CHEMISTRY 235:  Introduction to Organic Synthesis Laboratory

Spring 2003, Tuesday/Thursday                RBH 217 1:40pm and 242 2:40-4:40pm

 

Dr. Herman Holt Jr.

Office:  RH 231, 232-5167 

Lab:  RH 247, 232-5045

            Email: hholt@bulldog.unca.edu

 

Office Hours:  Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30-11:30am

 

The purpose of office hours is to provide you the opportunity to discuss chemical concepts outside of class.  Class time does not necessarily offer the time to answer all questions.  It is wise to take advantage of this opportunity.  While the instructor has set office hours, you may make arrangements to discuss course material at other times. 

 

Co-requisites:

     The lab is a co-requisite with Chemistry 235 lecture.

 

Required Text:

     James W. Zubrick, The Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual, 5th ed., Wiley Publishing

 

Required Materials:

     A laboratory notebook with permanent pages is required for this course.  You will need your notebook at the very first laboratory meeting and at every subsequent meeting.  You will not be permitted to work in the laboratory without your notebook.

 

     Safety glasses or goggles are required at all times when in the laboratory.  This rule applies even if you are not specifically working at the time. 

 

Objectives:

      Upon completion of Chemistry 235 Lab, students should

 

            1.  have become proficient in performing fundamental organic chemistry laboratory

operations and techniques

 

            2.  have an understanding of research methods and becoming a better problem solver.

 

            3.  have learned special techniques for handling, manipulating, and observing reactions

with small quantities of organic chemicals.

 

            4.  be able to use spectroscopic methods, IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR to characterize and

identify organic compounds. 

 

5.  have learned functional group chemistry involved in the qualitative analysis of organic

acids, amines, phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, halocarbons and

aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbons.

             6.  have gained an appreciation for and learned the chemical strategies involved in designing and performing a simple and complex multi-step syntheses.

 

            7.  be able to discuss the chemistry you performed and your results in the form of a lab detailed lab report in ACS format.

 

Advanced Preparation:

 

     An important part of any laboratory experience is learning to maintain very complete records of every experiment undertaken and every piece of datum obtained.  Far too often, careless recording of data has resulted in mistakes, frustration, and lost time due to needless repetition of experiments.  In cases where reports are required, proper collection and recording of data can greatly facilitate writing reports.  In addition to learning good laboratory technique and the methods of carrying out basic laboratory procedures in this course, you should also learn (1) how to take data carefully; (2) how to record relevant observations; (3) how to use your time effectively; (4) how to assess the efficiency of your experimental method; and (5) how to plan for the isolation and purification of the substance you prepare. 

 

     Because organic reactions are seldom quantitative in nature, special problems result.  Frequently, reagents have to be used in large excess in order to increase the amount of product obtained.  In addition, some reagents and solvents are very expensive and necessitate care in the amounts of side reactions, may form products in addition to those that are desired.  These are called "side products".  For these reasons, it is necessary to plan experimental procedures carefully before beginning.  A great deal of time can be saved in the laboratory if a full understanding of the experimental procedures and theory is achieved before the experiment is started.  Knowledge of the major reactions, the potential side reactions, the mechanism, the stoichiometry, and the procedure before entering the laboratory is essential.  If this is accomplished, experiments should proceed efficiently.  Equipment and reagents should be prepared in advance of the time at which they are to be used.  Reference material should be at hand when needed.  Finally, take advantage of long reaction or reflux periods to perform other tasks, such as doing shorter experiments, finishing previously uncompleted experiments, setting up special apparatus, etc.

 

     Laboratory textbooks are not allowed at the lab bench.  You may only use your laboratory notebook at the lab bench.  This requires that you write the experiment up prior to the laboratory period thoroughly so that you go through the proper procedures during the experiment.  It should also be simplistic so that you are not wasting time constantly reading.  Your lab notebooks are not to leave the laboratory, as they should remain in your individual drawer.  You may remove the carbon copy pages for your use outside of the laboratory. 

 

Attendance:

     Attendance of pre-lab lectures and laboratories is required.  You are expected to arrive on time and work until the lab is closed at 4:40 p.m.  Lab will be closed promptly at 4:40 p.m.  You must arrive prepared and plan your daily work and cleanup accordingly.

