Preparation for Fundamental Chemistry, CHM235, Section 45937,

Spring 2011 Glendale Community College Main Campus

Course Description

Course
Information/Objec
tives

Lecture Time/Location
Instructor

This course is a rigorous introduction to the chemistry of carboncontaining compounds. Reaction mechanisms and recent methods of
synthesis are emphasized. The chemistry prerequisite for CHM235 is
one year of General Chemistry (CHM151-CHM152) or equivalent.
This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of organic
chemistry. The class focuses on structure, reactions, mechanisms,
nomenclature and synthesis.
1. Describe the bonding properties of the element carbon.
2. Describe the relationship between a compounds structure and its
chemical properties.
3. Define acids and bases in terms of Bronsted-Lowry and Lewis
acid-base theory.
4. Define bond dissociation energy, activation energy and enthalpy of
reactions in terms of transition state theory.
5. Outline the reaction mechanisms for nucleophilic substitution,
elimination, electrophilic addition, and free radical reactions as
applied to alkanes, organic halogen compounds, alkenes, alkynes,
and conjugated dienes.
6. Compare stabilities of confirmations of cyclic and acyclic
compounds.
7. Name and draw structures of appropriate examples of organic
compounds.
8. Outline stepwise syntheses of organic compounds from simpler
starting compounds.
9. Interpret infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra.
10. Describe methods of separating stereoisomers from each other.
11. Use accepted nomenclature conventions to define the structures
of stereoisomers.
Glendale Community College, main campus, Room PS-156, Tuesdays
and Thursdays, 11:30 am to 12:45 pm starting on 01/18/2011.
Dr. Robert J. Strelau

Contact Information

Campus telephone: (623) 845-3123

E-mail: robert.strelau@gcmail.maricopa.edu
Please use e-mail to contact me as this gets checked daily.

Office Hours

There are no defined office hours, but I shall be at GCC Main Campus
on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and will participate in the
help sessions held in HT2. If you need help and guidance, please
make an appointment to meet with me or attend the help session.

Required Course
Materials

The text is Organic Chemistry, Janice Gorzynski Smith (3 rd edition).

You will need a model set capable of building organic molecules. Also

recommended is the Solutions Manual to accompany the text.

Additional course information, take-home exercises, and slides can be
downloaded from the http://www.gccaz.edu/chemistry web site.
Course Format

1. There are 30 meeting dates exclusive of finals.

2. 4 meetings are reserved for formal exams as shown on the last page.
3. The final exam is given during finals week.

Cell Phone/Recording Activated cell phones are not allowed in class. As a courtesy to your
Policy
classmates, please turn off your cell phones prior to entering class.
You may record the audio of lectures for personal use only. Video
taping of lectures is not permitted.
Attendance

Attendance is taken at all meetings and is necessary for success. You

may be dropped from the course with a W if you miss more than 3
lectures. If you withdraw from the course on or before 4/1, you must
also drop the lab section.

Special
Circumstances

Federal law requires that colleges address the special needs of

disabled, disadvantaged, or handicapped students. If you fall into this
category, please contact the Office of Disability Services and Resources
on the main GCC campus, SPS-31 or phone at (623) 845-3080. They
will provide you with a letter or note to me indicating the type of special
needs required.

Grading Scale

Four exams covering chapters, 4 X 100 =

Twelve take-home exercises, 12 X 15 =
Final exam, Spectroscopy, 1 X 100 =
Total

Class Operation

Student
Responsibilities
Disclaimer

400 points (56.8%)

180 points (26.5%)
100 points (14.7%)
680 points

A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C=70-79%, D=60-69%, F<60%

Fractional points of total score are rounded to the next highest whole
number.
The course schedule is attached. I shall make every attempt to adhere
to that schedule. Lectures will consist of Powerpoint slides, major
blackboard work and exercises. You are expected to participate in
class. Should it become necessary to make modifications, students will
be notified by me prior to any changes. There are no makeups on
exams. A zero will be recorded for any missed exam unless there is a
valid excuse.
Students are responsible for complying with all information given in this
syllabus, and for all college policies included in the college catalog and
the student handbook.
This syllabus is intended as an outline only. Certain topics, chapters,
assignments, dates, or exams may be omitted, added, or changed,
dependent upon time restrictions and unforeseen circumstances.
Please retain this syllabus for future reference.

Course Schedule

1
2
3

Date
Tuesday, 1/18/11
Thursday, 1/20/11
Tuesday, 1/25/11

4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Thursday, 1/27/11
Tuesday, 2/1/11
Thursday, 2/3/11
Tuesday, 2/8/11
Thursday, 2/10/11
Tuesday, 2/15/11
Thursday, 2/17/11

11 Tuesday, 2/22/11
12 Thursday, 2/24/11
13 Tuesday, 3/1/11
14 Thursday, 3/3/11
15 Tuesday, 3/8/11
16 Thursday, 3/10/11
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27

3/13/11-3/19/11
Tuesday, 3/22/11
Thursday, 3/24/11
Tuesday, 3/29/11
Thursday, 3/31/11
Tuesday, 4/5/11
Thursday, 4/7/11
Tuesday, 4/12/11
Thursday, 4/14/11
Tuesday, 4/19/11
Thursday, 4/21/11
Tuesday, 4/26/11

28 Thursday, 4/28/11
29 Tuesday, 5/3/11
30 Thursday, 5/5/11
Thursday, 5/12/11

Topic(s)
Chapter 1, Structure and Bonding
Chapter 2, Acids and Bases
Chapter 3, Introduction to Organic
Molecules and Functional Groups
Chapter 3 continued
Chapter 4, Alkanes
Exam #1
Chapter 4 continued
Chapter 5, Stereochemistry
Chapter 5 continued
Chapter 6, Understanding Organic
Reactions
Chapter 6 continued
Exam #2
Chapter 7, Alkyl Halides and
Nucleophilic Substitution
Chapter 7 continued
Chapter 7 continued
Chapter 8, Alkyl Halides and
Elimination Reactions
Spring Break, No Classes
Chapter 8 continued
Exam #3
Chapter 9, Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides
Chapter 9 continued
Chapter 9 continued
Chapter 10, Alkenes
Chapter 10 continued
Chapter 11, Alkynes
Chapter 11 continued
Exam #4
Chapter 13, Mass Spectrometry and
Infrared Spectroscopy
Chapter 13 continued
Chapter 14 Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance Spectroscopy
Chapter 14 continued
Final Exam covering Spectroscopy
Chapters 13 and 14

Comments
Exercise #1 due 1/20/11
Exercise #2 due 1/25/11
Exercise #3 due 2/1/11
Covers Chapters 1-3
Exercise #4 due 2/10/11
Bring model kits to class
Exercise #5 due 2/17/11
Exercise #6 due 2/24/11
Covers Chapters 4-6

Exercise #7 due 3/10/11

Exercise #8 due 3/24/11

Covers Chapters 7-8
Exercises #9 due 4/7/11
Exercise #10 due 4/14/11
Exercise #11 due 4/21/11
Covers Chapters 9-11

Exercise #12 due on 5/05/11

11:00 am to 12:50 pm

Notes: (1) Chapter 12 is covered in CHM236. (2) Exercises must be turned in by the due date or
a zero will be received.