Heartland Community College
Master Course Syllabus
Division Name: STEM & Business Division
Course Prefix and Number: CHEM 231
Course Title: Elementary Organic Chemistry
DATE PREPARED: September 23, 2014
DATE REVIEWED:
DATE REVISED:
PCS/CIP CODE: 11 400504
IAI NO. (if available):
EFFECTIVE DATE OF FIRST CLASS: Spring 2016
CREDIT HOURS: 5
CONTACT HOURS: 7
LECTURE HOURS: 4
LABORATORY HOURS: 3
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Prerequisite:
-Placement at College level English and Reading
AND
-Completion of CHEM 120 or CHEM 162 or equivalent with a grade of C or better.
This course is one-semester survey of organic and biological chemistry for students who plan to
pursue an applied science profession, such as agricultural or environmental science, food science,
or healthcare. The fundamental principles of structure, IUPAC nomenclature, and the reactions
and reaction mechanisms of carbon-based molecules are introduced. The relationship between
these molecules and living organisms is studied. A three-hour lab each week is used to reinforce
the lecture material and to introduce students to purification and characterization techniques.
This course is not intended for students whose declared area of concentration is chemistry.
TEXTBOOKS such as:
Bruice, Paula Y. Essential Organic Chemistry. 2nd Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall,
2010. Print.
Brown, William H. and Poon, Thomas. Introduction to Organic Chemistry. 5th Edition.
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2012. Print
Alternatively, a comparable text that addresses at a minimum the topics listed in the Course
Outline and that provides students with the opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes for
this course may be substituted.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND
TRANSFERABILITY:
CHEM 231 fulfills 5 of the semester hours of credit in Physical Sciences required for the
A.A. or A.S. degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core
Curriculum described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and
universities participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor
for transfer information regarding particular institutions. Refer to www.iTransfer.org for
information.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This is a survey course in organic and biological chemistry, designed to provide a background in
these areas for the student interested in an applied science profession, such as agricultural or
environmental science, food science, or healthcare. This course will cover fundamental topics
such as molecular structure, bonding, functional groups, IUPAC nomenclature of organic
molecules, and stereochemistry. A variety of common organic chemistry reactions and their
mechanisms will be explored. Finally, the relationship between organic molecules and living
organisms will be studied by examining issues in the health, medicine, and environmental fields.
COURSE OUTCOMES and ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES:
By the end of this course, students will have developed an understanding of the fundamental
concepts of organic and biological chemistry, as well as communication, problem solving,
critical thinking and analysis skills. This will be achieved by
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
recognizing and interpreting different styles of chemical structure and bonding (PS1),
classifying compounds both by their functional groups and their IUPAC names (PS1),
identifying molecular reactivity based on acid-base principles (PS2, PS3),
drawing conformations of alkanes and cycloalkanes and relating the structures based
on their energies (PS2),
distinguishing molecules based on their three-dimensional orientations
(stereochemistry) (PS2),
predicting and implementing the chemical reactivity of organic molecules according
to the functional groups that they contain (PS3, PS4, CT1, CT2)
applying these reactions to biologically-relevant molecules, like carbohydrates and
amino acids (PS2, PS3),
analyzing spectroscopic and physical data obtained during laboratory experiments
(PS2),
evaluating and drawing conclusions based upon data and results from laboratory
experiments (PS3), and
reporting significant laboratory findings and conclusions in written reports (CO1).
GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES:
CO1: Students compose a message and provide ideas and information suitable to the topic,
purpose, and audience.
PS1: Students can solve problems based on examples and frameworks provided by
instructor.
PS2: Students identify the type of problem and use a framework to solve the problem.
PS3: Students identify the type of problem and, from multiple problem solving methods,
choose the best method and solves problem.
PS4: Students analyze the situation, explore different outcomes from multiple frameworks,
apply the appropriate solution, analyze the results, and refine the solution.
CT1: Students gather knowledge, apply it to a new situation, and draw reasonable
conclusions in ways that demonstrate comprehension.
CT2: Students determine the value of multiple sources or strategies and select those most
appropriate in a given context.
RANGE OF ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Problem sets, quizzes, exams, laboratory reports, technique (practical) assessments
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
Lecture topics
- Structure and bonding in organic compounds
- Acid/base reactivity of organic molecules
- Alkanes and cycloalkanes (properties and nomenclature)
- Conformational analysis of alkanes and cycloalkanes
- Functional group identification
- Stereochemistry
- Nucleophilic substitution reactions (SN1 and SN2)
- Elimination reactions (E1 and E2)
- Alkene and alkyne nomenclature
- Addition reactions of alkenes and alkynes
- Conjugated systems and their reactivity
- Aromatic systems (nomenclature and reactivity)
- Alcohols, ethers, and sulfur-analogs (nomenclature and reactivity)
- Aldehydes and ketones (nomenclature and reactivity)
- Organometallic compounds
- Carboxylic acids and their derivatives (nomenclature and reactivity)
- Amines (nomenclature and reactivity)
- Applications in carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid chemistry
- Total synthesis
Laboratory experiments
- Distillation
- Extraction and Recrystallization
- Thin Layer Chromatography
- Spectroscopy
- Nucleophilic Substitution: SN1 and SN2
- Elimination: E1 and E2
- Diels-Alder Cycloaddition
- Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Bromination
- Green Oxidation of a Secondary Alcohol
- Grignard Generation and Nucleophilic Attack
- Esterification: Synthesis of Aspirin
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Problem Sets: 10 – 15 %
Quizzes: 10 – 15 %
Exams: 40 – 60 %
Laboratory work: 20 – 30 %
Grades will be based on a set scale:
A: ≥ 85.0%
B: 75.0 – 84.9%
C: 65.0 – 74.9%
D: 60.0 – 64.9%
F: ≤ 59.9%
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING:
This course will require the reading of approximately 600 pages of text from both the lecture and
lab textbooks, distributed evenly over a 16-week period. Please note if your class is not a 16
week class your weekly reading assignment will be increased. Written analysis will be required
in the form of problem sets, quizzes, exams, and both formal and informal laboratory reports.