CHEM 12A Course Syllabus

CHEM 12A

Organic Chemistry I

3 units
3 hours Lecture

Presents the lecture portion of the first semester of the year-long organic chemistry course designed for chemistry majors and pre-professional medical and biology majors. Covers stereochemistry, mechanisms, reactions and spectroscopic studies of aliphatic compounds.

Instructor

Jason Camara, Ph.D.

Office: 605A

Hours: M/W 12:30-1:30 pm; T/TH 1:00-2:00 pm

Phone: (831) 477-5621

Email:

Course Web Page: https://chemed.study/chem12A/

Schedule

Lecture: T/Th 11:10 – 12:30 pm – Zoom

Materials

Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017. (ISBN 978-1-119-31615-2)

Klein, D. R. Student Study Guide & Solutions Manual t/a Organic Chemistry Binder Ready Version, 3rd Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017. (ISBN 978-1-119-37869-9)

Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry as a Second Language: First Semester Topics; 5th Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2019. (ISBN 978-1-119-49348-8)

Molymod ®. Molecular Model Set For Organic Chemistry; Allyn & Bacon: New Jersey, 1984. (ISBN 978-0-205-08136-3)

View textbook options

Material Options

Textbooks are expensive. I have researched numerous textbooks and options in making the choices for this course. There are a number of online textbooks that are open-source projects, but they just are not ready for use as of yet. Simply put, Klein is the best organic chemistry book on the market. I have had major complaints from students in the past that other books have just not supported my teaching style. Klein is like a kindred spirit, the way he thinks about and explains the concepts is very much inline with my personal style. His problem sets are fantastic. All that being said, textbooks are hugely expensive. Here are some options to be aware of in choosing your textbook. Note that much of this information is now out of date and prices may be different.

Klein Textbook - Organic Chemistry by Klein is now in it’s third edition. There are five options listed on John Wiley & Sons website for the text.

  • $166.95 - Loose-leaf volume of the current edition (Binder ready): Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017. (ISBN 978-1-119-31615-2)
  • $56.00 - Rental (130 days) of the current edition: Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition Binder Ready Version John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017. (ISBN 978-1-119-31615-2)
  • $168.00 - Wiley E-Text of the current edition with integrated student solution manual: Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition with Enhanced Student Solution Manual and Study Guide; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017.
  • $46.00 - Rental (120 days) Wiley E-Text of the current edition with integrated student solution manual: Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition with Enhanced Student Solution Manual and Study Guide; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017.
  • $240.00 - The Cabrillo Bookstore lists only the new loose-leaf version of the textbook.
  • $59.00 - Hardbound volume of the first edition - found on Amazon used. Because I don’t assign homework from the book, the first edition book should be fine, not ideal, but a decent option. Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2012. (ISBN 978-0-471-75614-9)
  • $99.36 - Hardbound volume of the second edition - found on Amazon used. This is also a solid option for someone looking for a hard bound textbook. Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry, 2dd Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2013. (ISBN 978-1-118-45228-8)
  • At $168.00 for perpetual or $46.00 for 120 day rental, electronic editions of the textbooks are becoming much more attractive. Electronic editions are viable options and I allow the use of computers and iPad/tablet devices on the open-book in-class exams.

Klein Solution Manual - I don’t assign or collect homework from the textbook. With that being said, the problems in the book are invaluable practice. You need to be working all of the problems from the book. I of course will assist with determining solutions in office hours or when asked in class, but the solution manual is an extremely valuable reference for your studies. The solutions manual appears to only be offered in electronic editions.

  • $47.50 - E-Book of the current edition through Wiley online: Klein, D. R. Student Study Guide & Solutions Manual t/a Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017.
  • $13.00 - Rental (120 days) E-Book of the current edition through Wiley online: Klein, D. R. Student Study Guide & Solutions Manual t/a Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017.
  • $168.00 - For those of you looking for electronic media Wiley has bundled the solutions manual with the text (this is the same as listed above under the textbook options). The Cabrillo Bookstore doesn’t carry this option. Wiley E-Text of the current edition: Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry, 3e with Enhanced Student Solutions Manual and Study John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2017.
  • $21.85 - For those of you using the first edition book there is the hardbound volume of the first edition study guide - found on Amazon used: Klein, D. R. Student Study Guide & Solutions Manual; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2012. (ISBN 978-0-471-75739-9)
  • $35.14 - For those of you using the second edition book there is the hardbound volume of the second edition study guide - found on Amazon used: Klein, D. R. Student Study Guide & Solutions Manual; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2013. (ISBN 978-1-118-64795-0)

Klein’s Study Guide - Chemistry as a Second Language is a suggested text. This book was written before the textbook, and was meant to be a stand alone study guide for any organic course. The book is full of helpful explanations and problem sets and is not simply redundant with the text by the same author. Many student have found it to be an excellent resource.

