CH161-30 Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Department Chemistry Level Undergraduate Level 1 Module leader Russ Kitson Credit value 30 Module duration 20 weeks Assessment 20% coursework, 80% exam Study location University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description
Module aims

The aim of this module is to provide students with a basic understanding of organic chemistry. As such it provides a fundamental look at organic chemical bonding, structure, reactivity, mechanism and synthesis of simple functional groups. Later parts of the module apply an understanding of organic chemistry to the synthesis and the chemistry of functional groups containing the carbonyl functional group and to two further areas: the structure, properties and reactivity of molecules of biological importance and of organic macromolecules including synthetic polymers. The content of this module will be assumed in ALL subsequent Chemistry modules. It provides all entering first years with a common foundational knowledge of organic chemistry.

This will be achieved by a range of teaching methods, primarily lectures and tutorials, but also student centered learning:-including directed reading, problems classes and workshops, set exercises, and computational exercises

The 30 CATS variant will include 6 CATS of skills-based assessed work, part of 18 CATS of skills-based content across the three Year 1 theory modules. An example of this overall content would be maths, coding, general IT, specific chemistry software and career development skills.

Provide skills development for a range of transferrable and chemistry-specific skills to support their studies and careers e.g. being able to use a range of generic software, chemical software, plus access relevant databases.

For the Maths skills component, this provides the mathematical learning support for the Year 1 modules and more advanced modules in Years 2/3/4, enabling students to solve problems in the main branches of chemistry. The mathematical skills taught allow students to understand the concepts behind much of chemistry and allow the processing of their own data.

The majority of the module content is drawn from components of A-level syllabuses. As such, most students will already be familiar with some aspects of the module syllabus, but the pattern of familiarity will be heterogeneous across the class. The primary aim of the module is to equip all students with the necessary mathematical skills to succeed in their chemistry degree at Warwick. The module is structured to allow individual students to concentrate their time on those bits of the module with which they are unfamiliar.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

  1. Drawing of organic structures. Orbitals, sigma and pi bonding, shape, hybridisation, stereochemistry, isomerism, conformation.
  2. Cation/anion stability, resonance, delocalisation, aromaticity, acidity, basicity, pKa
  3. Mechanism and curly arrows, electrophiles, nucleophiles, radicals
  4. Radical stability, mechanism
  5. Acidity, free energy diagrams, reaction profiles
  6. Substitution mechanisms, SN1, SN2
  7. Addition reactions
  8. Elimination reactions and chemistry of alkenes and alkynes
  9. Chemistry of alcohols, ethers, amines, oxidation and reduction
  10. Aromatic electrophilic substitution
  11. Carbonyl chemistry, addition, substitution
  12. Hydrolysis reactions
  13. Grignard, alkyl lithium, conjugate additions
  14. Carbonyl enolate chemistry
  15. Claisen condensations, aldol condensation, Mannich reactions
  16. 1,3-Dicarbonyl compounds and reactions
  17. Biomolecules, aminoacids, peptides, proteins
  18. Biomolecules, DNA, RNA
  19. Lipids, fatty acid synthesis, detergents
  20. Macromolecules, synthetic polymers, addition polymerisation, condensation polymerisation

An example collective skills syllabus may include elements from the following:

  1. Maths
    Perform routine algebraic manipulations.
    Manipulation of units and dimensions.
    Solve simple equations.
    Understand the basis of differential calculus, be able to differentiate and, find maxima and minima.
    Integrate functions and solve simple differential equations.
    Determine the limits of simple functions.
    Manipulate logarithmic and exponential functions.
    Introduction to error propagation.
    Perform routine trigonometric manipulations.
    Expand simple series.
    Manipulate complex numbers, vectors, and matrices.
  2. Probability and statistics
  3. Coding
  4. General IT skills
  5. Specific chemistry software training
  6. Career development skills
Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

Indicative reading list

Essential Text (required)
Clayden, Greeves, Warren and Wothers, Organic Chemistry, Oxford, second edition 2012
Advised text (not required)
Mechanism in Organic Chemistry, 6th Edition, Peter Sykes, Pearson Prentice Hall
Introduction to Stereochemistry, RSC Chemistry Student Guides, Clark, Kitson, Mistry, Taylor, Taylor, Akamune, Lloyd

For Maths skills component
Maths for Chemists, 2nd Ed., M. Cockett and G. Doggett, RSC Publishing.
Foundation Maths, 4th Ed., A. Croft and R. Davison, Pearson Prentice Hall.
Calculus with Analytical Geometry, 2nd Ed., G. F. Simmons, McGraw Hill.

Interdisciplinary

Spans the boundary between chemistry and biochemistry.

International

International cultural awareness sessions

Subject specific skills

Teamwork
Digital skills and literacy
Intercultural learning and diversity awareness

Transferable skills

Teamwork
Digital skills and literacy
Intercultural learning and diversity awareness

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 55 sessions of 1 hour (18%)
Tutorials 6 sessions of 1 hour (2%)
Other activity 7 hours (2%)
Private study 232 hours (77%)
Total 300 hours
Private study description
Other activity description

1hr Non Assessed Class Test
5 hr revision lectures/workshop
1hr Non Assessed Exit Test (Term 3)

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D2

Including IT assignments, skills and strengths workshops, teamwork workshops and intercultural awareness workshops

Feedback on assessment

Class test-annotated scripts returned (and interactive peer-marking session).\r\nCohort level examination feedback to be provided via Moodle.\r\nWritten feedback for assessed work components.\r\n

Post-requisite modules

If you pass this module, you can take:

Courses

This module is Core for: