Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Organic Chemistry I Lab (Face-to-Face)

CHEM 2315-01

Course: CHEM 2315-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCI
CRN: 31786

Course Description

Lab focused on the introduction to organic reactions and modern spectroscopic techniques used in the design and synthesis of interesting organic compounds. This course will acquaint the student with the basic techniques used in a wide variety of research laboratories. A total of three (3) to four (4) hours a week are involved in the course. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a physical science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other course. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): CHEM 2310 Prerequisite(s): CHEM 1220 and CHEM 1225 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Required Texts

1.      “Making the Connections” 4th Edition (Padias) ISBN: 9781645652151 (Softcover)
2.      OSHA-approved safety goggles.

Learning Outcomes

Students in this course will learn the foundational techniques of organic chemistry. Topics covered in the course include the characterization, purification, and synthesis of organic compounds. Specific topics that will be demonstrated are: laboratory safety, solubility, melting point and yield determination, purification of organic compounds using chromatography, extraction, distillation and recrystallization, fermentation, synthesis, reaction set-up and analysis, preparation of alkenes and alkynes, reaction mechanism, and the reduction of a carbonyl compound.  
The learning outcomes personified by successful students of this course include: thorough inquiry of course materials; thoughtful analysis of data obtained from chemical experiments; skillful use of acquired knowledge to critically analyze and creatively solve chemical problems including the application of basic principles to more complicated situations. Students will need to productively engage in teamwork with their lab partner in order to collect and record data from experiments. Successful students are required to communicate their answers correctly and thoroughly to demonstrate quantitative literacy in the chemical sciences. 

Course Requirements

Students will be assessed by laboratory reports, examinations, quizzes, safe laboratory practices, use of laboratory techniques, and cleanliness as detailed below. These assessment methods will use quantitative point based values to measure the student’s progress toward the learning outcomes.

Course Outline

| WK | DAY | TOPIC
| 1 |   | No Laboratory
| 2 | Sept 2 | Safety Introduction/ Drawer Check-out Check-out:  Check-out drawers Safety:  Think Safety!  Safety & Laboratory Tour
| 3 | Sept 9 | #1–Solubility Quiz:  Safety and Solubility Experiment:  Solubility
| 4 | Sept 16 | #2–Melting Points Quiz:  Melting Points Experiment:  Melting Points
| 5 | Sept 23 | #3–Chromatography Quiz:  Chromatography Experiment:  TLC Analysis of Analgesic Drugs #4–Setting up a Reaction-Part 1 Experiment: Fermentation of the Carbohydrate Sucrose
| 6 | Sept 30 | #4–Continued-Distillation-Part 2 Quiz:  Distillation Experiment:  Fermentation of the Carbohydrate Sucrose
| 7 | Oct 7  | #5–Steam Distillation/Extraction   Midterm Exam:  Techniques Experiment:  Steam Distillation and Extraction
| 8 | Oct 14  | Fall Break—No Laboratory
| 9 | Oct 21 | #6–Recrystallization Quiz:  Recrystallization Experiment:  Recrystallization
| 10 | Oct 28 | #7–Synthesis of Organohalides Quiz:  Reactions/synthesis of organohalides Experiment:  Synthesis of t-butyl chloride
| 11 | Nov 4 | #8–Nucleophilic Substitution Quiz:  Reaction Mechanisms Experiment:  Synthesis of Nerolin
| 12 | Nov 11 | #9–Reactions of Alkenes-Synthesis of an Alkyne Quiz:  Reactions/synthesis of alkenes/alkynes Experiment:  Reactions of an alkene-synthesis of an alkyne
| 13 | Nov 18 | #10–Reduction Chemistry/ Drawer Check-in Quiz:  Reduction Chemistry Experiment:  Conversion of Vanillin to Vanillyl Alcohol by Reduction Check-in:  Check in drawers and tabulate fees
| 14 | Nov 25 | Thanksgiving Holiday—No Laboratory
| 15 | Dec 2 | Final Exam   Final Exam:  Comprehensive Laboratory Exam

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late work suffers a 30% deduction and will only be accepted up to one week after the assigned due date. No work will be accepted after the last day of class.

Attendance Policy

This is a face-to-face course. Face-to-face attendance is mandatory.

Course Fees

None

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.