  • $32.90 - $70.05 - The Cabrillo Bookstore offers the text new and used as well as in their rental program.
  • $38.20 - $76.38 - found on Amazon used: Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry as a Second Language: First Semester Topics; 5th Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2019. (ISBN 978-1-119-49348-8)
  • $28.80 - $54.10 - found on Amazon used: Klein, D. R. Organic Chemistry as a Second Language: First Semester Topics; 4th Edition; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, 2016. (ISBN 978-1-119-11066-8)

Model Kit - A physical model kit is an indispensable tool in studying organic chemistry. A model kit should really be required, and has been in the past. I very much like the Molymod model kit from Allyn & Bacon, it's the same one I went through school with. It really can’t be beat. However, any physical model kit will do. There are a ton of model kits on the market, many probably much cheaper than the Molymod kit. The great thing about the Molymod kit is that it's strong and robust. You can pre-build models for the tests and quizzes and they will survive in your backback, or even strapped to the outside of your backpack!

  • $92.85 - The Cabrillo Bookstore only appears to offer the Molymod kit new at this time.
  • $56.98 - $72.55 - found on Amazon new and used: Molymod ®. Molecular Model Set For Organic Chemistry; Allyn & Bacon: New Jersey, 1984. (ISBN 978-0-205-08136-3)

Requisites

Prerequisites: CHEM 1B with grade of "C" or better.

Student
Learner
Outcomes

  1. Analyze and communicate the structure of organic molecules, including the stereochemistry thereof, utilizing spectrocopic tools, standard organic nomenclature, condensed structural formulas, Lewis structures and bond-line formulas with emphasis on alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons and alkyl halides.
  2. Predict and explain organic chemical reactivity utilizing a variety of models including Valence Bonding Theory, Molecular Orbital Theory, Resonance Theory, Reaction Mechanisms, and conformational analysis.
  3. Utilize a series of organic reactions to design a viable synthetic route to a given simple target molecule requiring a maximum of four steps.

Course
Content

  • Molecular Structure
  • Valence Bonding Theory
  • Molecular Orbital Theory
  • Functional Groups Including:
  • Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes, Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Alkyl Halides
  • Constitutional and Steroisomerism
  • Acid and Base structure and reactivity
  • Nucleophilic Substitution and Elimination reaction mechanisms
  • Theory and interpretation of UV-Vis, IR, NMR, Mass Spectroscopy

Assessment

Each and every one of you are taking Organic Chemistry because you have some professional goal. At this level in your education a grade should reflect your knowledge and command of the subject, not the effort with which you pursued it. With that in mind, your grade will be based on your knowledge and command of the subject as demonstrated through problem solving exercises - cooperatives, quizzes, exams, and a cumulative final.

  • Homework - All of the in-chapter exercises and end-of-chapter exercises are viewed as essential study guides which will allow you to practice the requisite skills. The answers to these homework problems are in the solutions manual. It is therefore pointless for me to grade homework assignments, thus homework will not be collected. In addition, individual homework assignments will not be handed out, all of the problems in the book are viewed as valuable.
  • Cooperatives - Cooperatives are my term for group exercise. Coops will be assigned for certain chapters and consist of two or three representative exercises. The purpose of the coops is to encourage study groups. Coops will be distributed via the course website at the close of each chapter and collected at the specified due date. No late work will be accepted. Each coop will count for three points (~6 chpts × 3 pts = ~18 pts) for a total of ~3% of your grade.
  • Quizzes - Quizzes will be in class independent timed exercises. The date and content of each quiz is detailed in the schedule. Quizzes will last from 10 to 15 minutes, consist of up to four problems, and count for 20 points. There will be a total of ten quizzes, from which the lowest score will be dropped from the grade total. There will be no make-up quizzes.
  • Exams - There will be a total of two 100 point exams this semester. The date and content of each exam is detailed in the schedule. The exams are open note and open book. Should you miss an exam due to an emergency or illness you must contact me at your earliest convenience, preferably prior to the exam.
  • Cumulative Final - The final will be cumulative over the semesters material and consistent in format with the midterm exams - open note/open book. This exam will count for 150 points or 27% of your grade.
Table 1. Points and Point Percentages of Assignments Towards Total Grade.
Items Points Total Points % of Grade
Cooperatives 6 × 3 = 18 3 %
Quizzes 10 × 20 = 200 35 %
Exams 2 × 100 = 200 35 %
Final 1 × 150 = 150 27 %
Totals     568 100 %