 

Evaluation:

     Success as an organic chemist requires more than a solid foundation in organic chemistry.  It requires knowledge of general and specific laboratory methods, the technique and preparation necessary to implement these methods, the ability to communicate one's findings and questions both verbally and in writing, and good fortune.  All of these are equally important and a deficiency in any one area will ultimately result in failure.

     Your performance and your mastering of the course objectives will be evaluated on the basis of:

            1.  percentage yields and product purity of all synthesized products,

2. performance on lab reports, obtaining and analyzing spectral data, and maintaining the laboratory,

            3.  student interpretations of results,

            4.  subjective evaluation of students' laboratory technique (including attitude and

cooperation) by the instructor (laboratory assistant's subjective evaluation will also be

factored into this part of the total evaluation),

            5.  and notebook maintenance.

 

Grading:

     Your final grade in Chemistry 235 will be based upon the contribution of points obtained from the laboratory portion of the course.  The maximum number of points that can be obtained is 250. 

 

The following list catalogs the various ways that points may be accumulated.

Point Opportunities

             Project 5: Dye Chemistry

Synthetic Strategy  10
Full Lab Report*  35
Subjective 65

Project 6: Hexaphenylbenzene

Synthetic Strategy     20
Full Lab Report* 55
Subjective 65
TOTAL 250 points

                                                                         

The point distribution for each project is the amount of points that each group member obtains.  The subjective score may be distributed differently to each student.

 

The subjective score will be based on the “NEAT” principle:

A well kept Notebook , Efficiency, Attitude, and Technique.

 

*A full lab report entails an abstract, introduction, results/discussion, conclusion, experimental, references, acknowledgements and supplemental data, such as hard copies of spectral data.  The experimental should include the procedure with stoichiometry including molar amounts, characterization via 1H and 13C NMR data and IR data, mp/bp, and percent yield.  The report should follow closely that of a Journal of Organic Chemistry article.


Cancellations and Make-ups:

UNCA, as a State agency, is expected to provide its service to the public according to its announced calendar and schedules.   Therefore, the presumption is that all classes will be taught during inclement weather.   On occasion severe weather condition may make it dangerous or physically impossible for teachers and learners to get to campus.  The VCSA is charged with making the judgment about canceling classes under these conditions. 

           

            Each individual student, in the event that classes are not canceled, must assume the personal responsibility of deciding to go to class or not when local road conditions appear too hazardous.  In such cases students should inform their instructors as soon as practicable.

 

            The notice that classes are to be canceled or delayed will be broadcast on all local radio stations normally by 6 a.m.  The absence of any notice from UNCA signifies that classes will be taught as usual.  Cancellation notices about evening classes will be provided to the radio stations as soon as practicable after 4 p.m. 

 

            The above guidelines have been taken directly from the latest edition of the UNCA Faculty Handbook and serve as the general course policy concerning inclement weather.  Policies specific to the different types of assignments are as follows:

1.  The instructor may schedule additional class meetings with attendance required if weather conditions have forced cancellation of the equivalent of one full week of class meetings.

 

2.  If school is called off because of the weather we will continue with the next lab as scheduled at the next meeting time, and adjust the schedule accordingly.  Any missing labs will be adjusted in the grading.

 

3.  If the student misses a lab:  The Pre-lab for that lab must be turned in with the written excuse before the next Lab.  Labs may be made up only if the missed lab is being taught at an alternate time.  If the lab is not made up, the student is subjected to a final examination to replace the missed lab.

 

4.  Written notice prior to an absence for an authorized school function must be given to the instructor for the student not to be penalized for that absence.

 

Honor System:

This course will be conducted utilizing the concepts embodied in an Honor System.  Your awareness and acceptance of the Honor System will be indicated by your signature in addition to your printed name on all work submitted to me for evaluation.  Work submitted to me without a signature will not be evaluated.  It will be recorded as a zero and returned so that you may sign and resubmit it for evaluation.  Appropriate action will be taken against those found to be in violation of the Honor System (see Academic Responsibilities under Student Responsibilities in the UNCA Catalog).

 

**any person with a disability must contact the disability services office .**