Lycoming Chemistry 442 Syllabus, Fall 1997

While every effort has been made to make sure this electronic syllabus is error-free, it is not official.
The definitive source of course information remains the original (paper) syllabus distributed in class.

CHEMISTRY 442
Spectroscopy and Molecular Structure

Fall 1997 Syllabus


Instructor:            Office:         Phone:     Home Phone:
Dr. Holly D. Bendorf   209 HBC         4365       327-2888

Course Schedule:

         Lecture:                 MWF  9:00 - 9:50 am      Room 203
         Lab Sections:            R  7:45 - 11:35 am       Room 239

Office Hours: By appointment or walk-in.

Course Description: We will examine the modern techniques for the structural elucidation of organic molecules, including IR, NMR, UV, and mass spectrometry. Both theory and applications will be addressed with an emphasis on problem-solving.

Text and Materials:
"Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds" 5th edition, Silverstein, Bassler, and Morrill, 1991.
Bound laboratory notebook (Freeman).
Lab deposit ($10.00 at lab check-in, will be returned, minus breakage charges, at check-out).
Safety glasses or goggles.

Grading Criteria:

                             Quizzes             75 pts         (10%)     
                             Assignments         70 pts         (10%)
                             Class Participation 20 pts          (3%)
                             and Attendance
                             Exams               300 pts        (40%)     
                             Laboratory          135 pts        (17%)
                             Final               150 pts        (20%)

Total points: 750
Letter grades will be assigned as follows: A (675-750), B (600-674), C (525-599), D (450-524), F (449 or below). Keep in mind that +/- grades are included in the ranges shown above.

Assignments: Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the dates indicated in the course outline. Late assignments will not be accepted. These problem sets will be graded on a 10 point scale, and grades will be assigned based on completion and overall quality. Be sure to show all work: present your answers as if you are trying to convince me that your structural assignment is correct. Full credit will not be given for answers that show only a structure and no explanation. Answer keys will be posted on the bulletin board outside of my office and will also be on reserve in the library.

Exams and Quizzes: There will be 3 quizzes and 3 midterm exams. Quizzes are intended to encourage you to stay current with the work and to help you identify "trouble spots" before taking the exams. The exams will be administered in lab on September 25, October 23, and November 20. See the course outline for quiz dates.

Lab: The lab grade consists of the total of three lab reports (40 points each) and a grade on lab technique (15 points). Lab technique includes: proper handling of chemicals and equipment, lab hygiene, and group etiquette.

It is imperative that you come to the lab fully prepared. Careful planning and preparation before you arrive at the lab will allow you to complete your experiments in an efficient and safe manner. Missing or arriving late to prelab will result in a reduced grade and/or dismissal from the lab.

Unsafe behavior in the lab will not be tolerated and violations will be penalized. Repeated violations during a class may result in a zero for that lab. Lab safety and policy will be addressed at the first lab meeting.

Attendance is mandatory. Three absences are permitted. Each additional absence will result in a deduction of three points from the participation and attendance grade. Make-ups are not permitted for quizzes or labs unless the absence has received prior approval from me. The final exam grade (%) will be substituted for an exam that is missed due to an excused absence. Remember, I need to be notified prior to the absence. In case of an emergency, you may call me at home or call Theresa's office (4180) and leave a message on her machine. Notification via the Dean's office is also fine.

Participation: The key to success in this course is to work lots of problems. I expect everyone to try the problems given in class. Also, participation in class discussions regarding problem-solving techniques and solutions to problems is encouraged and expected.

Academic Dishonesty, such as copying the work of another or allowing someone else to copy your work and submit it as their own, whether it be on an exam, quiz, lab report, or assignment, will not be tolerated. Penalties for academic dishonesty range from receiving a failing grade on the assignment to dismissal from the college, depending on the nature of the offense. For more information regarding the College policy on academic dishonesty, consult the Pathfinder or Student Handbook.

Extra Credit: Extra credit points (3) can be earned by attending departmental colloquia, up to a maximum of 21 points. Extra credit points will be used to nullify points lost due to unexcused absences before they will be applied to one's grade.

Course Outline

Every effort will be made to stick to the schedule outlined on the next two pages. Keep in mind that it is quite possible that we may get ahead or behind the schedule by a day or two. If you have any questions regarding the schedule, please don't hesitate to ask.

