CHEM 226
Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Spring 2012
Instructor: Dr. Jiba Raj Acharya
Office: 133 Beauregard Hall
Phone:
e-mail: jibaraj.acharya@nicholls.edu
985-448-4167
Course Meeting: Tuesday and Thursday 1:30 pm-4.20 pm
Room: Beauregard Hall 244
Office Hours: Posted on the blackboard. However, whenever, l am in the office you are welcome to
come in and ask questions.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: CHEM 226. Organic Chemistry Laboratory. 2-0-6. Prerequisite: CHEM
110. Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHEM 222. An introduction to the study of the properties and
preparation of organic compounds. (40.0504)
PREREQUISITES/COREQUISITE: CHEM 110, CHEM 222
REQUIRED TEXTS AND OTHER MATERIALS:
1. James Zubrick, The Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual, A Student’s Guide to Techniques
2. Safety Goggles—Approved by instructor available in Bookstore
3. Notebook—bound, duplicating notebook with tear out sheets. Available in Bookstore
4. Laboratory Procedures available on Blackboard (be sure they are printed out before class).
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS: Organic journal articles as assigned.
COURSE GOALS: The student will develop an understanding of and employ proper techniques used in
organic synthesis, data collection, product analysis, and documentation. The student will also develop
skills in chemical literature search and critical analysis of relevant chemical literature.
STUDENT OUTCOME OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this course the student will be able to
 Synthesize various organic compounds
 Identify organic compounds using infra-red spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography, gas
chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance
 Identify organic compounds using traditional wet chemistry techniques.
 Prepare scientific reports utilizing chemical journal articles
 Discuss critical analyses of chemical journal articles
COURSE CONTENT: Schedule of Experiments (Reading assignments from Zubrick in parentheses.)
Day
18 January
Experiment
Check In/Safety
Day
24
January
25 January
Purifying Acetanilide by
Recrystallization.
Theory on recrystallization
30
January
Experiment
Melting Point Determination.
Identifying Unknowns by melting
point
Extraction and Isolation of Natural
Products: Extracting Caffeine from
Tea
Theory on extraction techniques
1
1 February
8 February
Steam distillation: Isolation of
(R)-(+)-Limonene from Orange
Peel. Students should bring two
oranges for this experiment
Theory on distillation
Solventless Aldol Condensation
6
February
Bromination of an Alkene:
Greener Bromination of E-Stilbene
Theory on Green Chemistry
13
February
Preparation and Distillation of
cyclohexene. Dehydration of
cyclohexanol
Theory on Green Chemistry
15 February
27 February
Friedel-Crafts Acetylation of
Ferrocene
TLC
20-22
February
Friedel-Crafts Acetylation of
Ferrocene
TLC
29
February
5 March
Mardi Gras Holiday
No class
Electrophilic Aromatic Iodination of
Vanilline.
7 March
Biosynthesis of Ethanol from
Molasses. Start the experiment
Review of Midterm Exam
Lecture on IR ( Infrared
spectroscopy)
7 March
12 March
Biosynthesis of Ethanol from
Molasses. Simple distillation of
ethanol
Midterm Exam
Theory on boiling point, Renoults
Law and fractional distillation and
azeotrope
14 March
21 March
Biosynthesis of Ethanol from
Molasses. Finish the
experiment by Fractional
distillation of ethanol
Lecture on IR ( Infrared
spectroscopy)
19 March
Experiment A:
Reductions Reactions of
3-Nitroacetophenone
26 March
Lecture on NMR 1H, 13 C
Start experiment: Solid-Phase
Photochemistry
Lecture on IR ( Infrared
spectroscopy)
Experiment B:
Reductions Reactions of
3-Nitroacetophenone
Solid-Phase Photochemistry. Rotate
the flask to expose the opposite side.
2
28 March
IR Lab: Analyzing the Products
of Reductive Reactions of
3-Nitroacetophenone for
2 April
experiments A and B
Solid-Phase Photochemistry.
Workup and purification
Lecture on NMR 1H, 13 C
4 April
Lecture on NMR 1H, 13 C
9 April
Spring vacation
No class
Report due on Friedel Craft
Acetylation of Ferrocene
11 April
16 April
Spring vacation
No class
18 April
Start: Biodiesel synthesis
experiment
23 April
Solving IR and NMR 1H, 13 C
problems
25 April
Review of final exam
And Checkout
Assignment due: IR and NMR
assignment
4 May
Lecture on NMR 1H, 13 C
Assignment given: IR and NMR 1H,
13 C
Finish: Biodiesel synthesis
experiment
Analyzing IR of biodiesel
Solving problems IR and NMR 1H,
13C
Final Exam
*Formal report on Friedel Craft Acetylation of Ferrocene
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
All students will perform all experiments using proper safety practices.
Prelabs: 10 points/experiment
Lab Report: 20 points/experiment
15 experiments
300 points
Formal report: 50 points/experiment
1 experiment
50 points
Post Labs Questions: 10 points/experiment
1H
NMR, 13C NMR and IR assignment
100 points
Midterm Exam:
120 points
Final Exam:
120 points
Prelabs. Due before beginning the experiment. The purpose of prelabs is to prepare you for the
experiment. Make sure you read and understand the lab. I will post the prelab questions ahead of time
before the experiment.
You may not begin the experiment until the prelab section is completed and checked by instructor.
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POST LAB QUESTIONS: I will post on the blackboard the postlab questions. The purpose of postlab
questions is to see whether you understood the techniques you performed during the experiment.
LAB REPORT
NOTEBOOK
Notebooks must be written legibly to avoid loss of points.
 TITLE
 DATE
 PURPOSE Describe what is expected of the laboratory. This should be only one or two sentences, in
your own words--do not copy from the manuals.
 PROCEDURE A flow diagram is best. Abbreviated version of what you will be doing. Read the lab and
be familiar with what will be happening. Summarize the steps.

