General information

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Important dates

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Course description

A study of the molecular structure and reactivity of organic compounds based on their functional groups. An introduction to nomenclature, three dimensional structure, physical properties and reaction mechanisms. The use of infrared spectroscopy in elucidation of the structures of organic compounds. A detailed discussion of nucleophilic substitution and elimination reactions of alkyl halides.

Course objectives:

Optional resources:

Organic Chemistry - Study Guide and Solutions Manual, T. W. Graham Solomons, Craig B. Fryhle and Robert G. Johnson, 10th Edition, Wiley International.
Organic Chemistry I: Translating the Basic Concepts, David R. Klein, 2nd Edition, Wiley International.

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Laboratory component

Laboratory sessions begin during the second week of term (week beginning January 7th 2013). The laboratory component is compulsory for credit in CHEM 261. Attendance is mandatory. If a laboratory experiment is missed for a valid reason it may not be counted towards the final laboratory grade. For inexcusable absences a mark of zero will be assigned for the particular experiment. If you know well in advance that you will be unable to attend a scheduled laboratory session, it is your responsibility to inform your laboratory instructor at least one week prior so that arrangements can be made for you to complete the experiment with another laboratory section. Failure to do so will result in a mark of zero being assigned for the missed experiment.

The laboratory component of CHEM 261 constitutes 25% of the overall mark for the course. This 25% is further divided with 17% coming from your performance in the laboratory (results, quizzes, etc.), and the remaining 8% from the final laboratory examination. Students cannot carry forward their laboratory grades from previous attempts of this course. To obtain a minimum grade of at least C– in CHEM 261, a score of 50% or higher must be obtained for the laboratory component, and at least 70% of the experiments must be completed.

During all laboratory sessions – including the first one – you are required to wear a laboratory coat and safety glasses at all times and have your laboratory manual with you. A certain amount of pre-laboratory preparation is also expected. This includes ensuring that you are familiar with the particular experiment and that you have completed the specific hazardous properties table for all chemicals that you will be using.

Laboratory reports must be completed for some experiments. Reports must be submitted for assessment based on the following schedule:

For some experiments, assessment will take the form of a laboratory quiz. Quizzes will typically last 30 minutes and will cover theoretical and practical aspects of the particular experiment. Pre-laboratory quizzes will also be used to test your level of preparation for each experiment.

The department of physical sciences at MacEwan has state of the art instrumentation, housed both within the teaching laboratories and in the dedicated instrument laboratory. The department has the following key capabilities, of particular importance to organic chemistry:

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Evaluation and grading

Evaluation

*Students are responsible for verifying the date of the final examination (see here)

Grading

Grant MacEwan University adheres to the Alberta Common Grading Scheme, which is a 12 point letter grade system. While instructors may use percentages to aid in their grade development, only the letter grade will appear on transcripts. Official grades will be provided by the Registrar's office through myStudentSystem. A minimum grade of C– is required to receive transfer credit or to satisfy a prerequisite for a higher level course.

Examination papers are usually marked within one week of the date of the examination.

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Student responsibilities

Students are expected to be aware of their academic responsibilities as outlined in Grant MacEwan University Policy E3101: Student Rights and Responsibilities (found here).

Academic Integrity: All forms of student dishonesty are considered unacceptable. Grant MacEwan University Policy C1000: Academic Integrity (found here) promotes honesty, fairness, respect, trust, and responsibility in all academic work. According to the policy, “Academic dishonesty involves participating in acts by which a person fraudulently gains or intentionally attempts to gain an unfair academic advantage thereby compromising the integrity of the academic process”. All incidents of academic dishonesty are reported and recorded by the Academic-Integrity-Office. The penalties and sanctions for academic dishonesty can include the following: a mark reduction up to zero on a piece of academic work, a grade reduction up to an F in the course, and suspension or expulsion (with transcript notation) from the University. Please see the academic integrity policy for more details. You are responsible for understanding what constitutes academic dishonesty.

Registration Status: You are responsible for your registration status at the University. Program Advisors (Rm 6-211) may assist you with the process of registration, including adding or dropping of courses, but it is your responsibility to verify that these changes have been officially completed. This veri­fication can be done at any time using myStudentSystem. You should check your official registration status before the last date to officially withdraw from the course.