A few notes regarding the schedule:

All exams will be given on Thursdays, during the lab period. These dates will not be changed.
Quiz dates are tentative and may vary depending on our progress with the lecture material. If we need to move a quiz, I will make every effort to give at least a week's notice.
The homework assignments are listed on the day that they are due. You should work on the assignments as we cover the material in class. Although the assignments consist of only a few problems, please realize that some spectral problems may require a considerable amount of analysis (and time). Also, I have found that even simple spectral problems can become incredibly difficult if I have not had enough sleep or can not concentrate well for some reason.

One final note:

Every chemist develops his or her own method for solving problems. This is especially true in spectroscopy. The only way anyone ever becomes proficient at solving spectral problems is by working lots of problems, making the occasional mistake and learning from those mistakes. Try not to get frustrated if the problems seem kind of tough at first--with patience and practice they get a lot easier. Most importantly, try to have fun!! What other class gives you credit for working puzzles?!?!

THIS SCHEDULE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION....

Week Dates  Topic                           Q or E Reading Assignment  Homework Problems

1   25-Aug  Intro. to structural determination             Chapter 1      
    27-Aug  combustion analysis and DU calculation               2.6       
    29-Aug  Mass Spec:  instrumentation and theory             2.1-3          

2    1-Sep  High resolution mass spec., the molecular ion peak 2.4-6                                              
     3-Sep  Fragmentation patterns...                         2.7-10         
     5-Sep  ...of classes of organic compounds                   2.1       

3    8-Sep  problems                                           		2.1-8
    10-Sep  CI mass spec                  
    12-Sep  Infrared Spectroscopy:  theory, instrumentation Q  3.1-4         

4   15-Sep  Functional group absorptions...                    3.5-6          
    17-Sep  ...and interpretation                                3.6       
    19-Sep  as above       					 3.6       

5   22-Sep  problems                 					3.1-12
    24-Sep  NMR theory     				Thursday 4.1       
    26-Sep  Instrumentation and practical considerations Exam 	 4.2            

6   29-Sep  Chemical shift:  measurement and influencing factors 4.3                                                 
     1-Oct  Chemical shift:  correlation to functional groups  Appendix B          
     3-Oct  no classes                    

7    6-Oct  Integrations, simple spin-spin coupling         	 4.4    4.1, handout
     8-Oct  protons on heteroatoms        		       4.5-6          
    10-Oct  the coupling constant, karplus curve  	Q 	4.11      

8   13-Oct  chemical and magnetic equivalence       	  4.7-10, 12
    15-Oct  decoupling techniques                            4.13-14        
    17-Oct  problems                 

9   20-Oct  problems                 					4.2-5 and Ch. 9(TBA)
    22-Oct  problems  				    Thursday            
    24-Oct  13C NMR: intro., practical considerations Exam 5.1,2,4,6                                            

10  27-Oct  chemical shifts          				 5.3       
    29-Oct  chemical shift calculations        			 5.5       
    31-Oct  problems                 					5.1-6 and Ch. 9(TBA)

11   3-Nov  problems                 
     5-Nov  problems                
     7-Nov  Advanced NMR techniques:  DEPT     quiz 	       6.1,3        

12  10-Nov  HETCOR         					 6.3       
    12-Nov  COSY      						 6.2       
    14-Nov  NOE difference      			       6.5,6        

13  17-Nov  Dynamic NMR                   				6.2-4 and Ch. 9(TBA)
    19-Nov  problems  				Thursday            
    21-Nov  UV: theory and sample prep.   	  Exam 	       7.1-3          

14  24-Nov  Interpretation of UV          			 7.4       
    26-Nov  No classes                    
    28-Nov  No classes                    

15   1-Dec  Interpretation of UV          			 7.4       
     3-Dec  Techniques for determining absolute stereochemistry:        7.1-3 and Ch. 9(TBA)
     5-Dec  polarimetry, chiral shift rgts., ORD/CD                        

Finals Week   The final exam will be administered on the date and time 
	      assigned by the registrar. No Exceptions!

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Last updated August 28, 1997.
The URL for this page is http://lyco2.lycoming.edu/dept/chem/fall1997/442syl.htm