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CH334

Organic Chemistry ( CRN 10188, 3 cr )

Course Outline
Exams
Course Schedule
External Links
Email Dr. Gable
Organic Chemistry

CH 334 is the first term of a year-long sequence (Ch 334, 335, 336) intended to provide an in-depth overview of the properties, reactivity and transformations of carbon compounds.  The focus of CH 334 in to provide an understanding of bonding and structure in organic molecules, illustrate concepts surrounding the electronegativity and its impact on structure, and to introduce nucleophilic and electrophilic reaction mechanisms as applied to nucleophilic substitution and electrophilic addition reactions.

Lectures:  11-12 MWF, LPSC 125 (Auditorium)
Instructor:  Prof. Kevin P. Gable
Contact information:  kevin.gable@oregonstate.edu
Office:  Weniger 341
Office Hours:  Monday 3-4 p.m. or by appointment (see my schedule for free times).

Required resources:
Text:  Vollhardt and Schore, "Organic Chemistry: Structure and Function," 6th Edition.   The Solutions Manual and Study Guide is recommended.
A molecular model kit is required.
We have asked OSU Bookstores to stock a package which includes the text, solutions manual, a model kit and E-text access for 12 months. You are also welcome to purchase any of these separately.
Access to Blackboard is required for weekly quizzes; referral to Web pages used in course lectures is recommended but not required.


Prerequisites:CH 123 or CH 223 or (CH 233 and CH 263) or CH 226H and one year general chemistry or instructor approval. CH 130 does not meet the prerequisites for this course.

Course content: see link.

Measurable Learning Outcomes: See chapter-by-chapter learning goals articulated in pages linked via the course schedule.

News Items:
  • The publisher has informed me that the e-text version of Vollhardt and Schore's "Organic Chemistry" can be purchased directly through the link at http://ebooks.bfwpub.com/organic6e.php. The list price is $83.95.
  • I have updated the exams page to reflect this fall's schedule.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 1 Key.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 2 Key.
  • I have scheduled a review session next Tuesday evening from 5-7 p.m. Because our normal room is heavily booked, we will meet in Gilbert 224. You may come and go as your schedule demands. I will have no new information, but you are encouraged to bring questions about the material, and identify problems from the book you'd like to see worked.
  • Remember that Exam 1 will be in class next Wednesday, Oct. 19.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 3 Key.
  • Oct. 21: I have (I believe) fixed the corrupted image file for Quiz 4, Problem 4. However, I will check grades and make sure everyone who does the quiz on time receives credit for that question.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 4 Key. It's not clear, but the answer to Q. 2 is "c".
  • I have scheduled a review session for the second exam. This will be Friday, Nov. 4 from 5-7 p.m. in Gilbert 224. Same format as last time.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 5 Key.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 6 Key.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 7 Key.
  • We have a work-study position available to help establish a bar-coded inventory system in the research labs in LPSC. This requires some background in Organic Chemistry. If you qualify for work-study and are interested, please contact paula.christie@oregonstate.edu
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 8 Key.
  • Quiz 9 will be available through Monday, Nov. 28 at 5 pm.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 9 Key.
  • Our review session will be Friday, Dec. 2 from 4-6 pm in Gilbert Hall, Room 224. As before, you may come and go as you need.
  • Here is the link to the Quiz 10 Key.
  • Final letter grades were assigned on the percent (out of 500, less any excused work):
    A >83%
    A- 80-83%
    B+ 76-79%
    B 70-75%
    B- 66-69%
    C+ 62-65%
    C 57-61%
    C- 53-56%
    D 50-52%
    F <50%

How to succeed in Organic Chemistry

Course Schedule and links to learning goals

Course Grading Policy and Evaluation of Student Performance:
There are three contributors to the final letter grade:
  1. Weekly quizzes on Blackboard (10 points each; 100 points total).  Questions will be designed to be similar to assigned exercises from the text.  You may use your book, class notes, or the Web for reference; you may change answers as often as you wish before the completion deadline; you are expected to submit your own work.  Submission will close at 5 p.m. the Friday of each week; after that, answer keys will be visible and no additional submissions will be accepted.  The goal of the quizzes is to ensure you are able to apply the material from class to problems you are likely to see on an exam.  (Note:  because of Dead Week restrictions, the final quiz will be practice for the final only; all students will receive 10 points.)
  2. Midterm exams (2; 100 points each; 200 points total) will cover material discussed in class and the chapters supporting that in the text.  You should expect problems to take a similar format to assigned problems from the text.  Questions will assess your mastery of the Learning Goals listed for each chapter.
  3. Final Exam (200 points).  This will be comprehensive.  Material not covered on Midterms 1 and 2 will receive heavier emphasis. Exam details are on the Exams link
Your letter grade will be based on the total number of points earned.  The grading scale will be curved; the average score will represent the B/B- cutoff.

Makeup policy:  No makeup work will be allowed.  If you are unable to complete a quiz or attend an exam, you are expected to contact Dr. Gable as soon as reasonably possible.  If your reason for missing the quiz/exam is judged legitimate (at my sole discretion) I may excuse you from the quiz or exam.  In that case, your total score will be prorated according to the percentage out of the points possible (500 less the excused exercise).

Regrades:  You should always ask me to clarify how exams were graded and make a careful comparison between posted answer keys and your answers.  You may request exams be regraded at any point prior to the end of Dead Week, but at that point all grades except the Final Exam become permanent. 

The final exam must be taken for a student to earn credit.

Academic honesty.  Students are expected to follow OSU regulations concerning academic honesty.  Violations (including but not limited to: collaboration on a graded exercise, use of unauthorized material during exams, or submission of altered exams for regrade) will be handled according to procedures laid out in the Academic Regulations and may include penalties up to failure in the course.

Students with special needs:  Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Disability Access Services (DAS). Students with accommodations approved through DAS are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through DAS should contact DAS immediately at 737-4098.
Last updated: 10/08/2011