Laboratory focused on the investigation of 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 hours a week are involved in this course.

“Making the Connections: A How-to Guide for Organic Chemistry Lab Techniques” 4th edition (Padis)

ISBN 978-1-64565-215-1

• Apply critical thinking and chemical principles to explain and apply proper organic laboratory techniques
• (SUU ELO’s: Inquiry, Critical Thinking, Integrative Learning)
• Demonstrate the laboratory skills required in the synthesis and purification of organic molecules
• (SUU ELO’s: Inquiry, Analysis, Critical Thinking, Teamwork)
• Demonstrate the application of basic chemical principles in describing organic reaction mechanisms
• (SUU ELO’s: Inquiry, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)
• Develop logical process skills for identifying organic molecular structure from spectra
• (SUU ELO’s: Inquiry, Analysis, Creative Thinking, Problem Solving)
• Demonstrate understanding of the principles relating to the structure and reactivity of organic molecules
• (SUU ELO’s: Inquiry, Analysis, Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Problem Solving)

Distribution of Course Points—

Points may be earned through…

To determine % points for an assignment: (Achieved points) / (Points possible) 100 = % pts

The instructor’s goal is to complete the grading of assignments and exams within 1-week from when they were turned in. Scores are posted using Canvas (). Ensure the recorded assignment/assessment score is the one earned. Please inform me of any discrepancies.

Grading Scheme—

Grades are assigned upon the comparison of the percentage of points earned to the total number possible.

Note: If you are not performing at the level you desire, seek help early to maximize your performance. Do Not ask how to get ‘extra’ points, or for grade bumps, even if you are ‘so close’. This is an especially egregious action in the last couple of weeks of a semester. Final grade curving may occur, but doing so after a student has requested it raises issues of ethical misconduct. Individuals are not provided opportunities for credit that the entire class does not have. These situations often lead to job loss.

I WILL NOT do that for you! BUT: I will do everything I can, ethically, to assist you in achieving your academic goals.

Exams and Quizzes

One regular exam worth 100 pts will be given approximately halfway through the semester. A comprehensive final exam worth 200 points will be given as the conclusion of the course. These exams are composed of questions requiring short answers. Tentative exam dates are identified on the Laboratory Schedule.

A quiz may be offered at the beginning of class to ensure you are familiar with the experimental procedure. Be prepared by reading and completing assignments beforehand and ensuring you know what is being done and why!

Homework/Laboratory Reports

Ensure you read the laboratory description, procedure, and background BEFORE the lab. Reports are due at the next lab meeting at the start of class. Assignments must be on 8½ x 11 paper, stapled, and in the correct order.

Letter Grade Scale

Late Work

Late work (excluding in-class quizzes and exams) is accepted for up to 3 days after the original due date upon agreement to a 30% deduction. If you don’t agree, then please don’t ask me to accept your late work. Assignments more than 3 days late will receive a score of zero.

Late work will be accepted for up to 6 days after the stated due date only if you agree to a loss of 30% of the original value for the assignment. If you don’t agree, then don’t ask me to accept it. Late work includes the following causes: “It was done, but I left it ____ (fill in the blank)”; “I didn’t realize it was due”; “I wasn’t here when you announced the due date”.

Extra Credit

There isn’t any, so don’t ask. I understand people learn and express understanding differently. If you are struggling, I may be able to assist and offer valuable advice, but you need to initiate contact and be willing to follow the suggestions. The later help is sought, the less effective it will be.

—I do not give individuals opportunities for points that the entire class does not have—

Classroom Conduct and Communication

Electronic devices not related to the learning environment are not allowed. Cell phones, smartwatches, etc., are not to be used in class as a calculator. Buy a proper calculator. I am not going to babysit individuals, but the disruption or distraction of others is not acceptable. Implications include loss of grade curving and bonus projects, and in extreme cases, removal of the object or dismissal from class. Devices with AI abilities (glasses, phones, wearables, etc.) are never to be utilized in the classroom, including on quizzes, homework, or exams (See the academic integrity section).

