Organic Chemistry

Description

This upper-division program provides 8 credits of lecture and 4 credits of lab.  Lectures will begin with an overview of the chemical bonding theories relevant to organic molecules.  Reactivity, preparation, and physical properties of organic compounds will be the bulk of the lecture material that follows, with an emphasis on functional groups that are relevant to biological systems.  Organic reagents, reaction mechanisms, acid-base chemistry and stereochemistry will also be covered.  The theory of NMR, IR and absorption spectroscopy will be incorporated into lecture

In lab, students will perform experiments utilizing techniques such as pH dependent extractions, fractional and steam distillations, and column chromatography.  Opportunity to operate refractometers and GC instrumentation interfaced with computers will be made available.  Natural product isolation and some synthesis will be performed.  An introduction to the scientific literature/resources and LD-50 values will be incorporated into the lab and a lab notebook will be expected.  Advanced natural product isolation is possible.

Students registering for 12 credits will attend lecture and lab.  Students may register for 8 credits to only attend lecture, and a limited number of 4-credit registrations may be available for students who only want to perform lab work.