CHEM 237 A: Organic Chemistry

Course Meeting Times

Lecture

T/TH 11:00am - 12:20pm
BAG 131

Lectures are recorded via Panopto, and available as live streams.

Attendance is not monitored in lecture and you only need to attend in person for the 3 midterms and the final exam. If you need to miss an exam for any reason, please submit a response to this absence form.

Discussion Sections

Wednesdays (times and locations per the UW Time Schedule)

Discussion sections are not recorded and in-person participation is expected. You are allowed to miss two discussion sections without penalty. If you need to miss discussion section for any reason, please submit a response to this absence form. 

Teaching Team

Office Hour Information

Instructor

Dr. Samantha Robinson | sjconnel@uw.edu

Teaching Assistants

Chris Kim (sections AA, AB, AE, AF) | (use Canvas inbox messages to contact Chris)

Alex Silver (sections AC, AD) | (use Canvas inbox messages to contact Alex)

Course Materials & Connectivity

Textbook

• • • Organic Chemistry, 7th edition (Loudon & Parise, Macmillan)
    • Study Guide & Solutions Manual for Organic Chemistry, 7th edition (Loudon & Parise, Macmillan)
    • Achieve Online Homework (Macmillan)
    • Molecular Model Kit
    • Non-graphing calculator

(More information is available on the Textbook Information Page)

Internet & Instructional Technology

• • Access to a computer or tablet

Need a device? Try Student Technology Loan Program funded by Student Technology Fees

• • Daily online access
    • Canvas (canvas.uw.edu)
    • Achieve Online Homework (Register through the link in the Achieve Canvas Module)
    • Gradescope (gradescope.com)
  • Should we need to pivot to remote discussion sections or exams:
    • Zoom (washington.zoom.us)
    • You will need the ability to convert a sheet of paper and/or file to pdf

You will NOT need a printer or separate scanner for this course, but submissions cannot be a group of individual image files. There are free apps available for both Apple and Android devices: ie, Genius Scan, Scannable, and the native "Notes" app on Apple devices.

Learning Objectives

Students who successfully complete CHEM 237 will be able to

• Describe the core physical and chemical principles that explain bonding in organic molecules

•  Convert between names, two-dimensional representations, and three-dimensional structures of organic compounds

•  Identify acids and bases using both the Lewis and Bronsted frameworks

•  Use the Lewis acid-base framework to describe organic reactions using curved-arrow mechanisms and use those mechanisms to predict the specific results of those reactions

•  Describe how the three-dimensional shape of organic molecules can lead to handedness and different conformations
•  Predict the major product of organic reactions based on reactant structure and reaction conditions for alkene & alkyne reactions

See a more specific breakdown of objectives & skills per chapter in the Canvas site.

Course Components & Grading

The course consists of:

• 2 recorded in-person class sessions per week - Recordings will be available in Panopto in Canvas
• 1 in-person discussion section per week with a teaching assistant (sessions are not recorded)
• Daily work in the Achieve online homework platform
• In-person exams administered during the lecture time in BAG 131
• Various participation assignments: exam reflections, reading assignments, etc.

Some additional notes on grading:

• The final median GPA in Chemistry 237 generally falls between 2.6-2.9. (Historically the class total average percent is ~75% at the end of the quarter)
• It is the Chemistry Department’s policy not to make grade changes of 0.1 after final class grades are submitted to the UW Registrar.
• Your scores for the various assignments and exams will be recorded using the online Gradebooks in Canvas.

Additional Resources in Canvas

Course Schedules: Assignment Due Dates + Reading Schedule

Course Objectives by Unit

Absences / Late Work Policies

Office Hours Schedule

Course Communication

Classroom Climate

Academic Ethics

Access & Accommodations

Keys to Success & Help Resources