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CHEMISTRY 2430
  Survey of Organic Chemistry

 Syllabus/Schedule for Fall 2004
MWF - 11:00-11:50am - PS 4157
Dr. Howard Black

The Basics!
all of organic chemistry comes down to this!
Dr. T. Howard Black For a printable version, click here.
Telephone: 581- 6225
Office: Physical Science 4440
Office Hours: MWF - 1-2pm; R - 1pm
Email: cfthb@eiu.edu
Class Homepage: http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfthb/classes/2430

Texts:  1. "Introduction to Organic Chemistry, 2nd Ed.", W.H. Brown, 2000.
2."Study Guide and Problems Book for Introduction to Organic Chemistry"; Benson, Iverson, & Iverson, 2000.
Schedule
Date(s) Chapter
 Topic Suggested Problems
8/23 ---
 Introduction
8/25-8/27 1
 Covalent Bonding and Shapes of Molecules 17,18,21,25,27,30,32,35,36,39,41,47,48
8/27-8/30 2
 Acids and Bases 5,6,7,9,10,12,15,18
9/1-9/8 3
 Alkanes and Cycloalkanes 17,18,19,23,27,28,29,31,34,36,39
9/10-9/15 4 Chirality 19-22,24,27,29,32
Exam I - Friday, Sept. 17, 2004
9/20-9/22 5 Alkenes and Alkynes 8,12,13,16-18,20,24,27,29
9/22-10/6 6 Reactions of Alkenes 8,11,12,15,17,19,25,29,33,34
10/6-10/11 7 Haloalkanes 6,8,11,12,16-19,21-23,25,28,29,32
10/13-10/15 8 Alcohols, Ethers, and Thiols 13,17,22,25,27,29,33,34,37,39,41,43,44
10/18-10/20 9 Benzene and Its Derivatives 9,15,16,19,20,26,28,30,31,36-38
Exam II - Friday, Oct. 22, 2004
10/25 10
 Amines 8,11,14,17-19,26-28
10/27-11/3
 11
 Aldehydes and Ketones 12,13,16,20,21,23,24,27,30,32,34,38-42
11/5-11/8 12 Carboxylic Acids 8,10,12,16,17,19,21,23,27,28,30,33-35
11/8-11/12 13 Functional Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids 9,13,18,20,24-27,32,33,36,39,40,42,43
11/15-11/19
 14 Enolate Anions, Claisen condensations 12,13,15,16,18,20,22,23,27,28,31-33
Exam III - Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004
11/22-11/26
 THANKSGIVING!!
11/29-12/3 16 Carbohydrates 9,12,13,15,16,19,20,29,32,33,35
12/6-12/8 21-2
 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Infrared Spectroscopy 13,15,19,20,22,26,29,35
12/10 --
 Review/Wrap-Up/Etc.
Final Exam - Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004; 2:45-4:50pm§
  Date chosen by substantial majority of class due to confusion about whether it was 11/19 or 12/1, vote taken 11/8/04.
§ Please do not ask to take your final early because your "ride is leaving early", you have "another big exam that day", or any other worn-out reason.  You've got nearly three months' advance notice to plan for this!!
Grading and Class Policies

    Selected problems from the end of each chapter are provided adjacent to each chapter in the outline. These exercises, the answers to which are supplied in the Study Guide Problems Book, will be neither collected nor graded. You are strongly encouraged to work through all of the problems in the book (i.e., not just the suggested ones), in addition to those on the handouts which will be occasionally supplied; this is by far the most efficient and time-proven way to learn the concepts so vital to understanding organic chemistry.

    I do not take attendance. However, past experience proves that students who come to class do well, while those who don't usually fail. Also, since quizzes/exams always cover only material that has been covered in class, it's a very good idea to attend every class. Finally, if your attendance is sporadic, I'll notice it, and you'd better hope you're not on a borderline at grade time. Also, I consider being late for class or talking during class to be unacceptably rude. After a few warnings about either, you'll be asked to leave.

    There will be 12 or more quizzes (10 points each) throughout the semester; quizzes are always announced at least one class day before they are given. The scores of only the highest ten will be used in the final grade calculation; thus, the quiz total is 100 points. There will be no makeup quizzes.

    Four one-hour exams (100 points each) will be evenly spaced over the term; the dates are given on the outline. If you are going to miss an hour exam (for an extremely good reason - documented, serious illness or family death), be sure and let me know ahead of time, or, at the latest, before the graded exam is returned to the class (which is always the next class day).


Here are the ways to contact me:
Call me at EIU (581-6225); if I'm not there, leave a message on the voicemail system.

Leave a message with one of my research students (581-7473; if they happen to pick up the phone).

Leave a message with Pat, the Chemistry Department secretary (581-3322; cspsb@eiu.edu) - she's always there.

Call me at home (359-3733); if it's a long message, I'll call you back.

Send me email (cfthb@eiu.edu).

Contact Dr. Mike Ruane (my postdoc, 581-7474; cfmdr@eiu.edu).
There is, obviously, no excuse for not being able to contact me. There is no provision for making up an exam.

    The final examination (200 points) will be comprehensive, covering all topics discussed during the term. Thus, the point total available for the course equals 700. In all quizzes and exams, I adhere strictly to the published policies on academic integrity. If you are caught cheating on any quiz or exam, you'll receive an immediate "F" for the course, and the Judicial Board will be involved. If aggravating circumstances are involved, I will seek your dismissal from the University. So - don't even think about cheating in any form. It just isn't worth it.

    Grades will be assigned based on a curve related to class performance; thus, individual quizzes and exams will not receive a letter grade. The curve will be updated throughout the semester (after each exam), and will be provided when each graded exam is returned, in addition to being outlined on the web page.   You are encouraged to stop in  my office at any time to see where you stand.

    After the fourth exam, the curve will be finalized. This means that, going into the final exam, you will know exactly how many points are needed to earn a certain grade. If the class average on the final is unusually low, the curve may be lowered. However, you are promised that, in the event that the class does much better on the final than usual, the curve will not be raised.


Additional Help

    The keys to all of the quizzes and exams for the past three semesters are published on the web site (click here), rather than being on reserve in the library.  You should review all prior quizzes/exams throughout the semester; it's hard to imagine a better resource for preparing for your own.  Also on this web page are links to study aids at other schools (click here), which are keyed to your text.  Finally, there is a self-study reaction drill page designed specifically for and keyed to this course (click here).  Please become familiar with these as well.

    It is the rare individual who can master organic chemistry purely by individual effort. You are encouraged to study with others, help each other with problems (after your own efforts have failed), and take advantage of the free tutoring offered by the Chemistry Department. Although my office hours are times when I guarantee to be available, please feel free to stop in at any time for help. You can also send me email (click on the icon) or call to set up an appointment. 

I promise to give you all the help you are willing to ask for.


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