Instructor: Dr. Gregory L. Milligan, T.J. Underwood

Lab times: Tuesday 9 – 11:50 (Section A, Underwood) 2 – 4:50 (Section B, Milligan)

Laboratory: Room 106

Office: Room 103

Office hours: M, W, R, F 11:00-11:50; U, H 12:00 – 12:50

Textbook: None

Grading: 13 Experiments @ 15 points each = 195 points

1 Midterm Exam @ 25 points = 25 points

1 Final exam @ 50 points = 100 points

Total = 320 points

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the techniques used in an organic chemistry research laboratory. As a second semester of a second-year course, the experiments will be quite challenging, the techniques more demanding, and the equipment more sophisticated. Furthermore, the student will need to call upon his or her judgment and ingenuity to solve problems that inevitably will be encountered. The student is expected to do the research necessary to understand, complete, and benefit from the laboratory experience!

The experiments will be performed in “tracks”. Each track begins with a mixture of two organic compounds. The compounds may be organic acids, organic bases, and/or neutral organic compounds. The first task of the track is to separate the mixture using acid-base-neutral extraction or distillation. Once the components of the mixture are separated, they must be identified using NMR and IR spectroscopy. Once identified, the separate compounds are used in further transformations. The products of the transformations must then be purified and identified spectroscopically. Each initial separation and each subsequent transformation counts as an experiment. When all of the transformations in a track are complete, the next track may be begun. All writeups for the experiments in a track must be turned in before another track is begun!

Experiments are worth 15 points each. One midterm and a final exam will be given. The midterm will be "take-home" and will be worth 25 points. The final will last about 1 hour, and will be worth 50 points. Final grades will be assigned the “old-fashioned” way: 90-100% = “A”, 80-89% = “B”, 70-79% = “C”, 60-69% = “D”, and below 60 = “F”.

Safety is of the utmost importance; no experiment is worth an injury. The most important piece of safety equipment is the brain of the student. Think about what you are doing all the time. Ask yourself if you are doing things in the safest way possible. Plan for the worst. No work may be done outside of scheduled lab times unless approved by the instructor!

Safety goggles MUST be worn AT ALL TIMES in the lab. The goggles must be in place before the student enters the lab, or first thing upon arrival. I strongly suggest that the student wear a lab coat or apron. This need not be elaborate; an old shirt or apron worn over street clothes offers a measure of protection. Aprons are available in the lab for students' use. Under no circumstances may the student wear shorts, short skirts,

or open-toed shoes. Latex and vinyl gloves are provided for students' use in the lab but be aware that the gloves, vinyl especially, are attacked by organic solvents and offer only limited, temporary protection.

Each student will keep a proper notebook. Notebooks may be purchased at the Bookstore. You may use a notebook from General Chem. Lab as long as it has duplicate, numbered pages. All notations and calculations must be written in the notebook; not on any other piece of paper. The student will write down everything that can be written down in advance of the actual experiment, including the procedure to be followed and the tables to be used with the experiment. When the experiment is performed, any changes from the original plan are noted, as are any observations made. When an item needs to be changed, it is crossed out with a single line and the new item is added. After the experiment is done, the student completes all calculations and data analysis in the notebook. The report that is turned in should include: 1) A fully completed "writeup cover sheet" (see online experiment) and: 2) The carbonless copy of the notebook pages for that experiment. The notebook pages are not expected to be a “cleaned-up” version of events. They will have crossed-out mistakes and changes, spills, burn marks, etc. This will not affect the grade for the lab; what counts is that the required items are present. The student is expected to learn to use ChemSketch to generate structures for inclusion in lab reports.

Finally, the student is reminded that labs are fun! If you work safely and efficiently, I am confident you will find Organic lab enjoyable and rewarding.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as-soon-as possible.

Track	Date	Task	Transformation ID
0	1/16	Measurements and manipulations	M
1	1/23	Separate an organic acid from a neutral organic	S1
	1/30	Organic acid transformation	T1A1
	2/6	Organic neutral transformation	T1N1
2	2/13	Separate an organic acid from a neutral organic	S2
	2/20	Organic acid transformation	T2A1
	2/27	Organic acid transformation	T2A2
	3/6	Organic neutral transformation	T2N1
	3/20	Organic neutral transformation	T2N2
	3/27	Catch-up day
3	4/3	Separate an organic acid, base, and neutral	S3
	4/10	Organic acid transformation	T3A1
	4/17	Organic neutral transformation	T3N1
	4/24	Organic base transformation	T2B1