Organic Chemistry III

Professor Carl C. Wamser

Course Ref. No. 60478
MWF 9:00 - 10:05 am, Hoffmann Hall

Dr. Wamser's Office: Science Bldg 1, Room 327A
Office Hours: every day 10:30 - 11:30 am

Textbook (required): Organic Chemistry, 5th ed., by F. A. Carey, with the Student Solutions Manual. Optional in the PSU Bookstore are four different kinds of molecular model kits.

Online Resources: Most of the elements of this course will be accessible through the home page at http://chem.pdx.edu/~wamserc/C336S04/ . In addition, some aspects of the course will use WebCT (also accessible from the course home page). Internet connections are available from the Chemistry Commons (SB1-221), from numerous PSU computer labs, or from home if you have an internet connection. The Chemistry Commons is staffed with chemistry graduate students who serve as tutors.

E-Mail: WebCT has a Discussion List feature that will allow students to post messages. You may use this like open office hours to communicate with me, or use it to communicate general information to other class members. I can also be reached through my personal e-mail address (WamserC@pdx.edu).

Class Schedule: During the fall term, we will cover Chapters 17 - 28 from the text, following the schedule on the back. You should read the chapter in the text before it is covered in lecture. There will be homework assignments for each chapter but they will not be collected. By doing the homework in advance, you will be prepared for the in-class exercises, quizzes, and exams.

Quizzes: For each chapter, there will be two quizzes. The first will be a brief (5 point) pre-quiz done in WebCT within a specific time frame. For example, Pre-Quiz 17 will be available on WebCT only from Monday, Mar 29, to Wed, Mar 31, at 8:30 am. Pre-quizzes are designed to alert you to the main points in the chapter and to encourage your reading the chapter before the lecture coverage. The chapter quiz will be a 10-minute (10 point) quiz given at the beginning of a class, with some time allowed for going over any questions before the quiz. Quiz and pre-quiz points are on the same scale as exam points. The lowest scores of the ten quizzes and the ten pre-quizzes will be dropped. There will be no make-up quizzes or pre-quizzes.

Exams: There will be three midterm exams, worth 100 points each, and a final exam, worth 200 points, given in class as indicated on the schedule. Missing an exam will require a written medical excuse, in which case an appropriate fraction of the final exam score will replace the missed exam. There will be no make-up exams.

Extra Credit - E-Mail Molecules: Students are assigned a set of nine organic compounds to investigate, with information returned weekly via WebCT. Each molecule returned correctly will be worth 2 points extra credit, up to 18 points total. Instructions are on the class web page.

Grading: The final course grade will be determined by total points accumulated. The maximum is 635, based on the sum of exams (500) plus quizzes (135), as outlined above. Extra credit adds to your total. Over the years, I have found that letter grades nearly always fall into the following distributions: A/B borderline (85%), B/C (70%), C/D (55%), to pass the course (over 40%).

How to Succeed in This Course: 1) Clarify for yourself what you want/need to get out of this course, 2) participate actively in all course activities, 3) practice solving problems and developing appropriate skills, 4) use the technology and other learning resources that are made available, 5) reflect on what does and doesn't work for you in learning this material, and ask for help. These themes are elaborated in the “Day One” lecture on goals and expectations.

Miscellaneous: University policy will be strictly followed with respect to course withdrawal, academic honesty, and related subjects. Please ask the instructor or consult the latest PSU Bulletin if you have any questions.


Class Schedule

Date

WebCT          Classwork

Mon, Mar 29

                        Chap 17 - Aldehydes and Ketones

Wed, Mar 31

Pre-Quiz 17                Chap 17

Fri, Apr 2

                        Chap 17

Mon, Apr 5

Pre-Quiz 18                Chap 18 - Enols and Enolates

Wed, Apr 7

            Quiz 17      Chap 18

Fri, Apr 9

Pre-Quiz 18                Chap 19 - Carboxylic Acids

Mon, Apr 12

            Quiz 18      Chap 19

Wed, Apr 14

Pre-Quiz 20                Chap 20 - Carboxyl Derivatives

Fri, Apr 16

            Quiz 19      Chap 20

Mon, Apr 19

Pre-Quiz 21                Chap 20 

Wed, Apr 21

            Quiz 20      Chap 21 - Ester Enolates

Fri, Apr 23

                    EXAM 1,  Chapters  17 - 20

Mon, Apr 26

                        Chap 21

Wed, Apr 28

Pre-Quiz 22                Chap 22 - Amines

Fri, Apr 30

            Quiz 21      Chap 22

Mon, May 3

Pre-Quiz 23-24             Chap 22

Wed, May 5

            Quiz 22      Chap 23 - Aryl Halides

Fri, May 7

Pre-Quiz 25                Chap 24 - Phenols

Mon, May 10

            Quiz 23-24    Chap 25 - Carbohydrates

Wed, May 12

                    Exam 2,  Chapters  21 - 24

Fri, May 14

                        Chap 25

Mon, May 17

Pre-Quiz 26                Chap 25

Wed, May 19

            Quiz 25      Chap 26 - Lipids

Fri, May 21

                        Chap 26

Mon, May 24

Pre-Quiz 27                Chap 27 - Amino Acids and Proteins

Wed, May 26

            Quiz 26      Chap 27

Fri, May 28

            Quiz 27      Chap 28 - Nucleic Acids

Mon, May 31

     Holiday

Wed, June 2

                    Exam 3,  Chapters  25 - 27

Fri, June 4

                        Chap 28, Review

Pre-quizzes are available on the class website until 8:30 am on the day indicated above.

Quizzes are given at the beginning of the class period indicated above.

Exams are given for the full 65 minutes of the class period indicated.

FINAL EXAM: ACS Standardized Exam (comprehensive), Tuesday, June 8, 8:00 - 9:50 am