Organic Chemistry Lab: CHEM 223 Course Overview

Course Overview: CHEM 223 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, Spring 2025

• Students taking this course must also enroll in the associated recitation.
• Recitation attendance is mandatory
• Recitation grades account for a large portion of final grade
• Labs alternate between in-person and virtual formats.
• Odd and even sections have switched in-person and virtual days
• Students should consult the syllabus for their schedule.

Grading and Required Materials

• Grades are based on pre-lab quizzes, lab performance, written reports for in-person labs, tests for virtual labs, and recitation assessments.
• Key grading factors include lab technique, safety, cleanliness, quantity/quality of products, organization, and understanding of chemical processes.
• The required textbook is "A Small Scale Approach to Organic Laboratory Techniques, Fourth Edition" by Pavia, Kriz, Lampman, and Engel.

Lab Preparation and Execution

• Students must prepare for each experiment by studying assigned sections of the lab manual and the Pavia textbook.
• The lab recitations are an important source of information.
• Pre-lab assignments for in-person experiments must be completed before the lab session.
• Success hinges on careful planning, understanding the chemistry, and applying learned material.

Lab Procedure and Time Management

• Prompt arrival and starting work are crucial for finishing experiments on time
• Some experiments need simultaneous work on different parts
• All work must be finished during scheduled lab time; no extensions are given
• Some procedures are individual, while others involve pairs or small groups
• Students sharing a drawer are jointly responsible for its contents.

Asking Questions and Instructor Assistance

• When seeking help, students should be able to explain their actions and the contents of their flask
• Lab instructors guide students to solutions rather than providing direct answers
• Students are expected to attempt solving problems before seeking instructor assistance.

Laboratory Safety Rules.

• Students must wait for the instructor's permission before entering the lab
• Attending all scheduled lab sessions, especially for in-person safety discussions, is mandatory
• Familiarity with lab rules and safety procedures, including Appendix I, is required to proceed in the course
• Safety goggle use is mandatory at ALL times
• Failure to comply with rules may lead to point deductions or expulsion from the lab.

Key Safety Regulations:

• Students cannot work unsupervised
• Goggles required if anyone is using lab equipment/chemicals
• Unapproved procedures prohibited without instructor consent
• Quiet and orderly behavior is expected, pranks are strictly forbidden
• No eating or drinking is allowed, including gum and water, which is a common violation
• Electronic devices are limited to lab-related tasks and should be used with care
• Students should be aware of chemical hazards and seek information from instructors.
• Taking equipment or chemicals out of the is forbidden.

Handling Chemicals and Spills

• Chemicals in the fume hood must be dispensed within
• All spills, breakages, and equipment issues must be reported
• Hiding accidents carries severe penalties
• Identity and concentration of every chemical must be double-checked
• Chemicals cannot be returned to stock bottles
• Loose hair must be tied back, and exposed skin avoided
• Inappropriate lab attire will result in being sent away without the ability to make up the lab.

Maintaining Lab Cleanliness

• Workspaces kept clean during experiments and before leaving; penalties for cleaning by others
• Spills must be cleaned immediately, with trivial spills able to be cleaned by the student
• Use designated disposal containers for glass, chemicals, and gloves
• Improper waste disposal leads to significant fines for the college.

Lab Attendance and Make-Up Procedures

• Make-up in-person labs require the lab coordinator's permission with a valid reason for absence
• Notification to the lab instructor and coordinator is required, including lab section details and reason for absence, with documentation being requested.
• Make-up labs depend on availability and may lead to course withdrawal
• Make-up virtual labs may be allowed late by the instructor, sometimes with a penalty
• Computer issues during virtual exams require immediate documentation and notification.

Laboratory Notebook Guidelines

• A bound notebook is required, spiral notebooks with pre-numbered pages are permitted
• Loose-leaf notebooks are unacceptable, marble composition notebooks are easiest to find
• The lab notebook is a legal record and must be kept accordingly
• Content must be complete and well-organized and must follow set standards
• All data are recorded when observed, with weights, boiling/melting points, physical changes, results, and conclusions included
• Loose-leaf paper cannot be used to record data for later transcription. The notebooks are checked randomly by the lab instructor
• All entries should be made in indelible ink, and corrections involve a single line through the mistake

Essential Notebook Components

• Each experiment must have a title and brief description
• Structures, chemical names, and reaction(s) given as appropriate
• Mistakes corrected with a single line and correct information noted.
• Never erase or scribble over an entry
• Tables of contents are essential, with all pages numbered consecutively
• Start each experiment on a new page
• Sufficient procedure summaries, dated daily entries, and descriptions of actual procedures used will all be necessary for a solid lab notebook
• Notebooks must be up-to-date during labs for periodic reviews.
• The legal system considers the use of correction fluid or tape a possible indication of fraud.

Summary of Notebook Rules

• Lab notebooks are for lab-course information only, and use indelible ink (never pencil)
• Mistakes should be crossedout with a single line
• Every experiment starts fresh and includes a title and the purpose
• Notes should be clearly labeled before the procedure
• Procedures MUST be entered in detail as they occur
• Mistakes should clearly indicate what YOU did to address them
• Observations should be recorded as they occur
• Well-organized, labeled entries with units are essential

Notebook Entry Expectations and Reminders

• Data must be entered directly with everything one does and observes
• Summaries conclude entries by stating whether the experiment's purpose was achieved and what was learned
• The notebook should be kept orderly to be easily read by other individuals
• Sloppy work can have dire consequences.

Lab Reports Overview

• Students must produce a lab report for each in-person lab session
• Requirements are provided within the context of a minimal lab report example.
• Labs and reports will vary, close adherence to the format will help keep grading easier
• The student will face deductions if your data is hard to find/read, or if this report is excessively verbose.
• Like scientific publications, reports use the third-person passive voice
• Personal comments belong in footnotes, maintaining consistency.

Sample Lab Report Elements

• Include the purpose which familiarizes one with procedures and their use in characterization/identification achieved via measuring
• The materials and equipment like melting temperature apparatus (Mel-Temp) if applicable
• List digital thermometer, urea, mix of substances, etc
• Use passive voice and past tense to report procedure.
• Include passive voice reporting, and a summary of procedure

Maintaining Lab Notebooks and Reporting Expectations:

• Data for notebooks is entered directly, not on separate slips of paper
• Everything done and observed gets written down
• Summarizing each experiment includes whether the purpose was achieved and learnings from it
• A report is a record, so it must be tidy

Recitation Overview

• Recitation attendance is essential due to safety considerations and contribution to about 20% of the total course grade
• Success hinges on studying and planning work beforehand to avoid safety risks
• Students that aren't prepared will be turned away,.

Day 1/2 Experiment: Melting Point Determination

• Lab work is individual
• Each compound has aspecific MP that indicates purity
• Impurities lower MP and broaden the temperature range. A good temperature range is small.
• Lab instructors should be consulted concerning melting point apparatus use and filling capillaries
• Use only a small amount of compound for the determination.

Experimental Procedure:

• Part A determines the melting point behavior of listed compounds and their mixture, and notes differences.
• Part B identifies an unknown compound through MP behavior and possible identities.
• Part C requires positive identification of unknown compound from Part B by mixed MP with control
• Record all aspects needed for determination
• Pace determinations based on instructor advice
• Capitalize on all slots in the MP apparatus, but note that running MP takes patience and focus
• Reference MP values.

Overview of CHEM 223 Organic Chemistry Lab I for Spring 2025. Covers grading criteria, required materials (Pavia textbook), and lab preparation.