Course Syllabus
MODULES (chapters from Smith Organic Chemistry, 6th Ed)
Final exam weekend office hour: Sat, 1-2 pm, Zoom ONLY, https://uci.zoom.us/j/9562993735
Ryan Lee - Office Hour: Tue 1 pm, https://uci.zoom.us/j/94840601264
Thu 1 pm, https://uci.zoom.us/j/94840601264
Ivanna Yeager - Office Hour: Tue 12 pm, https://uci.zoom.us/j/92549593401;
Thu 2 pm, https://uci.zoom.us/j/95065407052
Peer Tutor Exam Review Sessions: https://uci.zoom.us/j/95865130323
Tue, Oct 26th 6-8pm
Tue, Nov 9th 6-8 pm
Sat, Nov 27th 5-7pm
Sat, Dec 4th 5-7pm (FINAL)
Textbook: Janice Gorzynski-Smith Organic Chemistry, 6th Ed. Chapters 16-23
You are responsible for ALL the material in these chapters, unless I say otherwise. All previous quarters of my Chem 51C courses, videos, or any content you find on the web refers to the 5th edition of Smith Organic Chemistry. The chapter numbers and problem numbers are different between these two editions. If you choose to use the 5th edition, then you are responsible for translating differences between the two editions.
Lectures: Class activities are in-person, per University of California guidelines, in DBH 1100. I'll be posting my Fall 2021 lectures online, probably through YuJa. It will probably take about a day for me to process my videos and post them on YuJa.
Lecture Templates:
Fillable lecture templates for each chapter are available in canvas Files so you can spend less time writing and more time listening.
Weekly Problem Sets/Discussion Section:
• Teamwork and communication skills are an essential part of my class. Paper copies of discussion section worksheets will be available in discussion section. Blank copies of worksheets will be posted in Canvas>Files>DS Problem Sets Blank. At the beginning of discussion section the TA will break you up into teams and assign a problem to each team. One student from each group will be selected at random to present the team's answer and discuss it with the class. We don't provide answer keys to these worksheets; you must attend discussion to get the answers.
• Real science is collaborative. Meet people and study together.
• You may attend any Discussion Section as long as there is room.
• Remote Discussion Section will be held Tuesday, 5 pm, https://uci.zoom.us/s/9562993735
Grading: The lowest midterm exam grade will be automatically dropped.
Homework/Canvas 10% (Avg 115.9 ±27 out of 136; Avg 85.2%)
Midterm Exam I 20% - Mon, Oct 11, Ch 16 (Avg 61.9 ±30 out of 126; Avg 49.1%)
Midterm Exam II 20% - Fri, Oct 29, Ch 17,18 (Avg 59.2 ±27 out of 124; Avg 47.7%)
Midterm Exam III 20% - Fri, Nov 12, Ch 19,20 (Avg 55.0 ±24 out of 126; Avg 43.6%)
Midterm Exam IV 20% - Wed, Dec 1, Ch 21,22 (Avg 61.0 ±26 out of 126; Avg 48.4%)
Final Exam 30% - Mon, Dec 6, Ch 16 + all previous chapters (Avg 88.9 ±44 out of 182; Avg 48.8%)
Course Grades: Course grades will be determined at the end of the course based on the total points earned in the course. Grading may be curved upward but not downward. The distribution of course letter grades will be roughly: 20% A, 30% B, 33% C, 17% D or F, with roughly equal numbers of pluses and minuses. You will automatically receive a grade of A(±) if you make 90.00% of the points or above on the final.
About Exams:
All exams are in-person.
Seats will be assigned.
Exams are closed book, but molecular models are allowed.
There will be absolutely NO make-up exams - sorry.
Old exams from 2014, 2015, 2019 are available under Files in the subfolder called "Old Exams". These old exams are offered to give a sense of question format and general exam procedures. They are not intended as a replacement for book or Sapling problems. Note that Chem 51C covered different chapters of the Smith textbook back in 2014 and 2015. Back then we covered different material, (e.g., Ch 28 instead of Ch 18) in Chem 51C.
Weekly Quizzes
You should work every problem in the book, except those indicated in each module. I will be assigning WEEKLY Canvas Quizzes so you can check your knowledge. The Quiz(zes) in each module count for 1% of your course grade (9 x 1% = 9%); that means all the mini-Quizzes in Module 0 count essentially as one quiz. Later in the course I'll announce an additional extra-modular Quiz worth 1%.
How to do well in this course.
1. Attend every lecture and every discussion section
2. Work Problems: The purpose of this class is to teach you to use fundamental principles (e.g., octet rule, electronegativity, resonance, sterics, electrostatics, stereochemistry) to SOLVE PROBLEMS of reactivity and structure. My exams will consist of problems. If you want to do well on my exams then practice solving problems.
a. Work every problem in the book, unless I say otherwise. In every chapter, I identify the problems that aren't helpful.
b. Attend online discussion sections and participate in group problem solving.
Rules:
• Don't cheat. All submitted work must be your own. If you submit work that is not your own then you are subject to a failing grade in the course.
• Offensive or disruptive content is forbidden in this course and on any associated web site like Zoom, Canvas, etc. If you violate this rule, you are subject to a failing grade.
• Per UCI health guidelines you are required to wear a mask in my class and discussion sections.
• If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation related to the coronavirus or for any other reason to facilitate your participation in this course, please register with the UCI Disability Services Center (DSC); 949-824-7974 or dsc@uci.edu. It is reasonable to assume that it will impact all of your courses.
• Use WebReg to add, drop, or change your grade option for your classes. The deadline to add/drop most classes is Friday of Week 2 by 5:00PM. Laboratory changes may not be made after week 1.
Chemistry enrollment-related questions are not handled by instructors. For enrollment-related questions, please visit the Chemistry Student Affairs website at https://www.chem.uci.edu/studentaffairs. If you have additional questions please email chemistry@uci.edu.
Feeling Stressed?
Check out these RESOURCES on the School of Physical Sciences web site.