rodig

                                    Safety Glasses or Goggles

 

Grade Determination:  60% Tests

                                    20% Labs

                                    20% Final Exam

 

Attendance:  Full attendance is strongly advised, as you are responsible for announcements.  There are no make-up tests or make-up labs.  Each lab period counts for roughly 2% toward your final course grade.  If a test is missed, the final exam counts for 40% of the grade.  Further missed tests, or a missed final, are recorded with a grade of zero.

 

Withdrawal:  Withdrawal is your responsibility, but you should discuss it with me first.

 

Study Habits:

The most important thing to remember is to actively listen and heed my lectures and suggestions.

Take note of everything I write on the board, especially working through problems,

Practice at least until you can confidently answer recommended exercises without consulting books or notes.  Start practicing and memorizing as soon as possible.

Do whatever reading you need to reinforce your problem solving and memorization.

If you don't understand something, ask as soon as possible; others may have the same question.  I am also eager to help after class.

Attend all labs and turn in lab reports as requested.

 

Course Objectives:

Bonding and structure in organic molecules

Polarity and acid/base strength in organic molecules

The chemistry of saturated hydrocarbons, alkenes and alkynes

The fundamentals of stereochemistry

Mechanisms and thermochemistry of organic reactions

Chirality and its effects in organic chemistry

The chemistry of alkyles halides

Elimination and substitution reactions

The fundamentals of mass spectrometry

 

Laboratory Safety:

Goggles must be worn over the eyes throughout all laboratory procedures.  Eye safety in a laboratory setting is a particularly serious issue.  In addition, treat all chemicals and equipment with due respect, let common sense prevail at all times, and consult me anytime you are unsure of your actions.  As a general rule. minimize direct contact with chemicals, and do not stray from experimental protocols.

 

Cheating:

There is a zero tolerance to all forms of cheating; if caught on a test the grade will be zero.  This includes any retrieving of information expected to be memorized, such as with certain calculators.  To avoid any misunderstanding, consult with me about your calculator.

 

Special Accomodations:

Student who seek accomodation for special needs shoud contact the Disability Counselor as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.  Call 713-718-7218.

 

Repeating the Course:

"Students who repeat a course for a third or more times may soon face significant tuition / fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and univiersities.  Please ask your instructor/counselor about opportunites for tutoring / other assistance prior to considering course withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades."