Shawn Reese, PhD Chem 421 Syllabus, sections 14850 and 15020 Spring 2019

Phone: 916-691-7225; email: Reeses@crc.losrios.edu

Course Description and Objective

Welcome to Chem 421!! This is an organic chemistry class for science majors. It is the second half of a
two-semester sequence. It will cover the information needed for pre-Med, pre-Dent, Chemistry, Biology, Chemical
Engineering, pre-Chiropractic, Agriculture, and pre-Pharmacy majors. Second semester covers aromatic, dienes,
carbonyl, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid derivatives, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, NMR, and amine
chemistries.
Your goal in this class should be to master the concepts presented and try to apply the concepts to the
world around you. Your learning outcome will be decided by the ACS exam final, and your next Chemistry
class!!!
Class Hours
The lecture for this class meets every Monday & Wednesday from 12:00-1:20 pm. You should also register for the
lab section: M/W from 8:30-11:35 am, or the lab section that meets 1:30-4:35pm.
My office hours will be on Mon/Wed 4:35-6:30 and Tu/Th from 12:30-1:20 pm. We will have a “Friends of
Chemistry” (formally known as Chem Club) meeting once a week (Mondays 6:30-7:30 – if possible)….tutoring,
tours, and other fun activities will be announced. Occasionally, the CC meeting will be held on Fridays instead –
no office hours on Friday. My office is located in SCI-304. I can be contacted on email or phone – but prefer
email as primary communication. I am slow returning phone calls since the phone is usually out of order (no
kidding!).
Prerequisites
Grade “C” or better in MATH 120, Chem 400-401, Chem 420 and an appetite to learn.
Required Materials and Planning
Each student must purchase the text, “Organic Chemistry,6th ed.”, by Paula Bruice, the lab manual by Reese
and Oberth. The lecture notes by Reese are also essential…These are all ‘for-sale’ in the campus bookstore. You
must purchase the lab manual, as the barest essential to do the experiments. You must purchase a permanently
bound notebook, indirect-vented goggles and a GC needle / syringe at the bookstore. A model kit may be used on
tests.
If you are a Chem Major, I’d recommend you purchase a copy of the book : Experimental Organic
Chemistry, by Roberts, Gilbert, and Martin. Optional but useful texts are the student study guide that accompanies
Bruice text, and the book by Klein called “Organic Chemistry as a second language”. A calculator with
exponential functions for homework is necessary; a programmable calculator is NOT allowed.
To earn a “C” in this class, you should expect to study 4 hours per credit hour; so plan on 12 hours of
study per week. If your schedule will not permit this large time commitment you should consider taking this class
at a time when your schedule permits this kind of time commitment. Please note the calendar of events on the next
page.

Exam Day
The class period of each exam will be the exam only; no lecture will occur on those days. Plan on
attending all exams. Missing exams will severely limit your ability to get a good grade in the course. The day of
the exam, we will try to secure the room “early” and begin at 10 am….and end exams around 2:30 pm. The Final
Exam is Monday, May 20, from 12:45-2:45 pm. Please plan accordingly since the final is on a "non" class
day!!!!! Also the FINAL EXAM will be an ACS exam – 2 hours only, w/ scantrons only.

Attendance
Attendance is mandatory; and roll will be taken via a quiz every week. Weekly quizzes will
encourage/reward thoughtful attendance. College policy describes 3 unapproved absences will lead to a “drop.”
Compressed Calendar: This class will move at a faster pace than your previous classes; be prepared for the
eventuality that we will cover a chapter per week! Missing lab will result in negative points.
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Homework, Quizzes, Exam Policy:
There will be 12-14 homework assignments. Homework will be turned in as prep for the exams.
Homework for the ‘what do you know’ portion is essentially a take home quiz. This is a multiple choice answer
that you should write on a separate piece of paper 1-15. Your name and the multiple choice answers should be
present in type 40 font. This multiple choice part of the hw should be turned in ‘on-top’ of the other parts of the
homework. You should make a ‘photocopy’ of your HW if you need it as a study aid; do NOT rely on me to
get your HW back to you in time for an exam.
HW is worth 10 points. It will be ‘spot’ checked for completion. If you are ‘not’ completing hw or the m.c.
questions are ‘spot’ graded – lack of work and/or incorrect answers will cause point deductions. You are
encouraged to get help from your friends, myself, and/or the Learning Assistance Center. However, do not rely
upon “answer analysis; many of the exam questions come straight from the book!!
Quizzes will be graded for attendance and correct answers – half-credit for attendance and half-credit for
“what you know.” Roughly, 12/14 HW & quizzes will apply to your grade, the lowest two will be “dropped.”
There are NO make-up quizzes, or homework assignments and nothing is accepted “late.” Late quizzes and
homework will count as a “drop.” Homework is due the lecture day following the end of the chapter. Ex: Ch. 16
ends on Monday, so Ch. 16 hw is due on Wednesday.
Four mid-term exams will be given. The final exam might replace your lowest mid-term exam score IF
your final exam has a higher percentage of points than the lowest mid-term. There will be no make-up exams, or
late exams!! A missed test will be “dropped” and replaced by a pro-rated final exam averaged score. Missing the
Final will result in an “incomplete” grade and cannot be made-up until the next time a Final Exam is given for the
class (Dec 2019!!!!) Students who put their brain in park for the 4th exam and/or the final will watch their grade
drop “unexpectedly.”

Grading
There will be approximately 1800-1900 points for this class. If you master the material, you will be
appropriately rewarded. There will be occasional “extra-credit” questions on the exams, but none beyond that.
You have my personal promise that I will be as impartial and fair as is possible. If you feel that points have been
rewarded unfairly, please bring it to my attention. Points are to be earned upon completion of the following
activities:
Attendance and Quizzes (10/12) 100 pts
Homework (10/12) 100 pts
**
Exams (all four count ) 1000 pts
Final Exam 350 pts
Lab Grade 250-350 pts
1800-1900 pts total
Letter grades will be assigned on the % of points (assuming 1800 point total, prorated if necessary):
Grade % of Points Number of Points
A 90-100 >1620
B 79-89 1422-1619
C 67-78 1206-1421
D 56-66 1008-1205
F < 55 below 1007

421 Tenative Lecture Schedule: Based on the planned chapters and available lecture days
Monday Wednesday
1/21 MLK holiday (no class) 1/23 Ch 15
1/28 Ch 15/16 1/30 Ch 16
2/4 Ch 16 2/6 Ch 7.7-7.12
2/11 review 2/13 Exam 1 (covers Ch 14-16, 7.7)
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2/18 President’s Day Holiday 2/20 Ch 17
2/25 Ch 17 2/27 Ch 17/18
3/4 Ch 18 3/6 Ch 18
3/11 Review 3/13 Exam 2 (covers Ch 17-18)
3/18 Ch 19 3/20 Ch 19
3/25 Ch 19 3/27 Ch 19
4/1 Review 4/3 Ch 22 (Carbs)
4/8 Exam 3 (covers Ch 19) 4/10 Ch 22 (Carbs)
4/15 Spring Break (no classes) 4/17 Spring Break (no classes)
4/22 Ch 23 (amines) 4/26 Ch 23 (amines)
4/29 Ch 26 (Lipids) 5/1 Ch 24 (AA)
5/6 Ch 24 (AA) 5/8 Review
5/13 Exam 4 (covers Ch 20-22, 26) 5/15 Review for final
5/20 FINAL EXAM @ 12:45 pm

Final word on Exams: All exams are comprehensive to include all material covered up to that point. So be
prepared!! I reward effort heavily, but Exams do account for the bulk of the points. I realize that everyone can
have a “bad day” so the lowest mid-term score can/will be replaced provided that you can demonstrate that you did
learn the material on the final exam.

Do NOT anticipate a “curve”. The test averages will be between 72 -78%. You are strongly encouraged to study
together, work the homework, and come to help sessions/tutoring to learn the material.

Something Between a Plea and a Suggestion

Many of you may have some fear and nervousness regarding this class. Believe it or not, my first
chemistry class intimidated me!! I understand how you feel!! However, I learned that the harder I worked the
more enjoyable the course became!! Give yourself adequate time, the most common source of frustration is
trying to do too much at once. Honest HW effort = high grades!!! The assigned HW work is designed to lead
you to understand the major topics, but should not be the sum & substance of your study!!!!

Do not procrastinate, get discouraged, or externalize your frustrations. I am here to help you succeed;
I want you to learn and like it as much as possible. Mastery of anything (even chemistry) brings more than a sense
of accomplishment, mastery = fun!!

Quotes: “Water and feed a plant a little every day, not 12 hours on one day in a week.”
“Work will win when wishy-washy-wishin’ won’t”
“This class will test your endurance”
“A steady pace wins the race” (Do not CRAM!! -- Cramming is a killer!)
“Problems often need to be re-worked before they are correct! (No discouragement allowed)
“When stuck, get help! ASK!!”
“Don’t cheat yourself, 1350 > 200” (don’t fall into answer analysis)

Honesty is the best policy…..

