Department of Chemistry, Portland State University
Chem 331 -- Winter 1996
Elements of Organic Chemistry I
Professor Carl C. Wamser
Ref. No. 42972
Tues & Thurs 4:30 - 6:10 pm
Cramer Hall Room 53
Office: Science Building 1, Room 327A
Office Hours: MTWRF 11 - 12
Textbook (required): "Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry,"
3rd edition, by John McMurry. A Study Guide is also available. Molecular
model kits are sold in the PSU Bookstore and are strongly recommended for
visualizing molecular structures..
Class Schedule (attached): We will cover Chapters 1 - 8
from the textbook, with lectures corresponding approximately to the chapter
designations in the schedule. You should do the reading before the corresponding
lecture.
Computer Access: Many of the elements of this course will
be made available on the World-Wide Web. The home page for this course can
be reached on the Internet at http://www-adm.pdx.edu/user/chem/Wamser/Chem331/
. Internet access is available from most of the PSU computer labs,
or from home if you have a computer with a modem.
E-Mail: I can be reached by e-mail at WamserC@pdx.edu
. You are encouraged to use this format for questions or any other
communications. I read my e-mail daily and respond promptly. If you don't
get a reply within 24 hours, try again.
Homework assignments: Homework assignments for each chapter
will be provided. There will be problems from the text, for which complete
solutions and extra assistance are provided in the Study Guide. There will
also be problems that will be similar to those on quizzes and exams. All
problems are open for discussion at the recitation sections, as indicated
on the schedule. The reserve book area in the library will keep a complete
set of all handouts and answer keys, including homework, quizzes and exams.
Although it will not be possible to collect and grade the homework, the
homework assignments will be extremely important to you, since they provide
the only way to determine how well-prepared you are for exams and quizzes.
Practicing working on problems is the only way to learn organic chemistry.
Quizzes: Approximately once per week, there will be a 10-minute
quiz, covering the material of one chapter. The quiz will be given at the
beginning of the class, but some time will be allotted for going over questions
from the homework before the quiz. Each quiz will be worth 10 points, on
the same scale as exam points. The lowest score of the eight quizzes will
be dropped. There will be no make-up quizzes.
Exams: There will be three midterm exams, worth 100 points
each, and a final exam, worth 200 points, given in class according to the
schedule indicated. Missing an exam will require a written medical excuse,
in which case an appropriate fraction of the final exam will be substituted
for the missed exam. There will be no make-up exams.
Grading: The final course grade will be determined by total
points accumulated. The maximum is 570, based on the sum of exams plus quizzes,
as outlined above.
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.
Tentative Schedule
Date Topic Quiz
Tu, Jan 9 Ch 1 - Structure and Bonding
Th, Jan 11 Ch 1 - Structure and Bonding
Tu, Jan 16 Ch 2 - Alkanes Q1
Th, Jan 18 Ch 2 - Alkanes
Tu, Jan 23 Ch 3 - Alkenes, Organic Reactions Q2
Th, Jan 25 Ch 3 - Alkenes, Organic Reactions
Tu, Jan 30 Ch 4 - Alkenes, Alkynes Q3
Th, Feb 1 EXAM 1, Chapters 1 - 3
Tu, Feb 6 Ch 4 - Alkenes, Alkynes
Th, Feb 8 Ch 5 - Aromatics Q4
Tu, Feb 13 Ch 5 - Aromatics
Th, Feb 15 Ch 6 - Stereochemistry Q5
Tu, Feb 20 Ch 6 - Stereochemistry
Th, Feb 22 Ch 7 - Alkyl Halides Q6
Tu, Feb 27 EXAM 2, Chapters 4 - 6
Th, Feb 29 Ch 7 - Alkyl Halides
Tu, Mar 5 Ch 8 - Alcohols, Ethers, Phenols Q7
Th, Mar 7 Ch 8 - Alcohols, Ethers, Phenols Q8
Tu, Mar 12 EXAM 3, Chapters 7 - 8
Th, Mar 14 Review
EXAM 1: Chapters 1 - 3, Thursday, February 1, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
EXAM 2: Chapters 4 - 6, Tuesday, February 27, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
EXAM 3: Chapters 7 - 8, Tuesday, March 12, 4:30 - 5:30 pm
FINAL EXAM: Chapters 1 - 8, Tuesday, March 19, 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Last updated January 8, 1996