Course Content Outline: Introduction to Organic Chemistry (Online)

Organic Chemistry Online Course

Overview: The goal of this semester course it to provide a basic introduction to the
fundamental principals of organic chemistry. Through self-guided instruction as well as
participation in online discussions, you will learn the basics of molecular orbitals and
bonding, organic nomenclature, structure, stereochemistry and simple organic reactions.
In addition, you will participate in 3 to 6 after-school labs. Each of the labs will cover a
skill or concept that students will be likely to encounter in college organic chemistry
courses. While this course is not meant to replace other full-year science courses, it will
build a solid foundation for those students that will seriously pursue the fields of
chemistry/biology in college.

Duration: 1 Semester

Materials Needed:

Computer with internet access

Glencoe Chemistry: Matter and Change (Chemistry 1 textbook)
Zumdahl Chemistry 6th Ed (Chem II textbook)
Student Portfolio/Binder

Course Structure:

This course will be run using the website:

http://chs-mrarico.wikispaces.com/organicchemistry.

All assignments, excluding labs and exams, will be completed using the resources
available online. The class is organized by Weeks (1-18). Students are expected to be
actively involved in course work for 3-4 hours per week. This time commitment is equal
to the time spent in any other individual classes during a school week. Each Week of
work will be broken down as follows.

Week (1-18):

Each Week will have its own page on the wikispace. During that week, students will
complete the work for each Lesson or Lessons on that page. For the first few weeks,
each Week will contain multiple Lessons as these lessons are primarily a review of basic
skills. As the course proceeds, each Week will only consist of one Lesson covering a
single topic or skill.

Lessons:

A Lesson will consist of a set of instructional resources and assignments that cover a
specific concept. Your work for each lesson will include a Vocabulary Set, Study Guide
and Online Discussion. These assignments will be explained further in the space below.
Instructional materials for each lesson will/may consist of suggested reading from the
textbooks, streaming video, web links, articles and tutorials. In addition, there will be
three, free, online Organic Chemistry textbooks to be used as resources for this course.
Course Requirements:

Since this course is largely self-guided, it is important that you understand the
expectations and requirements for the class. Your grade will be based upon the
following:

o Student Portfolio (Completed work)

o Vocabulary Notebook
o Short answer, essay and online discussions
o 3-5 Lab Reports/Papers
o Exams (Mid Term and Final Exams)
o Online Quizzes

You will be graded based upon total points earned.

Student Portfolio:

The portfolio will contain all of your written work and will be graded at the mid-point
and end of both quarters. Your portfolio should contain two sections:

1. Completed Study Guides for each lesson. The study guides will be
downloadable documents available on the wikispace page for that lesson. The
purpose of the study guide is to walk you through the skills and concepts being
covered in that lesson.

2. Vocabulary Notebook. You will maintain an on-going list of vocabulary

terms from each lesson. You may wish to maintain this list electronically and
print it semi-quarterly to turn in with your portfolio. The purpose of this
Vocabulary list is to keep an organized list of terms and concepts that you learn
throughout the course.

Online Discussion / Essay:

Each lesson will end with your participation in an online essay and discussion. The
discussion question will require an essay-style answer that covers content from that entire
lesson. You will be graded based upon the correctness and of your answer. Your answer
should demonstrate your understanding of the material from that lesson. In addition, you
will be expected to respond to the work of other students in the discussion thread. The
discussion thread is meant to simulate the peer-peer interactions of a small-group class
discussion. Your responses and comments will be assessed as well.

During this course, please keep in mind that you will get out of it what you put into
it. The goal is to provide you with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to
succeed in a college Organic Chemistry course. You are choosing to take this
course. It is my hope that you make the most of the opportunity. At the very least, I
expect you to complete the required work; however, students are encouraged to
explore the additional resources available

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 Tentative Schedule (3rd Quarter)

Weeks 1 -2: Atoms, Electrons and Atomic Orbitals

Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures

Week 3: The Carbon Atom, Methane and Methyl-compounds

Formulas, Structural drawings and Conventions

Week 4: Intro to Hydrocarbons and Simple Alkane nomenclature

Recitation 1: Alkane Nomenclature

Week 5: Isomerism: Structural Isomers of Alkanes Compounds

Week 6: Substituted Alkanes and Functional Groups

Week 7: Cyclo-alkanes and Cyclic Compounds

Lab #1: Organic Chemistry Lab Skills, Techniques and Procedures

Week 8: Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Week 9: Quarter Review and Practice

Tentative Schedule (4th Quarter)

Week 10: Stereochemistry (An introduction)

Week 11: Benzene: Conjugation and Aromaticity

Week 12: Organic Chemistry Lab Skills, Techniques and Procedures

Week 13-14: Organic Reactions: Additions, Eliminations, Substitutions, Radicals

Week 15: Esterification Reactions and the Carbonyl Group

Week 16: Biochemistry: Applications of Organic Chemistry

Week 17: Analytical Chemistry: Chromatography, Spectroscopy (NMR and IR)

Week 18: Course Review and Final Exam

In addition, two to three labs will be scheduled after school during the 4th quarter. These
labs will last approximately till 3:30 PM
Possible Lab Activities:

1. Organic Lab Skills and Safety: Distillation, Crystallization, Filtration, Extraction

2. Chromatography and Organic Solvents

3. Synthesis of Aspirin

4. Grignard Reaction

5. Caffeine Extraction

6. How to Make Bio-diesel