Cheating will not be tolerated. A first offense will result in a zero for that assignment/exam. A second
offense will result in a report to the Dean of Students, with possible expulsion from class as a result.
Cheating lowers self-esteem. Overcoming obstacles (getting a good grade in this class!) will build confidence to
meet new challenges that WILL come in your life beyond your experience here at CRC. Flex your intellectual
muscle, come to tutoring sessions, work and study hard as often as possible, and you will gain new confidence in
yourself.

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Shawn Reese, PhD Chem 421 Lab Policies and Schedule Spring 2017

Philosophy: Chem 421 lab is designed to help you learn the scientific method, the techniques and equipment for
use in Organic Chemistry, and learn important notebook taking skills, and introduce you to several reactions that
are studied throughout the course. Several topics addressed in lab coincide with lecture, however, not all do. Even
though a particular topic may seem to have small role in lecture, that particular skill emphasized in lab teaches you
to pay attention to detail and to learn how to make precise and accurate measurements. We will spend much of the
second semester in real synthesis; you need to learn good measuring techniques first.

Your goal in this class should be safety as job#1, and increase your ability to draw correct conclusions based on
observations and logical reasoning based on the data that you gather. You will work alone on most experiments,
however you are encouraged to collaborate with those around you. Failure to practice safe lab practices will lead
to immediate suspension of attendance, and possible expulsion from the class.

Required Materials and Planning: In case of spill, stain or accident, you must wear clothes that cover you and
you do not mind throwing away. You must have the OSHA approved goggles we sell in the bookstrore, NO
substitutions are possible. You must practice good lab safety. You should purchase the lab manual that
has most of the experiments that we are going to do, authored by yours truly. The lab textbook will give
in-depth information for the students who are seeking a B or A in the class.

Your notebook belongs to the school. You must surrender it at the end of the semester. You will
be allowed to re-acquire your notebook when you take Chem 421. Failure to turn in your
notebook results in a NEGATIVE 1000 points.

Safety: You will be required to pass a safety quiz, and be required to practice safe lab practices at all times. If you
are unsafe, I will suspend you from lab, and you will lose 500 points. Do NOT eat, smell, wear, taste ANY
chemical at ANY time!! Notify me at once if you feel sick or injured immediately!! It is your responsibility to
maintain a safe laboratory environment. “Horseplay,” practical jokes, and generally disruptive behavior are
forbidden due to the safety hazards that it can cause. No food, no drinks, and no smoking in lab.

A pre-lab report to cover safety issues must be correctly filled out before you may begin any lab; it is worth
5/20 points. Nearly every pre-lab assignment comes with a 3-part assignment; this assignment includes:
1. MSDS of dangerous chemicals in use (you must cite a reference) & a plan to avoid injury
2. Equipment list
3. Purpose, goal, and/or objective for the experiment, i.e., what is the point of that particular lab assignment.

Lab-Report Format: The Lab report will essentially be a photocopy of your notebook. It will include all
chromatograms, graphs, data, and interpretations, and a completed lab-quiz (take-home) for each experiment.

NEW FOR SPRING 2017: a lab quiz will occur sometime during the semester after the experiment is over.
This lab quiz will be worth 6-8 points. It is open notebook & open notes. You will need to turn in the
multiple choice questions for each lab. Breakdown of lab experiment points is as follows:
1. Pre-lab 5 points
2. Effort/finish experiment 7 points
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 3. Lab quiz 8 points (maximum)

A lab report will not be necessary this semester. You are, however, encouraged to take a good notebook since
the lab exam is worth 80-90 points; all quizzes/lab exam is ‘open-notebook’.

How do I get points?? Photocopy your notebook within 2-48 hours after the experiment ends. Keep these
photocopies!!! After 1 calendar week elapses, you MUST be prepared to do the lab quiz, and turn in your
photocopies. The lab quiz should be the ‘top’ page of a stapled report that includes:

1. Lab quiz (on top copy page).

2. Photocopies of notebook
3. Any spectroscopy (IR), chromatography (GC) interpreted – NOT LEFT BLANK.

Missing lab is not an option. Any missed lab must be made up by attending a different lab section, or
getting the data from your lab partner.

Clean-up crew: Part of safe lab practices includes a lab that is clean and organized. 1/4 of the class will be
assigned to the “clean-up” crew each week. Eseentially, each bench will rotate to clean the lab each week; this
will be explained. The instructor will divide the class into quarters and you will be responsible for the lab being
clean. If that week’s lab is “unclean” a -20 point penalty will be assessed to every student in that lab section. If
you cannot serve for the week you are assigned you must find a classmate to replace you from a different group.
The instructor will supervise the lab cleaning.
Clean-up crew will be students 1-5 for week 3, 6-10 for week 4, etc……..

