CHEM 237 A: Organic Chemistry

Course Meeting Times

Lecture

T/TH 1:30-2:50pm
GUG 220

Lesson 1 (Jan 4) and Lesson 2 (Jan 6) will be on Zoom. Links on Canvas Welcome Page.

Lectures are recorded via Panopto, and the recordings will be available on Canvas.

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. *Week 1 discussion section will not meet in person*

Teaching Team

Office Hour Information

Instructor

Dr. Samantha Robinson | sjconnel@uw.edu

Teaching Assistants

Madeline Currie (sections AA, AC, AH, AJ) | mfcurrie@uw.edu

Khoi Ha (sections AD, AF, AM, AO) | khoih@uw.edu

Grant Dixon (sections AE, AG, AI, AK) | gd70@uw.edu

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 to be able to participate in Zoom discussion sections by voice
    • 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 GUG 220
• 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%)
• 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