CHEM220 Survey of Organic Chemistry

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics: Chemistry

I. Course Number and Title
CHEM220 Survey of Organic Chemistry
II. Number of Credits
5 credits
III. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester
5250 minutes
IV. Prerequisites
CHEM101 (B or better); or CHEM121 (C or better); or a grade of C or better in both CHEM101 and CHEM102
V. Other Pertinent Information
VI. Catalog Course Description
The structure, synthesis, and reactivity of mono- and poly-functional carbon containing compounds are covered in one semester in this lecture and laboratory course. The laboratory stresses one-step synthesis using a variety of organic laboratory techniques.
VII. Required Course Content and Direction
Survey of Organic Chemistry is an intermediate level organic chemistry course. It is meant for the student interested in biological, medical, or chemical laboratory technology. It also fulfills the requirements of some BA programs in nursing, physical therapy, environmental chemistry, and chiropractic schools.


CHEM 220 is taught using a descriptive, non-mathematical, non-mechanistic approach. The student entering this course should have a strong background in atomic structure, chemical bonding and chemical forces, as well as in chemical equations and stoichiometry.

The study of the most important groups of carbon-containing compounds (alcohols, alkyl halides, acids, amines, amides, aldehydes, ketones, aromatic compounds, and others) is undertaken. This study covers their structure, nomenclature, preparation, and reactions. The uses and biological applications of the most important organic compounds are discussed.

In the laboratory part of this course, an analytical approach to functional group identification will be used, both with test-tube chemistry and with spectroscopy (mainly IR). Synthetic organic chemistry will be represented by one-step type reactions, and product separation and identification will be stressed using chromatographic techniques as well as other routinely used separation techniques such as crystallization and distillation.

  1. Learning Goals:

    1. Course Learning Goals
    2. Students will be able to

      1. analyze the structure of an organic compound by recognizing main functional groups, naming the compound using the IUPAC system, and predicting its properties using the type of bonding, hybridization state, intermolecular forces and stereochemistry;
      2. recognize the structure of complex organic compounds, such as DNA, sugars, and proteins through a knowledge of their basic building blocks, such as acids, amines, and alcohols;
      3. predict the properties of different classes of organic compounds by using texts and handbooks of chemistry; and
      4. demonstrate proficiency in organic laboratory skills as they pertain to: chemical information, safe handling, use and disposal of organic compounds, synthetic procedures, including isolation, purification and structure elucidation of obtained products;

    3. Core Learning Goals (if applicable)
  2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

    Course Outline:

    1. Organic Chemistry, the Compounds of Carbon: Electronic Structure, Bonding, Functional Groups, and Structural Isomerism
    2. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes: Structure, Nomenclature, IUPAC System, Isomerism, Properties, Reactions, and Sources
    3. Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: Structure, Nomenclature, Cis-trans Isomerism, and Reactions
    4. Alcohols, Ethers, Thiols and Phenols: Structure, Nomenclature, Properties, and Reactions
    5. Amines: Structure, Properties, and Reactions
    6. Aldehydes and Ketones: Structure, Nomenclature, Properties, and Reactions
    7. Carboxylic Acids: Structure, Nomenclature, Properties, Preparation, and Reactions
    8. Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids: Nomenclature, Properties of Esters, Anhydrides, Amides: Preparation and Reactions
    9. Optical Isomerism: Chirality and Optical Isomerism, Prediction and Detection in the Laboratory
    10. Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Oligosaccharides
    11. Lipids: Fats and Oils, Soaps and Detergents, Biological Membranes, Vitamins, and Steroids
    12. Amino Acids and Proteins: Acid-Base Properties, Primary Structure of Polypeptides and Proteins

    Laboratory Experiments:


    1. Introduction: Laboratory Equipment
    2. Laboratory Safety and Waste Disposal
    3. Melting Point Determinations
    4. Boiling Point Determinations
    5. Crystallization
    6. Preparation of Alkenes from Alcohols: Cyclohexene from Cyclohexanol
    7. Oxidation: Cyclohexanol to Cyclohexanone to Adipic Acid
    8. Preparation of Acetylsalicylic Acid
    9. Esterification: Preparation of Methyl Benzoate
    10. Reactions of Amines

    Learning Activities: Instruction aims to enable the student to:

    1. predict products for some of the most important organic chemical reactions;
    2. synthesize several classes of organic compounds in the laboratory that were previously studied in the lecture;
    3. write preparation reactions for important classes of compounds, such as acids, and amines;
    4. construct 3-dimensional models of all the classes of organic compounds;
    5. learn to use some basic laboratory equipment and to interpret the results of instrumental studies and wet laboratory techniques;
    6. name different classes of organic compounds by the IUPAC system;
    7. and
  3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

    1. Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals (if applicable)

VIII. Teaching Methods Employed
