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Chemistry
233
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General Information
Course Objectives
Chem 233 provides you with an opportunity to learn about the properties, syntheses, separation, purification, and identification of organic compounds. The course consists of lecture sessions and laboratory sessions.
In lecture sessions you learn the theory and detailed background behind certain organic experimental techniques.
In laboratory sessions you conduct experiments designed to introduce you to a variety of these experimental techniques. Chem 233 is also designed to provide you with the opportunity to learn how to keep the records of scientific research in a laboratory notebook, a skill which is required in many scientific fields.
You are, of course, expected to perform the assigned experiments in the laboratory, but you are also expected to understand the principles behind these experiments. Near the end of the course, you will be expected to carry out the chemical syntheses of organic compounds and determine the structures of unknowns.
Experiments
The techniques and background material for each experiment will be presented in the weekly lecture session. You must read the appropriate text and syllabus material before coming to each lecture.
You must be on time for lab. The TA's prelab lecture is critical to your success, and it starts at the beginning of lab. Showing up late means missing critical information regarding how to perform the experiment efficiently and safely.
You will perform the experiments only in your assigned laboratory period. We expect that you will come to each laboratory session well-prepared and ready to use your laboratory time efficiently. TAs have the instructor's authority to send any students out of lab who are not properly prepared for the lab. Time missed for this reason can not be made up! There are times when you may need to work on two different experiments in the same laboratory session, so you must plan ahead. If you miss a lab period for a valid reason (medical or a pre-approved absence), you may be able to do the experiments at another time (preferably that same week). However it is your responsibility to schedule these make-ups with the head TA and with the Storekeeper. Unexcused absences cannot be made up and will result in failure of the course.
Each new technique will be described to you in detail before you will have to use it, but thereafter you will be expected to be able to use that technique without any further detailed directions. To do this, you must acquire not only good manipulative skills in the laboratory but also a good sense about what a given procedure accomplishes and when it should be used.
Occasionally, you may encounter difficulties with an experiment. If you are responsible for this difficulty and require additional starting material, a penalty of 10 points off the lab notebook grade for that experiment will be assessed.
Required Equipment for Lab Work
- Safety goggles
- Lab coat
- Lab noteboook
- Appropriate clothing (see laboratory safety section of syllabus for details)
- Valid breakage card
PreLab Quiz
There is a on-line prelab quiz associated with each experiment in WebCT. You may take the prelab quiz multiple times to optimize your score.
To receive credit for the quiz it must be completed before the scheduled starting time of your laboratory section.
Post Lab Quiz
There is a post lab quiz associated with each experiment. These must be completed within one week after the scheduled lab time. You can take the post lab quiz just once.
Tutorials
Interactive tutorials are available to aid in your understanding of the experiments and to make your laboratory work easier. Although you can work at these lessons any time you wish, it is most helpful if you do the appropriate lessons shortly before going to the laboratory. You will earn 3 points toward your grade for each tutorial you complete.
In Chem 233 the tutorials are on the Internet. You access them through WebCT.
To log onto ChemNet select Interactive Tutorials in WebCT. Next you have to type your NetID and your campus password on the Blue Stem authorization page. If you have difficulity please consult with the Chemistry Learning Center Supervisor in 212 Chemistry Annex or with your instructor.
The graded tutorials for Chem 233 are listed below (in the order you will want to complete them):
Melting Points
Phase Diagrams
Mixed Melting Points
Recrystallization
Boiling Points
Mole Fractions
B.P. of Mixtures
Distillation Experiment
Fractional Distillation
Distillation Columns
Extractions
Extraction Experiment
Partition Coefficients
t-Butyl Chloride
Esterification
Elimination Reactions
Aldol Condensations
Chemical Tests
Try Known Compound
Qualitative Unknown
Getting Help:
There will be time at the end of each laboratory session to get help from your teaching assistant. In addition, TAs are available in the Chemistry Learning Center, 212 Chemistry Annex, Monday - Thursday afternoons to answer questions.
Missed Labs:
For medical or true emergency reasons we will attempt to accommodate students who cannot carry out their experiments at the assigned times by scheduling them to do these experiments at other times. However, to receive credit for such experiments, the student must inform their own TA of the rescheduling and reschedule the experiment with the head TA/instructor and the storeroom manager (469 Noyes Lab) at least 2 days in advance of the make-up date. Such rescheduling will only be provided for significant medical reasons or emergency situations. More than one rescheduled lab per semester will approval of the instructor in charge of the course. Students will receive a failing grade for labs not made-up.
Grading
If you cheat on any lab, lab report, quiz, exam or report false data for the melting points or gram yields of the samples you turn in, you will automatically receive a grade of zero for that experiment and/or an F grade for this course. University of Illinois academic integrity policies will be enforced. The the following Web site for information: http://www.uiuc.edu/admin_manual/code/rule_33.html
Your TA will check the melting point and gram yield of your samples.