Chem 309 First Semester Organic Chemistry Laboratory for Chemistry Majors
Leslie S. Jimenez
Chem 309 Course Structure and Philosophy
Chem 309 seeks to introduce students to the most important macroscale techniques used in an
organic chemistry lab, and to develop independent capabilities for experimental design, problem
solving, spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis of organic compounds, and the interpretation and
analysis of data. During the semester, students progress from learning to perform simple separations by
precipitation and filtration in the first week, to multitasking situations by the end of the semester where
they are expected to perform synthetic procedures, interpret product ratios in terms of mechanistic
hypotheses, and independently analyze and identify an unknown by spectroscopic methods.
The major techniques that are covered include extraction, precipitation, filtration, crystallization,
simple and fractional distillation, heating under reflux, hands-on use of IR and NMR spectrometers, gasliquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and analysis (GC-MS), thin-layer
chromatography (TLC) and preparative column chromatography on silica gel.
Despite the challenging nature of some of the labs, most students will succeed in completing all
of the procedures successfully, and can expect to obtain grades of A, B+ or B. Typically, only a few C+
and C grades are awarded. No student who really tries in this course is likely to be given a D or F grade.
Chem 309 versus Chem 311
Chem 309 is strongly recommended over chem 311 for chemistry majors. Chem. 311 is only
accepted as a substitute if authorized by the director of the undergraduate program in chemistry (Prof.
John Taylor). Chem 309 is also strongly recommended by the respective home departments of
biochemistry and chemical engineering majors. In each case, this recommendation is due to Chem 309
being regarded as providing a more thorough training in lab methods than Chem 311.
Chemistry majors are all required to take the second-semester organic chemistry lab course,
Chem 310. (Students majoring in other subjects do not normally take this course, unless they have a
strong interest.) I have found that students who have not taken Chem 309 (those taking Chem 311 or
transfer students) often have difficulty in Chem 310 initially, although they usually adapt to it in a few
weeks. I think there are two main reasons that Chem 311 offers a poor preparation for Chem 310: first,
the labs all use microchemistry techniques, which does not allow students to develop the skills
associated with handling reactions, separations and purifications on a gram scale, as is normal for a
typical research lab; second, the Chem 311 lab experiments rarely challenge the students to go beyond
following explicit instructions to develop independent capabilities. In contrast, Chem 309 emphasizes
gram-scale techniques such as those used in a typical research lab, and encourages the development of
independent thinking and independent operation of equipment and instrumentation. Clearly, any student
who is or might be seriously interested in a career associated with organic chemistry should choose
Chem 309 over Chem 311. On the other hand, organic chemistry is not for everyone, and Chem 311
might be a better choice for someone with no interest in these methods, who just wants to get through
this course requirement for their major.
Catalog descriptions
01:160:309-310 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2.5,2.5) Develops proficiency in preparation
and manipulation. Hands-on use of modern spectroscopic and chromatographic
instrumentation (FT-NMR, FT-IR, GC, GCMS).
Lab. fee required.
Lec. 1 hr., lab. 4.5 hrs. Prerequisite for 309: 01:160:171. Pre- or corequisite for 309:
01:160:308 or 316. Prerequisite for 310: 01:160:309 or 311, and 308 or 316. The sequence
01:160:311, 310 is permissible. Open only to students majoring in chemistry,
biochemistry, and chemical engineering, or by permission of instructor.
01:160:311 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) Develops facility in both preparation and
manipulation and applies chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques to solutions of
problems.
Lab. fee required.
Lec. 1 hr., lab. 4.5 hrs. Prerequisites: 01:160:171 and 307