Disruptive behavior cannot be tolerated, and participants will be asked to leave; this includes but is not limited to: texting, talking, sleeping, studying for other courses, arriving late, ringing phones, playing games, distracting activities on a computer, wearing head/earphones, or picking your nose. Don’t embarrass me by making me call you out!

Personal matters that may interfere with you completing this course or an assignment are just that, personal. While I’ll try to be empathetic and understanding you need to understand that everybody has challenges. If you know that challenges will arrive during this course, like a birth, wedding, vacation, or are currently experiencing multiple challenges, you are encouraged not to take this course.

Email etiquette, while not a rule, has an academic impact. Failure to use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary reflects poorly on your academic abilities. Don’t send me an email that you wouldn’t send as part of a professional school application or employment application, SRSLY AFAIK, LOL.

Stapling work is your responsibility; however, I am willing to perform this task for you for 2 points per staple. Also, if you need help organizing the pages of an assignment in the required order, I will do this for 2 points.

Translation services for those who don’t see the need to write clearly or organize their work in such a manner to make it clear what is being done are charged at a rate of up to 20% of the assignment's total value. (10% legibility, 10% organization)

Complete sentences are the only way to answer a question. To encourage complete sentences, a charge of 1 point per infraction will be assessed for lack of a complete sentence or phrase.

University students are held to a higher standard. The above rules may seem childish or unfair, but as initially stated, experience mandates such measures. Ideally, these rules protect those who are here to get a higher education from those who have yet to realize they are at a university. If you don’t agree to abide by these rules, you have a couple of options: take the class from a different instructor, suffer the outlined consequences, call me bad names, give me a bad evaluation, or change majors. If you agree to these rules, I promise a better education and skills that will be invaluable in all aspects of life.

Attendance

To earn full credit, you must attend and actively participate in your assigned lab. Make-up labs are permitted only for school-approved absences and at the instructor’s discretion. These involve additional effort or time. If you anticipate an absence, coordinate with your instructor to join another lab section that week.

Missing class is a choice that you make. The consequences of this include missing information presented, unannounced quizzes, alterations of due dates for assignments, etc. Accepted excuses for missing class include University excused absences and medical emergencies. I need proof and should be made aware of these in advance or ASAP. Unacceptable excuses include your wedding, being locked out of your house, sleeping in, and any other creative excuse that doesn’t fit the above, accepted excuses.

Your course fee covers only chemicals and general lab maintenance; you will be charged for any losses or breakages you incur. All fees must be paid before you can receive a grade!

OSHA-approved safety goggles, not safety glasses, are always required in the laboratory. You must provide your own goggles. Check with your laboratory instructor before purchasing goggles so that you will obtain acceptable ones.

Class material may be accessed through Canvas, located at

A lab drawer stocked with glassware and supplies will be checked out to you on the first day of lab. You are responsible for maintaining this glassware throughout the course and returning it in good condition at the end of the semester.

You must follow laboratory safety rules to be allowed in the laboratory! Proper attire is required. No tank tops, shorts, or sandals are to be worn in the laboratory. Long hair should be restrained. OSHA-approved safety goggles, not safety glasses, are always required in the laboratory. Check with your laboratory instructor before purchasing goggles so that you will obtain acceptable ones. Contact lenses are strongly discouraged in the laboratory. If you do not agree to these rules, you will not be allowed in the laboratory and will receive a zero for the laboratory assignment.

Students should realize that they are voluntarily exposing themselves to a variety of chemicals, some of which could be irritating or hazardous with excessive exposure. For those persons with sensitive medical conditions such as allergies, precautions such as wearing additional protective garments, delaying enrollment, or even not enrolling in a class may be necessary. Women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy should avoid exposure to many chemicals unless approved by their physician.

Never taste or smell a chemical or use your mouth to pipette. Conduct all experiments in fumehoods, not on the benchtop. Wash your hands frequently to avoid accidental contamination of yourself. Wash your hands thoroughly and ensure your clothing is free of chemical contaminants before you leave the lab. For disposal of chemical waste, follow the instructions given. Nothing goes into or down the sink without clear direction. Should you have any doubts about chemical disposal, check with your instructor. You are responsible for keeping your work area clean. Wipe up spilled solids or liquids immediately. Always replace the lids or caps on reagent bottles. Never return chemicals to the original container. Turn off water or electrical equipment when you are through with them.

