CH1OC2: Shape, Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry

Module code: CH1OC2

Module provider: Chemistry; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Jessica Gusthart, email: j.s.gusthart@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Candyce Clark, email: c.r.clark@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 1: Dr James Cooper, email: james.cooper@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 2: Dr Adam Bromley, email: a.p.bromley@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE CH1IN1 AND TAKE CH1PP2 AND TAKE CH1PR1 (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE CH1GCA OR TAKE CH1GCB (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to the basic concepts of organic chemistry (to encompass the structure of organic compounds, their isomerism, the concept of a functional group and their predictable reactivity, and the unifying concept of mechanisms) in order to provide the foundation for treatment of the subject in greater depth in later modules.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Name simple organic compounds and draw diagrams indicating molecular orbitals involved in bonding. 
2. Draw curved arrow mechanisms for a variety of fundamental organic reactions including substitution, elimination, nucleophilic attack of the carbonyl group and electrophilic and nucleophilic aromatic substitution. 
3. Describe the fundamental concepts guiding the reactivity of functional groups exploring concepts such as the reactivity of alkenes and alkynes, aromaticity, stereochemistry and the carbonyl group.
4. Use their knowledge of this fundamental reactivity of organic functional groups to rationalise simple synthetic transformations. 

Module content

Atomic structure, orbitals and hybridisation state, electron accounting, drawing structures, representing electron movement, bonding in alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic molecules, nomenclature, the discussion of molecular shape, isomerism.

SN1 and SN2 processes, leaving groups and pKa will all be discussed, alongside how organic molecules can behave as both electrophiles and nucleophiles in substitution reactions. Synthesis of alkenes via elimination reactions (E1, E2 and E1cB) will be described. Students will gain an appreciation for what conditions direct a substrate to undergo substitution or elimination. Electrophilic addition to alkenes and alkynes will be discussed, as will the regioselective addition of electrophiles to unsymmetrical alkenes.

Structure of benzene, the Hückel rule for aromaticity, the stability of aromatic molecules, electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS), nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS), structure and reactivity of benzyne. The significance of substituents on the regiochemistry of these reactions will be discussed. Additionally, the synthesis and reactions of diazoaromatics will be covered.

Structure and bonding of the carbonyl functional group, including the link between structure and reactivity. The reactions of carbonyl groups with nucleophiles and reducing agents and classical methods for interconverting between the major carbonyl functional groups.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Content delivery will be mainly via lectures with four formative tutorials during which students can apply their knowledge to exam-style questions.

Study hours

At least 36 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative tutorials will provide students with practise at answering exam-style questions.

Reassessment

Additional costs