CHEM 240: Survey of Organic Chemistry
at North Dakota State University
Instructor:
Web Page:
Lecture:
Gregory Cook
office: Ladd 104G
phone: 231-7413
email: gregory.cook@ndsu.edu
office hours: T, Th 1:45-2:45 and by appointment
http://cook.chem.ndsu.nodak.edu/chem240
T, Th 12:30 - 1:45 pmn, Ladd 107
Required Text: “Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry” 7th edition, John McMurry + OWL/ebook
Optional: “Solutions Manual for Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry” 7th edition - highly recommended, a molecular modeling set
On-Line Homework: OWL (more details coming soon)
Introduction: This course is designed to introduce you to the fascinating field of organic chemistry and provide context for careers in
medicine and related fields. In its simplest definition, organic chemistry is the chemistry of carbon compounds. In this course you
will discover what makes the chemistry of carbon compounds unique from other branches of chemistry. You will learn to
appreciate structure and bonding and how that relates to chemical reactivity. You will learn how molecules with various
functionality are prepared and how they react. With a foundation of structure, reactivity and their correlations you will also
discover the importance of organic chemistry in every day life including biology, medicine, materials, food and agriculture.
Objectives: By the end of this course, students should be able to communicate fundamental organic chemistry. This includes being
able to understand structural representations, functional groups and reactivity, 3-dimensional structure and stereochemistry, the
terminology associated with organic chemistry, and the importance of how organic chemistry is important in modern society.
Grading: Grading will be based on three hourly mid-term exams (100 pts each, 60%), a comprehensive final exam (150 pts, 30%) and
homework (scaled to 50 pts, 10%). The total of five 21 pt quizzes given in class may replace your lowest mid-term exam score.
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
A 85-100%
B 75-84%
C 60-74%
D 45-59%
F <45%
Exams: Three hourly exams and a comprehensive final exam will be given on the dates specified in the attached schedule. There will
be no make-up exams without prior approval of the instructor and only for official university sanctioned absences or emergencies.
If you must miss an exam due to a scheduled university function (athletic event, etc.), the instructor must be notified at least one
week before the exam date. An alternative exam will only be given prior to the scheduled exam date. No make up exams will be
given after a scheduled exam date. Extraordinary circumstances (death, hospitalization, etc.) will be evaluated on a case by case
basis. Exams will be largely multiple choice using scantron sheets but may be supplemented with some short answer and
graphical answer (structure drawing) problems. Please note: Hats, Cell Phones, Calculators and PDA’s or any other device
capable of storing electronic notes are prohibited during examinations. Please bring a picture ID to the exam.
Quizzes: Six short quizzes (21 points each) will be given throughout the semester. These quizzes will be unannounced and can occur
at any time. They are not directly added to your grade total for this course, however, they can be beneficial. Quizzes can only help
your grade, not hurt it. The best 5 quizzes out of the 6 will be totaled. This total will replace your lowest mid-term exam score if it
is higher. Under no circumstances will there be any makeup quizzes. It is in your best interest to attend class and take all quizzes.
Even if the points will not help your grade, it is a good exercise to practice organic problems. Quiz answers will be posted on the
class web page. All quizzes will be multiple choice and computer scored. You may keep the quizzes, but scantron answer sheets
are not returned.
Homework: This course will use the on-line homework system from Cengage called OWL. Homework will be assigned for each
chapter. The total points earned doing homework will be factored as 10% of your semester grade. More information about the
homework will be provided as we get the on-line system set up. You should have received an access code for the on-line OWL
and ebook with the purchase of your textbook.
Learning Tips: Organic chemistry is not hard, but it does take a lot of hard independent work. The most important thing you can do to
be successful in this class is to attend every class, stay current and keep up. Unfortunately, Organic Chemistry is a broad field
with lots of new concepts for you to learn. The material comes very fast and there’s really not much I can do other than try to
explain the material in a simple and understandable fashion. It just isn’t possible to cram for organic chemistry on the night before
Chem 240 syllabus 8/18/2014!
page 1!
fall 2014
an exam. Believe me when I tell you that studying an hour or two everyday will be much better than studying for 12 hours on a
weekend. It is not easy to absorb all the material in one sitting, and a daily dose will make comprehension much easier. It will take
effort on your part to learn organic chemistry.
Learning organic chemistry is very much like learning a foreign language. You need to learn the vocabulary in terms of names,
structures, and types of functional groups. You also need to learn the rules of grammar. For example, how an alcohol will react
with a halide, etc. Once you learn certain rules, they can be applied to many different reactions. Thus you can construct chemical
sentences. There will be a certain amount of memorization required, however, because of the vastness of the subject, learning
general trends and rules will be most helpful. Here are some suggestions to help you be successful: Read the chapter ahead before
coming to class; Ask questions; Rewrite your notes after every class; Do problems as many times as necessary to understand the
material; Use the study guide but try to answer problems before looking up the answers first; Use flash cards to help learn
structures, names and reactions; Find a friend or form a study group; Buy a set of molecular models; Utilize TA office hours.
Special Needs: All students have the right to an environment that is conducive for learning. Any students who need special
accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon
as possible.
Academic Responsibility: It is assumed that students at NDSU have the integrity to complete examinations on their own. I will
provide an examination environment that discourages temptation otherwise. Any student who is found to have acted dishonestly
on an exam will receive an F for that exam or depending on the circumstances, an F for the course. A second infraction will result
in an automatic F for the course. Please note that a single infraction of academic responsibility could be grounds for expulsion
from the university. The policy applied is that of the Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct as outlined in NDSU
University Senate Policy, Section 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct (http://www.ndsu.edu/academichonesty)
Tentative Class Schedule (subject to change)
Chapter 1
Structure and Bonding; Acids and Bases
Aug 26, 28
Chapter 2
Alkanes: The Nature of Organic Compounds
Sep 2, 4, 9
Chapter 3
Alkenes and Alkynes: The Nature of Organic Reactions
Sep 11, 16, 18
Exam 1
Tuesday, Sep 23 - Chapters 1-3
Chapter 4
Reactions of Alkenes and Alkynes
Sep 25, 30, Oct 2
Chapter 5
Aromatic Compounds
Oct 7, 9
Chapter 6
Stereochemistry
Oct 14, 17, 21
Exam 2
Tuesday, Oct 21 - Chapters 4-6
Chapter 7
Organohalides: Nucleophilic Substitutions and Eliminations
Oct 23, 28, 30
Chapter 8
Alcohols, Phenols, Ethers, and their Sulfur Analogs
Nov 4, 6
Chapter 9
Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition Reactions
Nov 13, 18, 20
Exam 3
Tuesday, Nov 25 - Chapters 7-9
Chapter 10
Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives: Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution Reactions
Dec 2, 4
Chapter 12
Amines
Dec 9
Overview of Biomolecules
Dec 11
Chapter 14-16
Final Exam
Holidays:
Thursday, Dec 18 - 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Nov 11 - Veteran’s Day; Nov 27 - Thanksgiving
Chem 240 syllabus 8/18/2014!
page 2!
fall 2014