this page last modified

This lab course is for biochemistry and nonchemistry majors. If you are a chemistry major, you should take the Chem 3361/3381 series, which meets twice as often and has twice the credit hours.

Chem 3341 is a continuation of Chem 3321, Organic Chemistry 1 Lab. The laboratory techniques learned in 3321 are utilized to carry out reactions in aromatic substitution, organometallic chemistry, oxidation and reduction chemistry, esterifications, aldol condensations, and azo dye chemistry. A significant portion of the semester is devoted to determining the structure of unknown organic compounds, both theoretically in the spectroscopy section and practically in the separation and identification of an unknown compound, as well as verifying the identification of compounds synthesized in lab.

The 3341 Lab Manual is titled "Experiments for Organic Chemistry, 3341, Fall 2008." It is sold in a shrink-wrapped package in the CU Bookstore. If you lose/forget/prefer not to purchase this Manual, you can use the PDF versions available online:

• 3341 Lab Manual

jump to:

• 3341 sections/TAs/rooms for Fall 2008
• required supplies and text
• grading
• missed labs
• dropping

Schedule for Fall 2008

Labor Day note: Important information for students registered for a Monday lab section. Monday labs will not meet the week of Sept 1-5 because of the Holiday, but all Monday lab students will be expected to bring the following completed assignments to lab class on Sept 8:

• the Spectroscopy Worksheet
• Structure Elucidation Problems (at the back of the 3341 Lab Manual; also available as separate pdf files online on the 3341 Lab Manual page).

Monday lab students are strongly advised to attend any of the 3341 lab sections that meet the week of Sept 2-5. On Sept 8, the Monday lab TA will discuss the assigned spectroscopy problems and then administer the spectroscopy quiz.

Attention: Don't miss the spectroscopy section on the web!

Required Supplies and Text

• Experiments for Organic Chemistry, 3341, Fall 2008, by CU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
• Handbook for Organic Chemistry Lab, by CU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
• Carbon or carbonless laboratory notebook.
• Approved safety goggles (see Safety Guidelines in the Lab Manual).
• Rubber gloves (Playtex unflocked), available at the bookstore.

Optional:

• Organic Chemistry Models (Molecular Design Inc.).
• Organic Laboratory Techniques, 3rd Ed., by Fessenden, Fessenden, and Feist.

  The texts in the above list as well as the lecture texts are available on reserve at the main circulation desk in the library.

Grading

Grading will be based on: your performances in the laboratory, prelab quizzes, lab notebooks, answers to molecular modeling and spectroscopy exercises, and the comprehensive quiz. The approximate breakdown of the grading scheme for 3341 is:

• Technique, 15%
• Quizzes, including Comprehensive Quiz, 35%
• Notebook: Prelabs and Write-ups, 30%
• Spectroscopy, 20%

The technique grade reflects the student's preparedness for the lab, neatness, efficiency, ability to perform the experiments, ability to use the equipment properly, the product purity, and (to a lesser extent) the product yield. Prelab quizzes cover assigned reading, procedures, and Lab Manual Study Questions. The comprehensive quiz will be held in-class during the lab period scheduled for check-out. Refer to Chapter 4 of the Handbook or the Lab Notebook page for a description of what is to be included in the notebook.

Missed Labs

Unexcused absences will result in a grade of zero for the lab missed. No make-up labs will be allowed for unexcused absences. To have an absence excused, the student must:

• Phone the TA or the Lab Coordinator (492-8256, Voice Mail after 5 rings) before the lab starts.
• Email the Lab Coordinator or your TA (see TA page for email addresses of TAs) before the lab starts.
• Bring the proper justification of the absence, e.g., a doctor's note.

Excused absences result in the averaging of the student's other lab grades and substituting this average grade for the lab missed. Missed labs must be made up if the student has missed more than 2 labs. To make up a lab, make arrangements with the Lab Coordinator. Students who cannot meet these requirements must either drop the course or obtain permission to take an incomplete.

Dropping and Adding

Students who do not attend the first laboratory session may be dropped from the lab and the lecture if necessary to allow other students to enroll in the course. You cannot drop the lab portion of organic chemistry without dropping the lecture, and vice versa.

Note: you are not automatically dropped from lab if you do not attend, you will only be dropped if your space is required. Do not assume you will be dropped for non-attendence; if you want to drop a class, it is your responsibility to drop it yourself.

Add deadlines:

• Sept 3 is the deadline to place your name on a course waitlist. After this date you will need an instructor’s signature to add a course.
• Sept 12 is the deadline to add a course.

Drop deadlines:

• Sept 10 is the deadline to drop a course without the instructor’s signature. After this date, you must obtain the instructor’s signature to drop a course. If you decide to drop the lab/lecture courses after this date, see the Laboratory Coordinator to check out of lab and receive a Special Action Form.
• Oct 8 is the deadline to drop a class without petitioning your dean.

Lecture Courses | Lab Courses | Organic Chemistry Lab Topics | Links email the webmaster