CHEM 341: Organic Chemistry I - Cook Group

CHEM 341: Organic Chemistry I
at North Dakota State University
Instructor: Gregory Cook
office: Ladd 104G
phone: 231-7413
email: gregory.cook@ndsu.edu
office hours: T, Th 10:30 am - 12:00 noon and by appointment
Web Page: http://cook.chem.ndsu.nodak.edu/chem341
Lecture: M, W, F 1:00 - 1:50 pmn, Ladd 107
Required Text: “Organic Chemistry” 8th edition, Francis A. Cary and Robert M. Giuliano
Optional: “Solutions Manual for Organic Chemistry” 8th edition - highly recommended
a molecular modeling set
On-Line Homework: McGraw-Hill Connect (available free - more details coming soon)
Introduction: This course is designed to introduce you to the fascinating field of organic chemistry. 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. These include alkanes, alkenes,
alkynes, alkyl halides, alcohols and aromatic compounds. 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.
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

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 McGraw-Hill called connect /
LearnSmart. 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.
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 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 instructor, SI and 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)
Chem 341 syllabus 1/5/12! page 2! spring 2012

Course Outline
Tentative Class Schedule
(subject to change)
Chapter 1 Structure Determines Properties Jan 11, 14, 18, 20
Chapter 2 Alkanes and Cycloalkanes: Introduction to Hydrocarbons Jan 23, 25, 27, 30
Chapter 3
Alkanes and Cycloalkanes: Conformations and cis-trans
Stereoisomers
Feb 1, 3, 6, 8
Exam 1 Friday, Feb 10 - Chapters 1-3
Chapter 4 Alcohols and Alkyl Halides Feb 13, 15, 17
Chapter 5 Structure and Preparation of Alkenes: Elimination Reactions Feb 22, 24, 27, 29
Chapter 6 Addition Reactions of Alkenes Mar 2, 5, 7
Exam 2 Friday, Mar 9 - Chapters 4-6
Chapter 7 Stereochemistry Mar 19, 21, 23, 26
Chapter 8 Nucleophilic Substitution Mar 28, 30, Apr 2, 4
Chapter 9 Alkynes Apr 11, 13
Exam 3 Monday, April 16
Chapter 10 Conjugation in Alkadienes and Allylic Systems Apr 18, 20
Chapter 11 Arenes and Aromaticity Apr 23, 25, 27
Chapter 12
Reactions of Arenes: Electrophilic and Nucleophilic Aromatic
Substitution
Apr 30, May 2, 4
Final Exam Thursday, May 10 - 10:30 am - 12:30 pm - 50% chapters 1-9,
50% chapters 10-12
Holidays: Jan 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Exam Dates: Fri, Feb 10
Feb 20 - President’s Day Fri, Mar 9
Mar 12-16 - Spring Break Mon, Apr 16
Apr 6, 9 - Spring Holiday
Thu, May 10 final exam
Chem 341 syllabus 1/5/12! page 3! spring 2012