Chemistry 311:  Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory

 

Fall 2007

 

“The work will teach you how to do it.” – Estonian proverb

 

Professor:  Dr. Jay Hanna

Office:  Sims 301B

Email: hannaj@winthrop.edu

Office Phone:  323-4933

Course Webpage:  chem.winthrop.edu

 

Office Hours:  TR 10:00 am – 12:00 noon.

 

To contact me outside of these hours, please feel free to e-mail or call to make an appointment.  I check my email and phone messages periodically throughout the day.

 

Meeting Time:  M 3:30 pm – 6:20 pm.  The schedule is posted on the course web page (chem.winthrop.edu).

Pre-Lab Briefing:  Sims 302.

Laboratory:  Sims 308

 

Required Materials:

Text:  The Student’s Lab Companion:  Laboratory Techniques for Organic Chemistry,
John W. Lehman.

Notebook:  The Jones and Bartlett Official Laboratory Notebook

Safety Equipment:  Approved Safety Glasses

 

Course Objectives:  After completion of this laboratory, the student will

  • Understand basic laboratory techniques in organic chemistry
  • Have planned, executed, and evaluated several common transformations in organic chemistry
  • Have an awareness of the field of “green” chemistry, its principles, and some “green” approaches to chemical processing.
  • Have further developed skills in scientific record keeping
  • Better understand some of the topics covered in CHEM 310

 

Experiments:

Each week you should report to the assigned pre-lab room for a briefing on that week’s experiment.  A Schedule of Experiments and the experimental procedures can be found on the course webpage (chem.winthrop.edu).  Background information for each experiment can be found in the assigned text readings listed on the schedule.  Experiments should be performed individually unless instructed otherwise.

 

Laboratory Reports:

Each laboratory exercise will be evaluated on the basis of an individual Laboratory Report for that exercise.  The Laboratory Report consists of

1.  A Pre-Lab Worksheet (40 pts) – Turned in at the beginning of the pre-lab briefing

2.  An In-Lab notebook record (20 pts) – Turned in Wednesday after lab

3.  A Post-Lab Worksheet (40 pts) – Turned in Wednesday after lab

 

Pre-Lab Worksheets:

Before the beginning of each new laboratory, a Pre-Lab Worksheet (found in the experimental procedure) must be completed.  This worksheet is due at the beginning of the pre-lab briefing.  No late Pre-Lab Worksheets will be accepted.

 

In-Lab Notebook Record:

An In-Lab notebook record is due each Wednesday at 5:00 pm following the completion of that week's lab.  The In-Lab notebook record consists of the carbon copies of your notebook pages for that laboratory exercise (an example notebook entry can be found on the course webpage).  This In-Lab record is to be done in the laboratory and should be written directly into your lab notebook. If you do not write this portion directly into the required notebook, you will not get credit for this section.  Your notebook record should contain:

 

Procedure

Write a step-by-step account of what you did in the experiment. It should be detailed enough so that the experiment could be repeated exactly as you did it, using only your procedure.

 

Data and Observations

Record any data (masses, mp, bp, etc.) you measured, including units. Record any significant observations (color change, evolution of gas, precipitation, etc.).

 

Post-Lab Worksheet:

A Post-Lab Worksheet is due each Wednesday at 5:00 pm following the completion of that week's lab.  The Post-Lab Worksheet is also included in the experimental procedure on the course webpage (chem.winthrop.edu).  A 5 point per day penalty will be assessed on Post-Lab Reports turned in late.

 

Absences:

In order for an absence to be excused appropriate documentation must be presented to your instructor.  Any missed experiments will be counted as a zero unless made up.  Experiments may only be made up with prior permission from your instructor.

 

Withdrawing from lab:

In order to drop CHEM 311, you must also drop CHEM 310.

 

Grading:  Each Laboratory Report is worth 100 pts.  Your final course grade is based on your average score on the Laboratory Reports according to the following scale:

 

A = 90.0 – 100%

B+ = 87.0 – 89.9%, B = 80.0 – 86.9%

C+ = 77.0 – 79.9%, C = 70.0 – 76.9%

D = 60.0 – 69.9%

F = < 59.9%

 

General Lab Order:

-           Only dispose of waste in containers labeled for waste collection Do not put any chemical waste in the trash, down the drain or in any container not labeled as waste.

 

-           Replace lids on all containers immediately after use. Open containers increase everyone's exposure to the substances within them. Spills are also more likely when a container is open. Some reagents can also be ruined by excessive exposure to air.

 

-           Clean your glassware after each experiment.

 

-           Clean up any spills you create. If you don’t know how a spill should be cleaned up, ask.

 

-           Put things back where you found them (equipment and anything non-disposable).

 

-           Dispose of broken glass, used pipets and capillaries in the white broken glass containers.

 

Lab Safety:

-        SAFETY GLASSES ARE MANDATORY ANY TIME YOU ARE IN THE LAB.  Even if you are simply recording data, safety glasses must be worn. If you are found not wearing safety glasses, you will be asked to leave and will receive a zero for the experiment.

 

-        Wear sensible clothing. Shoes and shirts are required.  Long hair needs to be pulled back.  Sandals, open-toed shoes, and high heels, as well as shorts, short skirts, bare midriffs and backs are prohibited.  It is best not to wear your good clothes into the lab, since spills are common.

 

-        Eating, drinking and smoking are prohibited in the labs.

 

-        Report any spills, cuts, burns or breakage of glassware immediately. Accidents happen and they will not affect your grade.

 

-        Report any malfunctioning equipment (Mel Temps, hot plates, etc.).

 

-        Particularly noxious substances should be handled in a fume hood. The constant draft of air prevents exposure to harmful fumes and vapors. Make certain the sash is lowered to a safe level, as shown on the side of the hood.

 

-        A safety shower located in each laboratory. These are to be used in the event of a major spill of a hazardous chemical on yourself.

 

-        Each laboratory has an eyewash station to be used if a chemical has come in contact with your eyes. Just place your face between the two fountains and press the lever to activate the water. Try to keep your eyes open as best you can, as this flushes them much more effectively.

 

-        Disposable gloves can be found on the shelves of each laboratory. Wear gloves when dealing with any hazardous chemical. You may even want to wear gloves at all times in the laboratory. If you get a hazardous chemical on your gloves, take them off within a few minutes, wash your hands and put on a fresh pair. Gloves are not impervious; they simply prevent immediate exposure.