Syllabus 26200

City College of New York

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

CHEM 26200: Organic Chemistry Lab I

Prerequisite:               Chem 10401 and Chem 26100.  Co-requisite: Chem 26300

Hours/Credits:             4 hours per week, 2 cr.

Lecture                        Once a week, 50 min

Laboratory                   Once a week, 2 hr 50 min

Laboratory Manual      Chemical Education Resources: Organic Chemistry Laboratory-CHEM 26200 Experiments (ISBN: 978-0-495-30987-1, available from the Bookstore)

Course Objectives: This course is stressing the techniques involved in the preparation, isolation, purification and analysis of carbon compounds (for non-chemistry majors).

Topics Covered: Laboratory and analytical techniques that are taught in this course include: simple and fractional distillation; extraction; recrystallization and melting point measurement; qualitative identification of alkenes; chromatography techniques namely: gas chromatography, thin layer chromatography, liquid chromatography; IR spectroscopy.  Synthetic experiments that are performed are S_N2 reaction, E1 reaction, electrophilic addition, electrophilic aromatic substitution, and condensation reaction (Aldol).

Lecture             Theoretical material relevant to the experiments will be discussed in the lecture and this can supplement information pertaining to the experiment itself.  Each experiment in the lab manual explains background information pertinent to that experiment.  In few cases the information pertaining to the experiment will be provided in the lecture and/or laboratory since the lab manual does not contain this.  Students are strongly encouraged to study this information prior to the lectures.

Laboratory Schedule The attached schedule shows the experiments that will be performed and dates for the exams.

Grading             There are 13 experiments, some relate to techniques, some to reactions and mechanisms, and some are aimed at synthesis of compounds.  Of the 13 experiments, the best 12 will be used in computing the final grade.

Laboratory reports for each experiment must be handed in no later than one week after completion of that experiment.

Student laboratory performance will be evaluated by the TA (as well as professor) and is worth a total of 5 points. That includes your work skill, punctuality and attendance in both lecture and lab. A summary of the points assigned to each portion of the course is shown below. 

Experiments 13 in all, best 12/13 x 10 points each = 120 pts = 50%

Midterm exam                                                                        = 20 %

Final exam (comprehensive)                                                = 25 %

TA/instructor evaluation                                                         =   5 %

TOTAL                                                                                    = 100%

There are no makeup labs and no makeup exams.  Absence without a strong, verifiable, documented reason will result in zero points for the material missed.  Lab reports not submitted in a timely manner MAY also result in zero points  for that exercise.

Safety issues     You must wear lab goggles at all times in the lab.  Do not wear shorts or short skirts without a lab coat; this is for your safety!  Similarly, open shoes and slippers should not be worn.  YOUR workplace should be CLEAN always!

Breakage           Students must be aware of the fact that they will be charged for the replacement cost of any equipment that they break during the lab course.  Some of the glassware is especially expensive and so you are urged to work carefully at all times.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions please contact your teaching assistant or the instructor.

Course Learning Outcomes for Chem 26200

1. To understand the physical principles underlying the techniques used for purification of compounds, separation of reaction mixtures, monitoring reactions and analyzing reaction products in organic chemistry lab.
2. Understand the mechanistic basis of synthetic experiments.
3. To learn and execute several fundamental organic laboratory techniques used.
4. To perform fundamental organic reactions.
5. To learn the safety precautions required in an organic lab.
6. To learn the calculations associated with synthetic organic experiments.
7. To learn how to make observations, collect data and write a lab report for an organic synthesis experiment.

Academic Integrity: The CCNY policy on academic integrity will be followed. A document is posted on the CCNY website (CUNY policy on academic integrity: www1.ccny.cuny.edu/facultystaff/provost/upload/academicintegrity.pdf - 2007-01-19). Make sure you have read the details regarding plagiarism and cheating, in case you are not clear about the rules of the college. Cases where academic integrity is compromised will be prosecuted according to these rules.

LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

Laboratory Report:

All your lab work should be recorded in a lab notebook and not on scraps of paper. Data recorded in the notebook must be properly dated, and neatly written.  Based on this information, you will generate a laboratory report that needs to be submitted on time for grading. You are to submit hardcopy type-written reports. Handwritten reports will not be accepted. Your TAs will provide the rubric tailored to each experiment. A general format for a synthesis-type laboratory report is provided below (total point is 10 for each lab). 

Information about reagents and chemicals

            To complete items 5 and 6 of the prelab report you will need information on reagents listed in the lab procedure.  Information for these chemicals can be obtained from a number of sources.  The most common resource for this information is the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, the Material Safety Data Sheets or the Aldrich catalog.  Several sources can be found in the library.  There are also a number of sources for this information online. A page listing these sources has been assembled by the campus science librarian at the URL: 

http://resources.ccny.cuny.edu/resources/subject.jsp?sub_id=62, or http://www.fishersci.com, or http://physchem.ox.ac.uk:80/MSDS/.