CHEMISTRY 442

Spectroscopy and Molecular Structure

Fall 2005 Syllabus

Instructor:                                        Office:                                       Phone:                       Home Phone:

Dr. Holly D. Bendorf                        209 HBC                                     4365                            998-8647

Course Schedule:

                Lecture:                                                  MWF  11:30 – 12:20                             Room 215

                Lab Sections:                                        Th  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 and mass spectrometry.  Both theory and applications will be addressed with an emphasis on problem solving.

Text and Materials:

• "Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds"  7th edition, Silverstein, Webster and Kiemle, 2005. 

Please bring your book to class! 

• Bound laboratory notebook (Freeman).

• Your old 220-221 lab manual.

• Lab deposit ($10.00 at lab check-in, will be returned, minus breakage charges, at check-out).

• Safety glasses or goggles.

• Calculator – Please note that the Chemistry Department does not permit the use of programmable calculators during exams or quizzes.

Grading Criteria:                                                Quizzes                                  75 pts                    

                                                                                Take-home Quizzes              60 pts    

                                                                                Exams                                     300 pts                  

                                                                                Laboratory                            135 pts  

                                                                                Final                                       150 pts                  

Total points: 720

Letter grades will be assigned as follows:  A (648-720), B (576-648), C (504-576), D (432-504), F (432 or below).  Keep in mind that +/- grades are included in the ranges shown above.

Take-home Quizzes are due at the beginning of class.  Late quizzes will not be accepted.   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.  Answers that provide a structure with no explanation will receive little credit.  Answer keys will be posted on the bulletin board by the lab.

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 29, November 3, and December 1.  See the course outline for tentative quiz dates. 

Lab:  The lab grade consists of the total of three lab reports (40 points each) and a grade on lab technique and etiquette (15 points).  Lab technique and etiquette include:  preparedness for lab, punctuality, 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 may also result in 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.  The lab syllabus can be found on the last page of this handout.

Attendance is mandatory.  Three absences are permitted.  Each additional absence will result in a deduction of five points from the overall course grade (I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences).  Exam, quiz and lab make-ups are not permitted EXCEPT in cases where (1) I have been notified of the absence beforehand, and (2) the absence is for a purpose I deem legitimate (major illness, family emergency). The final exam grade (%) will be substituted for an exam that is missed due to an excused absence.  

Participation:  I like to run this course as a workshop.  Come to class ready to work on spectra and to teach your fellow students your strategies for solving spectra.  The key to success in this course is to work as many spectral problems as possible – in and out of class. 

Academic Dishonesty, such as copying the work of another or allowing someone else to copy your work and submit it as his/her own, whether it is 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 Student Handbook. 

Cell Phones:  Cellular phones are not permitted in class or in the lab.  Please turn off your phone before class or lab and keep it in your backpack or purse. 

Extra Credit:  Extra credit points (3) can be earned by attending departmental colloquia, up to a maximum of 15 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 (Subject to Change)

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, or that we may choose to spend additional time on a topic due to class interest.  If you have any questions regarding the schedule, please ask!

A few notes regarding the schedule:

•  All exams will be given on Thursdays, during the lab period.  These dates will not be changed, barring some unforeseen and unusual situation!

•  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.

•  Reading assignments are given on the syllabus.  Read the assignments before class.  Homework assignments will be given throughout the semester.  You should begin working on the assignment as soon as possible after we cover the material in class.  Although the assignments may consist of only a few problems, please realize that some spectral problems may require a considerable amount of analysis (and time).  

•  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….so plan ahead!

One final thought…

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 mistakes and learning from those mistakes.  Try not to get frustrated if the problems seem tough at first--with patience and practice they get a lot easier.  And remember, I am always willing to work with you and answer your questions.  Most importantly, have fun!!  What other class gives you credit for working puzzles?!?!