CH 241 Organic Chemistry 1

Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Introduces the principles of organic chemistry for students majoring in the physical or life sciences. Emphasizes structure, nomenclature, physical properties, and chemical reactivities of organic molecules. Stresses bonding, functional groups, alkanes and cycloalkanes, conformational analysis, stereochemistry, alkenes and alkynes.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 115 (or higher), or completion of WR 090 (or higher); and completion of CH 123 or CH 223; or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Student Learning Outcomes:

Draw structures of organic compounds and predict their shapes and polarities.
Identify the main functional groups of organic chemistry and their role in the simplification of organic chemistry.
Use acid-base theories to evaluate organic reactions and predict their outcomes.
Recognize the relationship between the structure of organic compounds and their subsequent physical and chemical properties.
Evaluate the importance of intermolecular forces and their role in interpreting the physical behavior or organic components.
Describe the structure, properties, nomenclature, synthesis and reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkyl halides and alkynes.
Clarify Sn1, Sn2, E1, and E2 reaction mechanisms using principles of stereochemistry.

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions.
Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner.
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.

Content Outline

Carbon Compounds and Chemical Bonds
- Structural theory
  - Isomerism
  - Tetrahedral shape of methane
  - Formal charge
  - Resonance
  - Polar-covalent bonds
- Quantum mechanics
  - Atomic and molecular orbitals
  - Hybridization schemes
- Shapes of molecules: VSEPR
Some Carbon Compounds
- Hydrocarbons
  - Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes
  - Aromatics
- Functional groups
  - Haloalkanes
  - Alcohols
  - Ethers
  - Amines
  - Aldehydes and Ketones
  - Carboxylic acids, esters and amides
- Acid-base chemistry
  - Bronsted-Lowry theory
  - Lewis theory
Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
- Structure
- Nomenclature
  - Alkanes, haloalkanes and alcohols
  - Cycloalkanes
- Physical properties
- Stereochemistry and conformational analysis
  - Alkanes
  - Cyloalkanes
  - Bicyclic and polycyclic alkanes
- Sources of alkanes
- Reactions of alkanes
  - Halogenation
    - Free radicals
    - Mechanism
  - Combustion
Stereochemistry
- Isomerism
  - Constitutional isomers
  - Stereoisomers
- Enantiomers
  - Chirality
  - (R)-(S) System of nomenclature
  - Fischer projection formulas
  - Resolution
- Stereogenic atoms other than carbon
Chemical Reactivity in Ionic Reactions
- Nucleophilic substitution
  - Reaction rates
  - Transition state
  - Mechanism and stereochemistry of SN2 reaction
  - Mechanism and stereochemistry of SN1 reaction
- Elimination
  - E2
  - E1
- Substitution vs. elimination
- Biological methylation
Alkenes and Alkynes: Properties and Synthesis
- Nomenclature
  - Alkenes and cycloalkenes
  - Alkynes
- Physical properties
- Reactions
  - Hydrogenation
  - Index of hydrogen deficiency
- Synthesis
  - Dehydrohalogenation
  - Dehydration
  - Debromination of vicinal dibromides
- Chemistry of terminal acetylenes