The lab schedule is listed below; it is a TENATIVE outline and subject to change (consult your section for
appropriate days/times):

Tenative Lab Schedule: Based on the planned chapters and available lecture days (DL = dry lab)

1/21 MLK holiday (no class) 1/23 Safety video & quiz, NMR theory
1/28 NMR problem set #1 1/30 NMR problem set #2
2/4 NMR problem set #2 & check-in 2/6 Exp #1 – Alkyl Halide Synthesis
2/11 Review / Exp 1 analytical 2/13 Exam 1
2/18 President’s Holiday 2/20 Exp #2 – Alkene Synthesis
2/25 Exp #2 – Alkene Synthesis 2/27 Ch 17 DL problems
3/4 Exp #3 – Banana Ester Synthesis 3/6 Ch 18 DL problems & Ex #3 BA analytical
3/11 Review 3/13 Exam 2
3/18 Exp #4 – Orange Oil Synthesis 3/20 Exp #4 – Orange Oil Synthesis
3/25 Exp # 6 – Grignard Synthesis 3/27 Exp # 6 – Grignard Synthesis
4/1 Ch 18 DL problems 4/3 Review for Ex. 3
4/8 Exam 3 4/10 Ex #7 – Wittig Synthesis
4/15 Spring Break no classes 4/17 Spring Break – no classes
4/22 Ex #7 – Wittig Syn & begin MS 4/24 Multistep Synthesis – Exp 9-12 (day 2)
4/29 Multistep Synthesis – Exp 9-12 5/1 Multistep Synthesis – Exp 9-12
5/6 Multistep Synthesis – Exp 9-12 5/8 Review
5/13 Exam 4 5/15 Lab exam; check-out
5/20 FINAL EXAM

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Safety: You will be required to pass a safety quiz, and be required to practice safe lab practices at all times. If your
are unsafe, I will suspend you from lab and you will lose 250 points. Do NOT eat, smell, wear, taste ANY
chemical at ANY time!! Notify me at once if you feel sick or injured immediately!! It is your responsibility to
maintain a safe laboratory environment. “Horseplay,” practical jokes, and generally disruptive behavior are
forbidden due to the safety hazards that it can cause. No food, no drinks, and no smoking in lab.

Lab-Attendance Policy: Part of your grade in this class is successful completion of every lab experience. As a
result, you will have to make up any missed lab assignment. If you "miss" a lab you will be expected to
make up the time on a Friday afternoon during a Chemistry club session.

You must make arrangements ahead of time to attend a potential make-up session (usually held during a different
421 lab time).

No late lab notebook report will be accepted; be prepared to take the lab-quiz that follows that experiment the
next lab period.

Lab Quizzes/Questions: You are encouraged to seek references, which can include your fellow students.
However, if you fail to cite a reference, and it is obvious that you have copied this information from
someone/something else, you will lose points for that assignment. Plagiarism is illegal, unethical, and will not be
tolerated. If you went to the internet, cite the URL. If you use the Aldrich catalogue, to cite a bp for example, then
cite the page #, and the year of the catalogue. You may create a bibliography page in your notebook, and simply
cite “reference 6, see page iii (bibliography page) this notebook.”

There are no make-up “wet” labs. The dry labs may be made-up if extenuating circumstances prevail. Save us
both some headache and heartache, come to class and do the work!

Something Between a Plea and a Suggestion: Really do a good job on the pre-lab. It is key to your success
since “cook-booking” in lab is unsafe, and usually wastes time. There is a lot to do, so don’t fall behind.
College is the only time in your life that you will have to prepare yourself for your future endeavors,
people are sorely amazed how notebook skills learned in Chemistry come back to “haunt” them if they are
not mastered now….

Honesty is the best policy…..

The entire Student Disciplinary Code is located in the College Catalogue (you can get one for free in the
student union building). Cheating will not be tolerated. A first offense will result in a zero for that assignment. A
second offense will result in a report to the Dean of Students, with possible expulsion from school as a result.
Article III , paragraph 15 of the aforementioned code states that all of the following activities are prohibited: theft
of a computer, abuse of computer time, “hacking”, sending abusive & obscene messages, and use of school
computing for personal gain.
Cheating lowers self-esteem. Overcoming obstacles (getting a good grade in this class!) will build
confidence to meet new challenges that WILL come in your life beyond your experience here at FLC. Flex your
intellectual muscle, come to tutoring sessions, work and study hard as often as possible, and you will gain new
confidence in yourself.

If you are “stuck”, please get help, and do not wait until it is too late!!

Finally: This class is a marathon. Please give yourself adequate time to keep up. Most students who are successful
find that they must study every day, or at a minimum, every other day. Most students who fail simply do not plan
to fail, but fail to plan enough time to keep up the pace of the course.