 DATA TABLE Listing of all of the reagents and solvents used in the experiment. List in table form
only.
reagent or
product
molecular
weight
mass used moles used
or
or
produced
produced
melting
point
boiling
point
density
solubility in
solvents used.

CHEMICAL EQUATIONS Write all of the major chemical reactions and side reactions for the
experiment. Include the amounts called for in the experiment (which is the limiting reagent?) and the
theoretical yield. Not necessary for the distillation, melting point, or crystallization experiments.

OBSERVATIONS All data and everything that occurs in lab as it happens. Colors, smells, amounts used,
mixing, temperatures, apparatus used, time for reaction, spills if they occur etc.
appropriate, use tables, graphs, equations, etc.
Draw pictures if
Record details such as Instrument name and maker,
model number and serial number, chemical manufacturer, grade, lot number, expiration date, etc.
This section cannot be too long. Spectra are also to be included with this section. Due at the end of
lab.


CALCULATIONS Theoretical yield, Percent Yield, Atom Economy, Economical Analysis
CONCLUSION Write the final conclusion
FORMAL REPORT : You will write a formal report on Friedel Craft Acetylation one lab. This report
should be written in the form of a scientific journal.
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
A straight percentage is used to determine grade.
A = 90%
B = 80%
C = 65%
D = 55%
MAKE-UP POLICY:
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No make-ups are allowed for the experimental or discussion portion of the class. Late laboratory reports
will be deducted 5 points per day (including weekends).
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY: Any student found cheating, including plagiarism, will be subject to the
penalties as stated in the Student Code of Conduct handbook; including but not limited to a score of zero
on exam, review or report, expulsion from the class or expulsion from the University.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance is mandatory. This is a laboratory class. You must be present to complete the requirements.
If you miss one (1) laboratory with an excused absence I will recalculate grade. Unexcused absences
result in a zero for that experiment.
SEMESTER WITHDRAWALS: The last day to withdraw from the class with a “W” is 4th April 2012.
ACADEMIC DISABILITIES POLICY: If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will
need to register with the Office of Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations.
The Office of Disability Services is located in Peltier Hall, Room 100-A. The phone number is (985)
448-4430 (TDD 449-7002).
ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES. The proper procedure for filing grade appeals or grievances related to
academic matters is listed in Section 5 of the Code of Student Conduct and at he following link:
http://www.nicholls.edu/documents/student_life/code_of_conduct.pdf .
CONTINUED LEARNING FOLLOWING AN EXTREME EMERGENCY:
In order to make continued learning possible following an extreme emergency, students are responsible
for:
 reading regular emergency notifications on the NSU website;
 knowing their Blackboard (or designated system) student login and password;
 knowing how to use and access Blackboard (or university designated electronic delivery system);
 being familiar with emergency guidelines;
 evacuating textbooks and other course materials;
 contacting faculty regarding their intentions for completing the course.

Faculty are responsible for:
 their development in the use of the Blackboard (or designated) software;
 having a plan for continuing their courses using only Blackboard and email;
 continuing their course in whatever way suits the completion of the course best, and being creative
in the continuation of these courses;
 making adjustments or compensations to a student's progress in special programs with labs,
clinical sequences or the like only in the immediate semester following the emergency.
CLASS DISRUPTIONS: The use of cellular phones, pagers or any other electronic personal devices is
prohibited in class. Any infractions will result in class being dismissed and experiments considered over.
This includes but not limited to
 using your phone as timer—get a watch or I will supply stopwatches if needed,
 going to the hallway while a experiment is ongoing to check on texts.
 texting or calling or receiving incoming calls or texts
 receiving alerts regarding incoming texts or calls
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
using phone as alarm system.
Note: This is not a binding contract. This syllabus is subject to change throughout the course.
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