Chemistry 242

CH 241-3
Competencies, Assessment, and Benchmarks

  Competencies

In this sequence, students are asked to:

1. describe the bonding and geometry of organic molecules

2. identify and describe the stereochemical aspects of the structures of
   organic molecules

3. apply the principles of resonance to the structures and energies of
    organic molecules

4. apply the principles of equilibrium and kinetics to organic reactions

5. apply the principles of inductive and steric effects to the
    reactivities of organic molecules

6. apply the principles of acid-base chemistry to organic reactions

7. for the common classes (hydrocarbons, halides, alcohols, ethers,
   amines, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, acid halides, anhydrides,
   amides, including aromatic compounds of these classes) of organic
   molecules

    A. describe the characteristic structure
    B. relate molecular structure to physical properties
    C. correlate molecular structures with names
    D. describe characteristic reaction mechanisms
    E. state specific reactions

8. apply knowledge of specific reactions to synthesis problems

9. identify and describe the structures of the following classes of
    biochemical molecules

        carbohydrates
        lipids
        proteins

10. describe the role of ATP in biochemical reactions


11. in the laboratory,

    A. describe, and safely and properly conduct, the techniques of melting
        and boiling point determination, refluxing, distillation,
        recrystallization, sublimation, extraction, infrared spectroscopy, and gas
        chromatography
    B. apply the just mentioned techniques to the preparation and/or
        characterization of a variety of organic compounds
    C. use standard chemical references to find information about organic
        compounds
    D. report experimental work in the format of standard scientific
        publications

  Assessment

Competencies 1-10 will be assessed by performance on quizzes, midterm
examinations, and final examinations, including a final examination for CH
243 that covers the competencies for the entire year’s sequence.

Competency 11 will be assessed by the quality of the results from
experiments as indicated in laboratory reports and by the quality of the
reports themselves.


  Benchmarks

At least 70% of the students will demonstrate the ability to do 65% or
more of the competencies.