ACCESS

The chemistry department participates in a NIH Bridges program with UCSC called "ACCESS." The ACCESS program offers free peer tutorial sessions which will be scheduled weekly. The schedule will be determined by the availability of the ACCESS Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader and the availability of the students. The program is open to all students. The ACCESS leader for CHEM 12 this semester is Chloe Cornejo. Chloe is a talented student who recently completed CHEM 12. I work closely with the SI leaders to ensure that the SI instruction is integral to the class. The ACCESS schedule will be announced in class and on the web.

Classroom
Conduct
and
Instructor
Policies

Listed here are some of the common courtesies and conduct I expect in my classroom as well as the ramifications for not following them.

Cell phones - Please turn off your cell phone ringer prior to entering the classroom. If you need to be connected to the outside world during lecture (i.e. - ailing relative, child care issues, volunteer fireperson....), leave your ringer on vibrate and sit along the isles such that you can quietly leave the room before answering your phone.

Attendance - I don’t take attendance other than on the first few days of class. My attendance policy is: show up if you want to learn. Once in a while people are late for various reasons. If you come late to class, be respectful of your fellow students. Quizzes and exams start on time at the beginning of the lecture. If you come late to a quiz or an exam you will have only as much time as remains for the class. Missed quizzes may not be made up. If you must miss an exam you must contact me at your earliest convenience, preferably prior to the start of the exam. Exam make-ups are at the discretion of the instructor. Simply forgetting, missing the bus, oversleeping, parking issues, etc. are not valid reasons for requesting a make-up exam.

Grade disputes - I encourage all of my students to regularly attend office hours. The proper place to ask about grading is during office hours. If you feel that your answer is correct and that I have made a mistake in my grading, please take it up with me in office hours. I am more than happy to go over the grading of any work, however before class, during class and immediately after class are too chaotic for me to give you the attention you deserve for a grading issue.

Cheating - Cheating has never been a problem in my class. Beyond the first exam there is no real way to cheat in my class. Exams and quizzes are open book - open note (except for the first three quizzes which are closed book). The only exception is that you must use your own resources. You may not share texts, notes or model kits during exams. It is your responsibility to not give me cause to think that you are cheating, in other words keep your eyes on your own work. Cheating on an exam or quiz will result in a zero for that assignment.

Disruptions - A disruption is classified as an act that disrupts the normal function of the classroom, be it a distraction to me while lecturing or to your fellow students, that a reasonable person would not engage in. Examples of such disruptions are cell phones ringing after first warning, answering cell phones in class, engaging in disruptive conversations while lecture is proceeding, attempting to sit in the center of the room when coming to class tardy during lecture, quiz or exam (incredibly disruptive to your fellow classmates attempting to concentrate), etc.... The consequences for disruptive behavior are a three strikes policy. First disruptive behavior warrants a verbal warning, second time garners a Disruptive Student Report to the Dean of Student Services, third time you will be excused from the class and dropped from the role.

Nondiscrim-
ination and
Accessibility
Notice

The land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe. Today there are no known survivors of the Awaswas Nation. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, comprised of the descendants of indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore traditional stewardship practices on these lands to honor the Awaswas and heal from historical trauma.

The District is committed to equal opportunity in educational programs, employment, and all access to institutional programs and activities. The District, and each individual who represents the District, shall provide access to its services, classes, and programs without regard to national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race or ethnicity, color, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, or military and veteran status, or because he/she/they is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

I encourage students with disabilities to explain their needs and appropriate accommodations, as evidenced by a counselor or specialist’s recommendations, to me during office hours. As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accommodations are provided to insure equal opportunity for students with verified disabilities. To determine if you qualify, or if you need assistance with an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Support Center (ASC, formerly DSPS), Room 1073 (upstairs in the Library), (831) 479-6379 or (831) 479-6370.

Expectations
of your
Instructor

You can expect to find me approachable. You can expect that I will fully answer your questions regarding course content or grading when such questions are asked at the appropriate time. You can expect that your work in the course will be evaluated fairly without bias and will be returned in a timely manner. You can expect that I will start and end class on time. You can expect to be treated with respect at all times. You can expect that I will provide you with a challenging and engaging semester which will prepare you for whatever future goals you have that have led you to take my course.

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