Syllabus

Undergraduate Programs

CHEM 1035: Organic Chemistry I Lecture and Lab – 15 Week

Credits - 4

Description

This course introduces the fundamental principles of Organic Chemistry with an emphasis on molecular structure, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, nomenclature, and introductory organic synthesis. Students will examine the relationship between molecular structure and chemical reactivity while developing mechanistic reasoning skills used to predict products and reaction outcomes. Topics include bonding and hybridization, nomenclature, stereochemistry, acid–base chemistry, thermodynamics, addition reactions, substitution and elimination mechanisms, and an introduction to multistep synthesis. The course is designed for students pursuing careers in the health sciences and related scientific disciplines. Special topics, case studies, and applied projects connecting organic chemistry to medicine, pharmacology, biochemistry, and other health-related fields will be incorporated throughout the course to emphasize real-world applications of organic chemistry. The course will also encourage active student participation, scientific communication, collaborative learning, and class discussion to strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Materials

Textbooks

McMurry, J. (2023). Organic chemistry: a tenth edition. (Tenth edition). OpenStax, Rice University.

Resources

  • Required: Subscription to Aktiv (add price). Enrollment details are available in Brightspace
  • Required: Subscription to Labster (add price). Enrollment details are available in Brightspace

Webcam

An external webcam is required for proctored exams. If you do not have one, you may order one here: External Webcam.

Dry-Erase Whiteboard with Marker and Eraser (Optional But Highly Recommended for Proctored Exams)

This course permits the use of an 8″ x 11″ dry-erase whiteboard for scratch work during one or more of your proctored exams. No scratch paper is permitted. 

 

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Course Objectives

  • Classify and represent organic molecules using Lewis structures, bond-line notation, resonance
    structures, stereochemical representations, conformational analysis, and nomenclature of organic
    compounds.
  • Apply principles of bonding, molecular geometry, acidity/basicity, thermodynamics, and
    kinetics to explain trends in organic structure and reactivity.
  • Predict the products, stereochemistry, regiochemistry, and mechanisms of five fundamental
    organic reactions including electrophilic additions, SN1, SN2, E1, and E2 reactions.
  • Analyze organic reaction mechanisms using curved-arrow formalism to describe electron flow,
    intermediates, and reaction pathways.
  • Design introductory multistep synthetic pathways for the preparation and interconversion of
    simple organic molecules and functional groups.
  • Relate organic chemistry concepts to applications in the health sciences through scientific
    discussions, collaborative activities, and applied projects

Assignments

Worksheets

Each week, you will complete a worksheet pertaining to a new course concept. These worksheets are intended serve as independent practice and can be completed alongside lectures and readings. Use the opportunity to draw chemical structures to reinforce visual neural pathways and muscle memory. Worksheets are graded based on completion. Successful submission of a worksheet will unlock an answer key in the weekly content.

Discussions

Discussion boards are utilized throughout the course as spaces for investigation, problem solving, and peer interaction. Each discussion will have an initial post (due on Friday) followed by peer responses (due on Sunday). Beginning in Week 12, weekly topic discussions will be replaced by presentation project focused interactions.

Aktiv 

The Aktiv platform is a central component of the learning materials and practice in the course. Every week, you will review the textbook and learning materials hosted via the Aktiv platform to complete a variety of homework questions. If you are struggling in a particular area, you will have the option to practice with additional questions focused on similar concepts.

Labster 

Through Labster, you will interact with virtual environments to complete safety training and experiments. Most weeks will explore differing topics in the platform that make up the lab component of the course. 

Presentation Project

The presentation project is broken into several steps starting in Week 10. You will first select a presentation format and topic for approval by your instructor. In Week 12, you will submit your 4 -7 minute presentation as an assignment for review and to a discussion for class viewing. This discussion forum will be used over the next three weeks to engage in conversation and reflection regarding the presentations. 

