Welcome	Kristopher Michael Snyder CHM 236 (Organic Chemistry II) Brian Cox		Cochise College Arizona
COURSE OUTCOMES:		Article of Organic Chemistry: The student will demonstrate the ability to critically read research articles appearing in the Journal of Organic Chemistry to the extent that they will be able to critically develop and write their own “research” article. This is where the class has demonstrated how an article from the Journal of Organic Chemistry could be compiled. Mechanisms from JOC: In this Outcome 2 seven mechanisms were chosen from Journal of Organic Chemistry. The mechanisms used in these artifacts were at one point shown in class. These mechanisms are very dear to many of the students, especially because they where at one point and time on an exam.
Introduction The image top and center of this page show the molecules after each reaction. Every one of these molecules (excluding styrene) were synthesized in the Science Department of Cochise College. This reaction as a whole allowed us to experience what was going on in class. These are my reflections on class, assignments, and chemistry as a whole. Many of the skills that are required to carry out the above assignments could not be done without taking this class. Critical thinking skills are needed to carry out the above assignments. From past experience I would naively believe that since all of my reactions in Inorganic Chemistry went through entirely and instantaneously then in Organic Chemistry I would have nothing to worry about because they go through completely and instantaneously as well. To my surprise, this is not the case. Several of experiments needed a great amount of time just to react. At one time in the G-series, I was refluxing for over an hour, and still my reaction was not over. Without knowing the limitations of a reaction I would be naïve to think that anything could be used as a solvent system. In Organic Chemistry there are several reactions that will not go through because maybe there was water in the beaker when there shouldn’t be. For instance when using a Grignard Reagent if there is any water at all in the beaker the resulting product will be incorrect. So without this experience in both the class in the lab it would be very difficult to do these assignments, or even read a Journal of Organic Chemistry. Pertaining to the JOC many skills are needed to understand or even read this journal. In order to read this journal and have any understanding of the compounds used you would have to take a class to just get the bare minimum. I really enjoyed sitting through class learning how to name these compounds that have a set name denoted by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). It is also amazing to find out that there is more then just one name for any of these compounds. Preparing my synthesis report has helped me gain experience writing an article. Although the article I wrote would never be published I am glad that I experienced doing it. One thing that would have been even better is having my article edited by my instructor. Not so that I could return it for a better grade but only so that I would have a critics opinion on how to write. Getting an opinion from someone who has past experience in the field of Organic Chemistry is very valuable. It could someday help me to excel to that level of writing, and who knows maybe I will have an article of my own published someday. Critically reading the various articles in JOC was an adventure. To think that I have only seen a piece of 5% of all organic chemistry is very mind blowing. Many of the reactions in JOC were very foreign to me. Even the names themselves were vary daunting and long. The JOC was very intimidating at first glance but after spending some time (and patience) I could see gist of what was going on. Years form now while in a library of a university if there was a JOC on the table I would most definitely pick it up to read. My thoughts when crossing the paths of a JOC would be to pick it up on impulse. I find the JOC to be entertaining and maybe someday I will have an article of my own to publish. Though that may take me the rest of my life, it would be nice. I don’t find that the E-Portfolio fulfilled its purpose mainly because there was no time to work on it. Maybe if we spent some time after each experiment and worked on our portfolios I would have a different view. If there were more computers in the science building it would make it easier to work on the portfolios. If anything the time that we did spend on the e-portfolio could have been spent doing another experiment or doing more lecturing. It is good to reflect on what you know; that is true. However it would be even better to have more topics to reflect on.
Please click on the course outcomes above to access information about how the they have been met.