CEM 251 Organic Chemistry I Michigan State University, Fall 2008 ...

CEM 251 Organic Chemistry I
Michigan State University, Fall 2008
Class Meetings
Instructor: Prof. Xuefei Huang
Course Coordinator: Ms. Nancy Lavrik
Office: 425A chemistry
TR 10:20 - 11:40 am (138 chemistry)
Email: lavrik@chemistry.msu.edu
Please send emails to Prof. Huang regarding the course through
Ms. Nancy Lavrik (Be sure to include CEM251 and your section
number in the subject line)
Office hours: T 1:00 – 2:00 pm or by appointment
Textbook: John McMurry, Organic Chemistry, 7 th Edition, Thomson Brooks/Cole
Supplements:
1) John McMurry, Study Guide and Solutions Manual, 7 th Edition, Thomson Brooks/Cole
2) Online Web-based Learning (OWL)
Molecular models (optional) can help you visualize molecules in three dimensions. Sets may be purchased at the
bookstores. Models can be used during exams.
Course web site: http://www.chemistry.msu.edu/courses/cem251
Syllabus, any announcements, practice problems, and other information are available at the website.
Course Content: Chemistry 251 is the first part of a two semester sequence covering the most common organic
reactions involving certain types of organic compounds. Examples of biological and industrial processes involving
organic chemistry will be discussed. It will be necessary for you to learn how to name organic compounds, to draw
and understand their structures in 2- and 3-dimensions, and to learn how chemical structure and chemical reactivity
(reactions) are interrelated.
Recitations: In signing up for this course, you have enrolled in a lecture and a recitation section. Recitation time will
be devoted to working problems. Lecture exams and quizzes will be returned and reviewed during recitation, and
grade records will be kept by the section instructor. You must write your TA's name and section number on every
exam or quiz to be sure your grades are properly recorded.
*** Recitations begin September 2 nd , 2008***
How Much Should You Study: Organic chemistry in many ways resembles a new language and you cannot avoid
quite a bit of memorizing (vocabulary). It is a very intensive course requiring much practice. A conservative estimate
for study time is about 5 hours per each lecture, beginning from day one. It is important to keep up with the lectures,
as they often refer to previously discussed material. It is very easy to fall behind and very difficult to catch up if you
do. It is highly recommended that you read the corresponding chapter prior to the lecture!
Academic Honesty: University policies on integrity of scholarship and grades will be strictly enforced. It is the
responsibility of the students to ensure that they are familiar with these policies. Any student found violating these
university policies will receive a failing grade. There are NO exceptions. In addition, a letter describing the incident
will be sent to the Chair of the Chemistry Department and to the Dean of the student's college.
Special Assistance: Any students requiring special assistance must identify themselves to the instructor at the
beginning of the semester.

Lecture and Examination Schedule:
Dates Chapters Subjects
August 26, 28 1,2 Structure and Bonding | Acids & Bases
Sept. 2,4 3 Organic Compounds: Alkanes & Stereochemistry
Sept. 9, 11 4 Organic Compounds: Cycloalkanes &
Stereochemistry
Sept 16, 18 5 Overview of Organic Reactions
(Tuesday Sept 16-Quiz 1: Chap 1,2,3,4)
Sept. 23, 25 6 Alkenes: Structure & Reactivity
Sept. 30, Oct. 2 7 Alkenes: Reactions & Synthesis
Oct. 7 Tuesday (1st EXAM) 1-7
Oct. 9 8 Alkynes
Oct. 14, 16 9 Stereochemistry
Oct. 21 10 Organohalides
Oct. 23, 28, 30 11 Reactions of Organohalides (Alkyl halides)
(Thursday Oct 23rd-Quiz 2: Chap 8, 9, 10)
Nov. 4, 6 14 Conjugated compounds and UV spectroscopy
Nov. 11, 13 12 Structure Determination: MS, IR
Nov. 18 Tuesday (2nd EXAM) 8-12, 14
Nov. 20, 25, Dec. 2 13 Structure Determination NMR
Dec. 4
Review
(Thursday Dec 4-Quiz 3: Chap 13)
(FINAL EXAM)
Comprehensive
Date: December 11
Location: (To be announced)
8:00-10:00 pm
Please turn off all cell phones during lectures and exams. No electronic devices will be needed or
allowed during exams.
Quiz Date: Sept. 16 th , Oct. 23 rd , Dec. 4 th
Exam Date: Oct. 7 th , Nov. 18 th
Final Exam Date: Dec. 11 th , 8:00-10:00 pm

