Organic Chemistry III

Professor Carl C. Wamser

Chem 336 - Spring Term

Course Syllabus & Schedule

Course Ref. No. 60519
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, 7th ed., by F. A. Carey, with the Student Solutions Manual and key for ARIS online homework. Optional in the PSU Bookstore are various 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/C336S10/ . In addition, some aspects of the course will use Blackboard or ARIS (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: Blackboard 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 spring term, we will cover Chapters 19-29 from the text, following the schedule below. You should read the chapter in the text before it is covered in lecture.

Quizzes and Homework: For each chapter, there will be two quizzes and one online homework assignment. The pre-quiz (5 points) is done in Blackboard within a specific time frame. For example, Pre-Quiz 19 will be available on Blackboard only from Monday, Mar 29, to Wed,Mar 31, at 8:30 am. Pre-quizzes alert you to the main points in the chapter and encourage your reading the chapter before the lecture coverage. The chapter quiz (10 points) will be given at the beginning of a class, with some time allowed for going over any questions before the quiz. Online homework (5 points) will be done using the ARIS program that is coordinated with your textbook. Instructions are on the class web page. Quiz, pre-quiz, and homework points are on the same scale as exam points. The lowest scores of the nine quizzes, pre-quizzes, and homeworks will be dropped. There will be no make-up quizzes or pre-quizzes nor late homework accepted.

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 Blackboard. 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 660, based on the sum of exams (500) plus pre-quizzes, quizzes, and ARIS homework (160), as outlined above. Extra credit adds to your total, which is calculated as a percentage of 660. Letter grades are assigned using the following guidelines: A-/B+ borderline (85%), B-/C+ (70%), C-/D (55%), to pass the course requires 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

M, 3/29

Chap 19 - Carboxylic Acids

W, 3/31

Pre-Quiz 19 / Chap 19

F, 4/2

Chap 19

M, 4/5

Pre-Quiz 20 / Chap 20 - Carboxyl Derivatives

W, 4/7

Quiz 19 / Chap 20

F, 4/9

Pre-Quiz 21/ Chap 20

M, 4/12

Quiz 20/ Chap 21- Ester Enolates

W, 4/14

Chap 21

F, 4/16

Pre-Quiz 22 / Quiz 21/ Chap 22 - Amines

M, 4/19

EXAM 1, Chaps 19-21

W, 4/21

Chap 22

F, 4/23

Chap 22

M, 4/26

Pre-Quiz 23/24 / Chap 23 - Aryl Halides

W, 4/28

Quiz 22 / Chap 24 - Phenols

F, 4/30

Pre-Quiz 25 / Chap 25 - Carbohydrates

M, 5/3

Quiz 23/24 / Chap 25

W, 5/5

Chap 25

F, 5/7

Pre-Quiz 26 / Chap 26 - Lipids

M, 5/10

Quiz 25 / Chap 26

W, 5/12

EXAM 2, Chaps 22-25

F, 5/14

Chap 26

M, 5/17

Pre-Quiz 27 / Chap 17 - Amino Acids & Proteins

W, 5/19

Quiz 26 / Chap 27

F, 5/21

Chap 27

M, 5/24

Pre-Quiz 28 / Chap 28 - Nucleic Acids

W, 5/26

Quiz 27 / Chap 28

F, 5/28

Quiz 28 / Chap 28

M, 5/31

Holiday

W, 6/2

EXAM 3, Chapters 26 - 28

F, 6/4

Chap 29, 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.

ARIS online homeworks are due on the same day the corresponding quiz is given (by 8:30 am).

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

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