University of Waterloo – Department of Chemistry
CHEM 264: Organic Chemistry 1 (Fall 2023)
Course Description
Calendar description for CHEM 264:
Structure and bonding in organic chemistry. Isomerism and stereoisomerism in organic compounds. Acidity of organic compounds and substituent effects on acidity. Reaction mechanisms and energetics. Chemistry of alkanes, haloalkanes, alcohols and ethers, alkenes and alkynes. [Offered: F, S]
Units: 0.50
Prereq: CHEM 123 or CHEM 125; Honours students only
Antireq: CHEM 262, 266, NE 122/222
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Have a solid foundation in organic chemistry with emphasis on structure-reactivity relationships
- Use the language of organic chemistry including pushing electrons, conformational analysis and stereochemical nomenclature
- Recognize the ubiquity and importance of acid-base chemistry in organic chemistry
- Recognize specific reactivity patterns of some classes of organic compounds
- Appreciate the inherent logic in organic chemistry
How to achieve the learning outcomes and succeed in this course:
- Read assigned material ahead of lectures and attend lectures
- Recognize that some memorization is required but solving problems/making connections is key
- Do not think that hours spent reading a textbook is equivalent to time spent solving problems and making connections. Do as many problems as possible to check your understanding
- Make full use of the resources available (e.g. instructor, fellow students, Top Hat, www, etc.)
- Use the quizzes as a learning tool
- Keep up with the course material rather than doing last minute cramming (which may have worked in previous courses but will not work in a course that “builds on itself”)
Tentative Course Schedule
|
Week 1 |
Module 1: Structure and Bonding |
|
Week 2 |
Module 3: Chemical Reactivity and Mechanisms |
|
Week 3 |
Module 4: Acids and Bases |
|
Week 4 |
Module 5: Conformations of Acyclic Alkanes and Cycloalkanes |
|
Week 5 |
Module 6: Stereochemistry |
|
Week 6 |
Module 7: SN2 Reactions |
|
Week 7 |
Module 8: SN1 Reactions and Distinguishing Differences between SN1 and SN2 Reactions |
|
Week 8 |
Modules 9 and 10: E1 and E2 Reactions to Form Alkenes |
|
Week 9 |
Module 11: Substitution-Elimination: Discerning the Differences |
|
Week 10 |
Module 12: Alkenes |
|
Week 11 |
Module 13: Alkynes |
|
Week 12 |
Modules 14 and 15: Alcohols and Oxiranes and Ethers |
There will be weekly tutorials on Mondays 4:30 - 5:20 pm in DC 1351 covering the current relevant content.
Texts/Materials
|
Title/Name |
Notes/Comments |
Required |
|
Organic Chemistry, Top Hat online text by Steven Forsey et al. |
Course code is 942442 |
No |
|
Student Molecular Model Kit |
Can be obtained from WStore or online (Recommended – may be used in any exam) |
No |
Student Assessment
|
Component |
Value |
|
Midterm test 1 (50 minutes, Wednesday October 18 ) |
20% |
|
Midterm test 2 (50 minutes, Wednesday November 15) |
20% |
|
Top Hat participation |
5% |
|
~10 online (Waterloo LEARN) quizzes due Thursdays 11:59 pm starting September 14 |
10% |
|
Final exam (2.5 hours) in regular exam period (December)* |
45% |
Alternative evaluation: 10% Online Quizzes + 20% Midterm 1 + 20% Midterm 2 + 50% Final Exam
To pass the course, you must obtain an overall passing grade (i.e. a weighted average of at least 50%) on the midterms and final exam.
For assessments (other than the final exam) that are missed for valid reasons, the value of the assessment will be re-distributed to the other components.