Withdrawing From The Course: If you stop attending class you must complete a Course Drop Form, have it signed by a Program Advisor (Rm 6-211), and submit it to the Registrar's Office by the last day to withdraw as provided in the Academic Schedule in the Academic Calendar. Fail­ure to officially withdraw will result in a grade being assigned based on course work completed. Late withdrawals are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

Exams: Your student photo I.D. is required at exams. It is at the discretion of the instructor whether you will be allowed to write the exam if you arrive over 15 minutes after the exam has begun. You must remain in the exam room for at least 20 minutes from the time it commenced. Only non-programmable scientific calculators can be used for written exams, which include any laboratory and lecture quizzes. Any devices capable of external communication, such as cell phones, iPods and blue tooth enabled devices, cannot be used for exams of any type. Permission to use the washroom during exams is at the discretion of the instructor and may require accompaniment.

Missed Term Exams: If you miss a term examination you must provide the instructor with an explanation within 24 hours or a mark of zero may be given. Notification may be provided through email, voice mail, or direct contact with the instructor. Official documentation as to why the examination was missed will be needed to assess whether your absence will be excused or not. If your absence is excused the weight of this examination will be added to the weight of the final examination in the course. Medical excuses must include the date you were examined, the specific dates for the period of the illness, a clear statement indicating that the severity of the illness prevented you from attending school or work, and the signature of the examining physician (a signature by office staff on behalf of the physician is not acceptable). Medical notes obtained subsequent to the date of the examination are generally not accepted. A mark of zero will be given if the instructor considers the excuse inappropriate or inadequately substantiated.

Deferred Final Exam: A deferred examination will be granted if a student misses the final lecture examination for reasons considered by the Bachelor of Science Program to be unavoidable (deferred examinations do not apply to term or laboratory examinations). An application for a deferred examination must be provided to the Bachelor of Science Program no later than two business days after the date of the missed final examination. Application forms are available from the individual departments within the Bachelor of Science Program (see Dorothy Skepple, Rm 5-132 for chemistry courses), and must be submitted with appropriate documentation. Students should advise the instructor prior to the examination if they know beforehand that they will be unable to attend the scheduled examination time. Deferred examinations are granted by the Chair, Bachelor of Science Program, not by the course instructor. If you have any questions about the process please contact Program Services (780 497 4520 or science@macewan.ca) or Dorothy Skepple (780 497 4490 or skeppled2@macewan.ca). For further information please refer to Grant MacEwan University Policy C2005: Final Assessment (here) and Policy C2020: Grading (here). Note that C2005 states: only a compelling situation such as serious illness, hospitalization, domestic affliction or religious observance will be considered a valid reason for a student to receive approval for deferral of a final assessment activity and personal vacations are not a sufficient reason.

Late Assignments (including laboratory assignments): As due dates for assignments are known well in advance, medical and other excuses are generally not accepted as a reason for submitting late assignments.

Cell Phones: All cell phones are to be turned off during class and exam periods.

Students With Disabilities: Students with disabilities who may have special requirements in this course are advised to discuss their needs with Services to Students with Disabilities located in the Student Resource Centre. You should advise the course instructor of special needs that are identified. See Policy E3400 Students with Disabilities (here).

Student Appeals: The University has a policy regarding Student Appeals (E3103, found here). You should access this policy to become aware of the deadlines and guidelines that need to be followed if you are appealing a grade or other University assessment.

MyMail.MacEwan.ca Email: All students are given a <name>@mymail.macewan.ca email address. This email address is available to the course instructor who may distribute relevant course information or announcements via email. The Bachelor of Science Program regularly communicates with students via email. Check your mymail.macewan.ca email regularly or forward it to an email address you check regularly. If you use email to communicate with your instructor, you must use your mymail.macewan.ca account. This is to protect your privacy; if a non- mymail.macewan.ca account is used, there is no way for an instructor to verify the identity of the sender.

Disclaimer: The information in this course outline is subject to change.Any changes will be announced in class or, if applicable, in the laboratory.

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Lecture topics