CHEM 237 A: Organic Chemistry

Winter 2026
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Meeting:
TTh 1:00pm - 2:20pm
SLN:
12152
Section Type:
Lecture
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

CHEM 237A Canvas Site Home Page

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer."

Albert Einstein

Course Meeting Times

Lecture

T/TH 1:00pm - 2:20pm
GUG 220

Lectures are recorded via Panopto, and generally available as live streams (links in Course Schedule)

The best learning happens when as many students as possible participate in our large group lecture sections! While we do not formally track or excuse lecture attendance, PollEverywhere participation and engagement earns course credit (some polls are dropped to allow for absences; further excusals for absences or live stream glitches are not available.). See the Grading System page for more info.

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

To contact us, see Communication, Contact Information, and Office Hours.

Instructor

Dr. Samantha Robinson (she/her) | sjconnel@uw.edu

Office: BAG 202D (above the front doors of Bagley Hall)

Office Hours will begin in week 2; time and location TBA

Teaching Assistants

Sarah Ransom, Valencia Parker, Corvo Tran

Course Materials

More information is available on the Textbook, Online Homework, and Materials Information Page

  • Organic Chemistry, 7th edition (Loudon & Parise) and our online homework is embedded in Macmillan's Achieve platform, available through Day One Access. 
  • Study Guide & Solutions Manual for Organic Chemistry, 7th edition (recommended)
  • Molecular Model Kit (recommended)
  • Non-graphing calculator

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
  • Draw and evaluate Lewis structures and resonance forms
  • Identify organic functional groups
  • Convert between names, two-dimensional representations, and three-dimensional structures of organic compounds
  • Describe intermolecular forces found in organic molecules and explain their impact on physical properties
  • Describe push-pull effects that modify electron distributions (such as resonance and induction) and explain how that impacts chemical reactivity
  • Predict the 3D shape and chirality of molecules and identify constitutional or stereoisomers to explain their properties
  • Explain the Lewis and Bronsted definitions of acids and bases and identify factors that change acid and base strength
  • Explain the relative stability or reactivity of a group of similar compounds
  • Describe common organic reactive intermediates such as carbocations and apply them to organic reactions
  • Use the Lewis acid/base framework to draw curved arrow mechanisms to describe organic reactions involving alkenes and alkynes
  • When given either the reactant or product of a reaction involving alkenes and alkynes, predict the other

See a more specific breakdown of objectives & skills per chapter on the Course Learning Objectives page in Canvas.

Course Components & Grading

The course consists of:

  • 2 in-person class sessions per week - Recordings and live stream 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 (3 midterms and 1 final exam) administered in GUG 220
  • Various participation assignments: PollEverywhere, exam reflections, reading assignments, etc.

You can find more specific information on the percent of your grade earned from each task on the Grading System page.

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 Gradebook in Canvas.

Resources in Canvas

Catalog Description:
First course for students planning to take three quarters of organic chemistry. Introduction to physical properties, structure, nomenclature, and stereochemistry of organic compounds. Reactions of alkenes and alkynes. No organic laboratory accompanies this course. CHEM 237; CHEM 238; and CHEM 239 (or equivalents) must be completed in sequence. Course equivalent to: B CHEM 237. Course overlaps with: CHEM 220; CHEM 223; CHEM 257; and T CHEM 251. Prerequisite: a minimum grade of 1.7 in either CHEM 153, CHEM 162, or CHEM 165. Offered: AWSpS.
GE Requirements Met:
Natural Sciences (NSc)
Credits:
4.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
January 9, 2026 - 7:23 am