Midterm Exam

 

Final Exam

 

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment CategoryGrade Percentage
Aktiv Homework20%
Labs20%
Discussions 10%
Practice Worksheets5%
Presentation Project10%
Midterm Exam15%
Final Exam20%
Total100%

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 93 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 92.9% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89.9% 3.50
B 83 – 86.9% 3.00
B- 80 – 82.9% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79.9% 2.50
C 73 – 76.9% 2.00
C- 70 – 72.9% 1.75
D 60 – 69.9% 1.00
F 00 – 59.9% 0.00

Schedule

 

Week Topic Assignments Due Dates
1 Structure and Bonding

Aktiv Week 1 Homework

Labster Week 1 Homework: Lab Safety

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

2 Polar Covalent Bonds; Acids and Bases

Aktiv Week 2 Homework

Labster Week 2 Homework: Chemistry Safety

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

3 Organic Compounds: Alkanes and Their Stereochemistry

Aktiv Week 3 Homework

Labster Week 3 Homework: Thin Layer Chromatography – Separate a mixture and monitor a reaction’s progress

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

4 Organic Compounds: Cycloalkanes and Their Stereochemistry

Aktiv Week 4 Homework

Labster Week 4 Homework: Simple Distillation – Recycle waste from biodiesel production

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

5

Stereochemistry at Tetrahedral Centers

Aktiv Week 5 Homework

Labster Week 5 Homework: Fractional Distillation – Separate a liquid mixture into its fractions

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

6 An Overview of Organic Reactions

Aktiv Week 6 Homework

Labster Week 6 Homework: Recrystallization – Purify your solid production

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

7 Alkenes: Structure and Reactivity

Aktiv Week 7 Homework

Midterm Exam

Practice Worksheet

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Midterm Exam due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

8 Alkenes: Reactions and Synthesis

Aktiv Week 8 Homework

Labster Week 8 Homework: Purification and Separation of a Mixture – Test your analytical chemistry skills

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

9 Alkynes: An Introduction to Organic Synthesis

Aktiv Week 9 Homework

Labster Week 9 Homework: Synthetic Polymers – Discover their impact on everyday life

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

10 Organohalides

Aktiv Week 10 Homework

Labster Week 10 Homework: Liquid-liquid Extraction – Extract caffeine from your everyday drinks

Week 10: Presentation Topic Selection

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Presentation Discussion due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

11 Spectroscopy: Combined Spectral Problems

Aktiv Week 11 Homework

Labster Week 11 Homework: Elimination Reaction – Use cyclohexanol to create polymers

Discussion

Practice Worksheet

Discussion Initial post to prompt is due by 11:59 PM ET Friday 

Discussion responses to peers by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

12 Structure Determination: Mass Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy

Aktiv Week 12 Homework

Labster Week 12 Homework: Mass Spectrometry – The race of the fastest fragment

Final Presentation Assignment

Final Presentation Discussion 

Practice Worksheet

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Presentation Discussion due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

13 Structure Determination: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Aktiv Week 13 Homework

Labster Week 13 Homework: Proton NMR – Spectra interpretation

Final Presentation Discussion 

Practice Worksheet

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Presentation Discussion due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

14 Conjugated Compounds and Ultraviolet Spectroscopy

Aktiv Week 14 Homework

Labster Week 14 Homework: Infrared Spectroscopy

Final Presentation Discussion 

Practice Worksheet

Assignments due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

Presentation Discussion due by 11:59 PM ET Sunday

15 Final Exam

Final Exam

Final Exam due by 11:59 PM ET Friday

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Enrollment and Retention Counselor is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies. Questions? Email: prehealth@une.edu.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Instructor and Support Contact Information

Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.

UNE Libraries

Further Assistance

Your student service advisor monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

Policies

Attendance Policy

6- to 8-week courses: Students taking online courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

10+ -week courses: Students taking online courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office. Review the full attendance policy.

Assignments

Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted. 

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3-point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded. Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Proctored Examinations

Your course may have proctored exams. Please see your course for full details, access, testing requirements, and guidelines.

Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback on exam questions.

Exam Attempts Policy

Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade.

All students are encouraged to use a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.

Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements.

Course Length

A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus.

Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 8 weeks.

  1. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar.
  2. Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact PreHealth@une.edu with any questions.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. Contact support with any questions.

Transcripts

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.

All students agree to UNE Online's Academic Integrity Policy. Honorlock Exam attempts are recorded, proctored and reviewed by our inhouse team. Violations may result in:

  • A zero on the exam
  • A zero in the course
  • Expulsion from the University
  • UNE reserves the right to notify a student's home institution of confirmed academic integrity violations, when appropriate.