Grades: Your grade in this course will come from the sum of 3 quizzes, 2 hourly exams, and the final exam. Extra
credit opportunities are available.
3 Quizzes 3 x 25 = 75 points
2 Hourly Exams 2 x 100 = 200 points
Final Exam
Total
Bonus points
1 x 200 = 200 points
475 points
Maximum 50 points
Online Web-Based Learning (OWL) Bonus Points: (40 points) After we finish each chapter in lecture,
electronically-graded homework OWL will be assigned online for you to work. You will need to purchase an access
code for OWL. For every three questions answered correctly on OWL, you will receive one bonus point. The total
maximum number of points one can receive from OWL is 40.
To access OWL:
1. Go to http://owl.cengage.com/
2. Click on the link for login or registration.
3. Choose the textbook: Organic Chemistry, 7th Edition; McMurry
4. Choose the institution: Michigan State University - East Lansing, Michigan
5. Click on the blue arrow next to the department, Chemistry Department, on the User Login and Student Registration:
Select Department page.
6. On the OWL User Login page, fill in your login (please use your last name as login name) and password. This is the
correct page to bookmark for future use.
Recitation Attendance Bonus Points: (10 points) You can receive a bonus point for each FULL recitation
attended. You will sign an attendance sheet at the end of each recitation. The maximum recitation attendance number
of bonus points one can receive is 10.
Your course grade can be ESTIMATED from the following scale:
Total Points Earned
Grade
≥ 418 4.0
380 – 417 3.5
342 – 379 3.0
305 – 341 2.5
275 – 304 2.0
250 – 274 1.5
228 – 249 1.0
< 227 0.0
There will be no makeups for quizzes and lecture exams. If you have a legitimate reason to miss a lecture
exam, we may prorate your final exam score (scale to 300 points).
Final Exam: The final (200 points) is comprehensive. A picture ID must be presented in order to take the final.
University rules stipulate that a course grade of 0.0 is given to students who do not take the final exam. Final exams
will be kept on file until the middle of the following semester and then destroyed. If you wish to check your final exam
score see cemscores: http://cemscores.msu.edu
Posting of quiz/exam scores: After the quiz/exam has been graded and recorded, you can check the cemscores site
for your grade: http://cemscores.msu.edu
To access cemscores throughout the semester, you can bookmark the link.
The cemscores link will be activated after the posting of Quiz 1 grades.

Policy on Returning Exams and Regrading:
a) Exams and Quizzes will be returned only during a regularly scheduled recitation meeting.
b) Regrade requests directed at the instructor must be written on the exam or quiz and signed by you and your TA at
recitation. The entire test will be regraded by me.
c) No exam which has left the recitation room in possession of the student will be considered for regrading.
d) If you miss your own recitation, you may make arrangements with your TA to pick up your test in another one of
his/her regularly scheduled sections.
e) Students are not to enter research labs in search of TAs, since potentially dangerous chemicals and equipments
are always present in the Chemistry Building.
Problem Sets
Problems at the end of each chapter are assigned. They will not be collected and graded. However, it is highly
recommended that you attempt the problems to gauge your understanding of the material and test your readiness for the
exams. Do not look at the solutions manual too quickly without trying your best to solve the problems. Remember, if
you are not able to solve the problems, it means that you have not understood the subject matter as well as you think
you do. Go back and read the notes and the textbook, do not just look up the answer! It is much more beneficial for
you to struggle through the problem and learn, as opposed to looking it up in the solutions manual.
Homework Problems:
ALL IN-TEXT PROBLEMS ARE RECOMMENDED; ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE ASSIGNED BELOW:
Chapter 1 1.21 - 1.26, 1.28 – 1.32, 1.34, 1.35, 1.42
Chapter 2 2.23 - 2.37, 2.32 – 2.35, 2.37 – 2.39, 2.43 – 2.45, 2.52
Chapter 3 3.21 – 3.24, 3.27 – 3.29, 3.34, 3.39, 3.40, 3.42, 3.52
Chapter 4 4.21 – 4.28, 4.32, 4.35 – 4.37, 4.43, 4.49
Chapter 5 5.20, 5.22, 5.23, 5.30, 5.31, 5.37, 5.39, 5.40
Chapter 6 6.23 – 6.26, 6.29, 6.39, 6.40, 6.45, 6.46, 6.51
Chapter 7 7.24 – 7.27, 7.35, 7.41 – 7.43
Chapter 8 8.18, 8.19, 8.21, 8.25, 8.26, 8.28, 8.31, 8.32, 8.33, 8.37, 8.41
Chapter 9 9.31, 9.33, 9.37, 9.39, 9.42, 9.44, 9.45, 9.50, 9.55, 9.58, 9.66, 9.79
Chapter 10 10.17 thru 10.24, 10.29, 10.31 thru 10.37, 10.39, 10.42
Chapter 11 11.25 thru 11.37, 11.39, 11.40, 11.47 - 11.49
Chapter 12 12.18, 12.25, 12.27 – 12.28, 12.31, 12.32 - 12.36, 12.43
Chapter 13 13.31 thru 13.34, 13.37, 13.38, 13.40, 13.42, 13.43, 13.48, 13.49 thru 13.54,
13.57.
Chapter 14 14.16, 14.17, 14.20 thru 14.27, 14.32, 14.33, 14.37, 14.40, 14.45