CHEM 2151 Organic Chemistry I
Course Description
Systematic treatment of the structure, preparation, properties, and reactions of the principal classes of organic compounds. Fundamental principles of stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, and spectroscopic methods of analysis. Prerequisite: CHEM 1112.
Course Goals
Organic chemistry is, broadly, the study of the compounds of carbon. This element has a subject area of chemistry devoted to it because carbon is a unique element in the periodic table in its ability to form strong bonds with itself and atoms of other elements. Because of this singular characteristic, literally millions of carbon-containing compounds are possible from simple structures like the hydrocarbons of gasoline and alcohol in beverages to complex polymers like proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Organic compounds are effectively the compounds of life.
The first half of the year-long study of organic chemistry will begin with a focus on structural aspects of carbon compounds (i.e. bonding and stereochemistry) and the basic tools used to study the reactions of these compounds. We will follow with an introduction to reaction mechanisms and understand the relationship between structure and reactivity for several basic classes of reactions. The semester concludes with an introduction to organic synthesis, the process of elaborating complex molecules from smaller units, using the reactions of the various “functional groups” that have been introduced through the semester.
Text and Materials
Required:
- Organic Chemistry, L.G. Wade and J.W. Simek, 9th Edition, Pearson
Recommended:
- Solutions Manual for Wade 9th Edition Organic Chemistry, J.W. Simek, Pearson
- Molecular Model Set
CHEM 2152 Organic Chemistry II
Course Description
Continuation of CHEM 2151. Systematic treatment of the structure, preparation, properties, and reactions of the principal classes of organic compounds. Fundamental principles of stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, and spectroscopic methods of analysis. Prerequisite: CHEM 2151.
Course Goals
Organic chemistry is, broadly, the study of the compounds of carbon. This element has a subject area of chemistry devoted to it because carbon is a unique element in the periodic table in its ability to form strong bonds with itself and atoms of other elements. Because of this singular characteristic, literally millions of carbon-containing compounds are possible from simple structures like the hydrocarbons of gasoline and alcohol in beverages to complex polymers like proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Organic compounds are effectively the compounds of life.
The second half of the year-long study of organic chemistry will expand the student’s knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry through the study of specific functional groups. Several basic functional groups and their reactions were introduced in CHEM 2151. In this class, we will continue to use these concepts, as well as introduce more advanced synthetic concepts and techniques. In addition, spectroscopic methods for the determination of the structure of organic molecules will be discussed.
Text and Materials
Required:
- Organic Chemistry, L.G. Wade and J.W. Simek, 9th Edition, Pearson
Recommended:
- Solutions Manual for Wade 9th Edition Organic Chemistry, J.W. Simek, Pearson
- Molecular Model Set
CHEM 6259 Polymer Chemistry
Course Description
A study of the preparation, properties, and structure of macromolecules. Prerequisite: CHEM 2152 and CHEM 3170; or CHEM 3171; or permission of the instructor.
Course Goals
Over the past 80 years, polymer chemistry has had a striking and direct impact on the lives of almost every person. The products made from polymers influence virtually every aspect of our present way of life. As such, more than 60% of all chemists and chemical engineers in the US work, either directly or indirectly, in the polymer industry. While polymer chemistry broadly encompasses different areas of organic, inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry; the synthesis of polymers is very different from the synthesis of small molecules. Indeed, probably the main challenge in polymer chemistry is the application of fundamental chemical and physical techniques and concepts to large and complex molecules.
Due to the inherently interdisciplinary nature of polymer science, this course will draw on the knowledge of several fields of chemistry. Starting with a discussion on the basic concepts and definitions of polymeric materials as well as structure and molecular weight, the course will then move to discuss the organic chemistry of polymers and the reaction engineering of various polymerization techniques. Next, the varying physical states and solution properties of polymers will be discussed, followed by methods for molecular weight determination. Finally, recent advances in polymer synthesis and applications will be examined.
Text and Materials
Required:
- There is no required text for this course. All material will be provided in lecture or from reading assignments.
Recommended:
- Principles of Polymerization, 4th edition (2004) by George Odian, Publisher: Wiley-Interscience.
- Polymer Chemistry, 2nd edition (20007) by Paul Hiemenz and Tim Lodge, Publisher: CRC Press.
- Contemporary Polymer Chemistry, 3rd edition (2003) by H.R. Allcock, F.W. Lampe and J.E. Mark, Publisher: Pearson.
- Principles of Polymer Systems, 5th edition (2003) by F. Rodriguez, C. Cohen, C.K. Ober and L.A. Archer, Publisher: Taylor and Francis.