Experiments/Assignments

 

The duration of experiments and the assignments required for each are indicated below.  Unless indicated otherwise, the assignment/report for any experiment is due the Monday after the experiment has been completed.

 

 

What to Expect in Chemistry 321

Welcome to Advanced Synthesis!  Each of you comes to this course with your own unique background of previous research experience and interests.  My goal for this laboratory course is to introduce you to some of the more common and useful techniques in synthetic chemistry and characterization.  With new compounds and materials being synthesized each day, the challenge of choosing which compounds to make is mind-boggling, but I have tried to include a large variety of molecules and materials in this course, while at the same time balancing the techniques and concepts you will learn when synthesizing and characterizing each compound.  I'm excited about the range of compounds on the docket for this term and I hope you enjoy the course as much as I have enjoyed planning it.  In addition to helping you learn new techniques and exciting chemistry, I hope to broaden your interests and captivate your imagination as we study some of the more recent advances in chemical synthesis and material design. 

 

Techniques and topics we will cover include advanced NMR techniques, mass spectrometry, column chromatography, recrystallization, polymer chemistry, molecular imprinting, transition metal complex synthesis, nanomaterials, and heterocyclic chemistry.

 

Grading

Your grade for this course will be weighted as follows:
20% Laboratory notebook and chemical hygiene

40% Laboratory reports

40% Laboratory assignments

 

Using the following scale: 

MSDS simpleview software (available on computers in lab)
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (available in lab)--mp, bp, density, solubility, optical rotation, λ_max, crystal form
Chemical Synthesis Center on Sigma-Aldrich website (search structures, reaction database)
Chemfinder--chemical and reaction information
Chemsketch--free software for drawing structures
Powerpoint--22 Jan
Powerpoint--24 Jan
Powerpoint--5 Feb

Professor

Dr. Amy B. Bethune
Office Putnam 356
Lab Kresge 370
x0254
abbethune@albion.edu
www.albion.edu/chemistry/abbethune

Office Hours

When I am not teaching or doing research, you can usually find me in my office.  I have an open door policy, so please stop by.  I enjoy teaching and talking to students, so if there is something that is unclear from class or from your reading, let’s talk about it.  If you stop by and I am not available, please call or email me and we can arrange an appointment.

Where to Go For Additional Help

THE ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER, located in the Seeley Mudd Building of the Library, supports student success at Albion College through the Learning Support Center, the Quantitative Skills Center, and the Writing Center. The ASC also coordinates academic peer tutoring services and educational technologies for enhancing student learning. For information, visit the ASC website at http://www.albion.edu/asc.

THE LEARNING SUPPORT CENTER offers individualized assistance with college level study strategy and skill development. Students frequently utilize the center to improve grades, reading speed or comprehension. In addition, the Learning Support Center provides assistance and accommodations to students who have documented learning disabilities. For more information, contact Pam Schwartz, Learning Support Specialist, (x0825; pschwartz@albion.edu).

THE QUANTITATIVE SKILLS CENTER provides a wide range of support to students in many subject areas. Students are free to drop in for occasional help from trained student tutors or to make appointments for on-going tutorial sessions. QSC staff are available to assist you with the use of mathematics, statistics, spreadsheets, or graphing calculators in any course. The center also offers workshops on topics such as partial derivatives in chemistry and preparing for graduate school exams. For more information, contact the QSC Director, Karla McCavit, (x0824; kmccavit@albion.edu).

THE WRITING CENTER provides trained peer consultants prepared to work with writers at every stage of the writing process--from getting started brainstorming to writing drafts, and from organizing ideas to revising or final editing. Writing consultants support students by responding to writing in process, not by proofreading, editing, or writing students' papers. Both drop-in tutoring and scheduled appointments are available during the Writing Center's afternoon and evening hours. For more information, contact the Writing Center (x0828; writing@albion.edu) or the Director, Scott Hendrix (shendrix@albion.edu).