General Use

Safety is the priority of everyone, including you. Please read the following rules thoroughly, sign, and return the Agreement Sheet (last page of the syllabus) to your instructor before beginning any work in the laboratory. Keep this document for your reference.

I. Personal Protection

• Eye protection is always required in the lab. Approved chemical splash goggles must be worn whenever chemicals are in use anywhere in the lab.
• Know where all the safety equipment is and how to use it: eyewash fountains, safety showers, fire extinguishers, etc.
• Wear appropriate clothing. Shorts or open-toed shoes are not allowed. Long hair should be tied back. Loose, dangly clothing or jewelry can present a hazard and should be avoided.
• If you get anything on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and warm water. Notify your instructor.
• Report any injury, spill, or breakage to your lab instructor, so that proper clean-up procedures may be followed.
• Do not perform unauthorized experiments or change the written procedure without your instructor’s approval.
• Never work alone in the lab.
• Do not bring food or drink into the lab.
• Keep the aisles clear and your work area uncluttered.
• Prepare for the lab. Read over the experiment beforehand and complete any pre-laboratory assignment.
• Be aware of your neighbors’ activities.
• Use fume hoods when necessary to avoid the accumulation of smoke or noxious vapors in the lab.
• Be cautious when using chemicals: read labels and understand hazards. If you are concerned about a 
reagent, ask to see its Material Safety Data Sheet, on file in the chemical stockroom.
• Wash your hands thoroughly upon leaving the lab.

II. Waste and Cleanup

• All waste must be disposed of properly. Some wastes are safe and may be washed down the drain with running water. Others must be collected for appropriate disposal. Each laboratory experiment has a written waste disposal procedure, and your instructor is responsible for making sure this is followed. It is your responsibility to follow your instructor’s instructions. Pay special attention to placing used regents in the proper collection container and not mixing them up. For example, pouring a toxic cobalt solution into an acidic solution that just needs to be neutralized makes the acidic solution toxic. Do not dump anything down the drain without clearing it with your instructor first!
• Proper waste disposal includes minimizing the volume of waste. When rinsing into waste containers, one or two small rinses with swirling will usually be sufficient to eliminate any contamination. After the low-volume rinses are placed into the waste container, the glassware is generally clean enough to wash in the sink. Do not fill the waste container with excessive amounts of rinse water.
• Broken mercury thermometers and any mercury spilled from them are to be cleaned up immediately and disposed of in a designated elemental mercury waste container. Contact your instructor, who will direct cleanup.
• All broken or chipped glassware must be disposed of in broken glass containers. Do not put glass in garbage cans.
• Return chemicals to their proper places immediately upon being finished with them.
• Return all lids to containers immediately after use. This reduces the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals 
and reduces the risk of cross-contamination of chemicals or degradation due to exposure to air.
• Keep the balances, fume hoods, and counter areas clean. Clean up any spills. Consult your instructor for 
proper cleanup procedures.
• Make sure all lights, ovens, hot plates, stir plates, computers, gas, water, etc. are off before leaving the lab.

* MTC = Making the Connections 4th Edition; K = Klein 4th Edition

Each Laboratory has a report sheet (except safety), which can be downloaded from Canvas. You are responsible for downloading these and completing the required portions before the lab. The pre-lab assignments will be checked before you begin the laboratory experiment. The packet is due at the next meeting after the experiment is completed.

Chemistry Laboratory Safety Contract — Agreement

Agreement:

I have read and agree with the safety rules set forth above. I realize that I must obey these rules to ensure my safety, as well as the safety of others. I am aware that any violation of these rules can result in expulsion from the laboratory and a zero on the day’s experiment, and that continued violation will result in receiving an F for the laboratory class.

Instructions:

• Read the safety contract.
• Remove this page from the syllabus.
• Fill in the blank below with your name, sign, and date, and turn this page into your instructor.

Name:_______________________________________________

Signature:____________________________________________          Date:__________________________