CHM 201 - Organic Chemistry I

Course unit(s): 1
Prerequisite(s): CHM 104 General Chemistry II .
This course is designed for students in biology, neuroscience, and other STEM majors outside of chemistry and biochemistry. Organic molecules, molecules that contain carbon and hydrogen atoms, are in our bodies, in nature, in the drugs we take, and in the products we utilize. Organic chemistry is an integral course for pre-health students and students pursuing careers in various STEM disciplines. In this course, students build a foundation in organic chemistry through the study of the structure, properties, and reactivity of organic molecules. Students learn the language of organic chemistry, discuss the impact of stereochemistry on properties, analyze chemical structures using spectroscopy, predict reaction mechanisms, and propose synthetic pathways. Laboratory work involves generation, separation, and purification of organic molecules, including medicinally-relevant molecules, using standard organic chemistry laboratory techniques and state-of-the-art instrumentation. The unique laboratory for this course alternates hands-on laboratory work with guided-inquiry activities intended to build skills useful in any discipline, and both collaborative work and individual investigations will be performed. Weekly recitation sessions involve group problem solving and review. Three hours of lecture, one hour of recitation, and one three-hour laboratory held every other week.