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Ian R Gould >igould@asu.edu |
| TOPICS > | Overrides | Websites | Regular vs. Hybrid Classes | General Info | Textbook/Model Kit | Preparing for O-Chem I | Taking O-Chem II If NOT a Gould O-Chem I Student? | Preparing for O-Chem II |
Dr. Gould teaches: |
There are two sections: |
| Overrides |
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Unfortunately I cannot issue overrides for either of these classes, ALSO, I have no control over assigned seating, ALSO, I cannot reserve a seat for you. You can find the dates when the assigned seats are lifted on the ASU Class Search. However, there its always a lot of drop/add activity, especially at the start of the semester, and I have found that persistent students invariably find an open slot in either the regular on ground or the online/hybrid class. Please do not ask me to give an override, and please keep trying! If you are trying to get into the regular onground class then you SHOULD register for the online/hybrid class if a slot opens, since you are welcome to attend class if even you are in the online/hybrid class, they are essentially the same, see below. |
| Websites |
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Neither class uses Blackboard, both use the same websites, which are:
chm233.asu.edu for First Semester General Organic Chemistry I, CHM 233 |
| Regular versus Hybrid Classes |
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There are very few differences between the regular (onground) and the hybrid classes, the hybrid class is not an easier option. Both classes use exactly the same lectures and all other materials. Both classes proceed concurrently at exactly the same pace. Both classes use the same midterm and final exams. The exams for the hybrid and the regular classes are at the same times on the same days as the regular class, they are just in different classrooms. The lectures are recorded live in the regular on-ground class lecture room, usually LS A-191, and then posted later that day on the appropriate class website. Hybrid class students watch the recorded lectures. Regular on-ground students can also watch the lectures if they choose not to attend class. Hybrid students are welcome to attend the live lectures if they wish to do so. In practice, many of the regular on-ground students watch the lectures online, and the classes quickly become "mixed", with many regular students treating the class as hybrid, some hybrid students attending lecture. Students in both classes who choose not to attend class are responsible for keeping themselves up with the material. This requires some self-discipline for all students, onground or hybrid. The scores for students in the hybrid class on average tend to be slightly lower than for the regular class. I don't believe that this is a consequence of the way that the material is presented to the hybrid students, since many students who register for the regular class treat the class as being essentially online. Many hybrid students do exceptionally well, some of the highest scoring students each semester come from the hybrid class. This is just a demanding class whatever form the material is presented. |
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| General Information |
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All of the exams for these classes are short answer type, there are no multiple choice question (even though some practice problems and some quizzes may be multiple choice). All students, no matter which class they are in, take the same written exam, on the same day at the same time. Students in the regular on-ground class take the test in LS A-191. Hybrid students take the exams in another classroom, which will be different each semester. All class materials are available on the class websites, both classes use identical materials. The organic chemistry classes that I teach do not include topics such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates etc. These topics are not covered because I aim to teach the best organic chemistry course possible, and this will not include a superficial overview of biomolecules. To understand biochemically relevant molecules properly you will need to take a biochemistry course. |
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| Textbook and Model Kit |
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This class does NOT use a textbook. In the past when I have required or recommended a textbook most students reported that they never used it. This does not mean that you cannot use a textbook, of course, by all means use a textbook if it helps you to learn. A good textbook is Organic Chemistry 7th Edition, by Paula Bruice, however, just about all organic textbooks are the same, you could use any of them as a reference, and used older editions of textbooks from Amazon are a fantastic deal. For example, I have see a 5th edition of the Bruice textbook on Amazon for just a few dollars. It should be fairly easy for you to find the appropriate reading and problems that relate to the material that we are covering in any textbook, although some textbooks do not cover pericyclic reactions, a second semester topic (the Bruice one does). If you use the textbook it is important that you also get the accompanying Solutions Manual, since the problems are the MOST IMPORTANT part of any textbook. Many students will ask me if they should get the textbook. Unfortunately I am not able to give a satisfactory answer, since different students have very different needs. Some students really need to study from a textbook and appreciate learning a topic from a different perspective. Some students want a permanent textbook to study for the MCAT, for example. You have to make your own decision on this I am afraid. However, as mentioned above, I have found that most students in my classes tend not use the textbook. Note that the lab is a separate course, the textbook for the lab course is required. A Molecular Model Kit, IS REQUIRED for CHM 233. The best kit is the HGS 1013/1013A Organic Chemistry Set for Students (click here). There is a more sophisticated version of the HGS kit, 1003 Organic Chemistry set C, however, the less expensive 1013 version works well enough for CHM 233. The 1013/1013A kit is available from Amazon (click here), for ca. $20. Also acceptable (but not quite as good) is the Molecular Visions Darling Molecular Model Kit that may be in the ASU bookstore. The bookstore may also have some of the Prentice Hall Molecular Model Set For Organic Chemistry (click here), but if they do, DO NOT BUY IT. It makes pretty models but is terrible for CHM 233. |
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| Preparing for Organic Chemistry I |
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Although organic chemistry has somewhat scary reputation, I do not recommend that you try to get a head start, or try to teach it to yourself before starting the first semester class. After all, this is what you pay me to do, and anyway, I want to make sure that you cover the material in a way that can only be properly done in class. If you do want to do some work ahead of time, then maybe you should review concepts from general chemistry, that it is normally assumed that you know, although in reality we always take to time in class to review anyway, specifically: atomic electron configurations and orbitals electronegativity trends drawing Lewis structures Qualitative (not quantitative) Bronsted acid base theory, the factors that determine acid strength Understanding of the meaning of pKa Understanding of very basic kinetics and thermodynamics, including reaction activation energies, relationship between free energy, entropy and enthalpy In addition to this, you could go further to drawing line-angle organic structures The class website from the previous semester may be available to you until is starts to get dismantled for the new semester, chm233.asu.edu for the first semester CHM 233 class. You are welcome to browse the site, watch some of the old lectures, but it may be a bit overwhelming and confusing until you get into the class. Also, you should NOT download to start to work on the notes you will find there since I usually change them. a little bit, each year. |
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| Should you Take O-Chem II if you did NOT take O-Chem I with Gould? |
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If you did not take my first semester General Organic Chemistry I CHM 233 class, then you need to think about whether it is a good idea to take my O-Chem 234 class. It is difficult for me to advise you either way. Most students who did not take my first semester class struggle in my second semester class. My classes emphasize understanding over memorization, and so if you are used to memorizing your way through organic reactions and do not have a strong foundation in Lewis acid/base theory, bonding, resonance and molecular orbitals then you will almost certainly not do well in my second semester class. However, not all new students do poorly, and you could be one of those who succeeds. To help you to make your decision, take a look at my current first semester class website, lectures. notes etc. especially the exams, and see if you feel prepared to do what my current class is doing, chm233.asu.edu. You can also take a look at the second semester website, although it may be not very well organized if it is being prepared for the new semester: chm234.asu.edu Take a look at that material and then decide if your first semester class has prepared you for my second semester class. |
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| Preparing for Organic Chemistry II |
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If you did not take my first semester General Organic Chemistry I CHM 233 class, then you may need to do some work to prepare for second semester General Organic Chemistry II, CHM 234. The good news is that I tend to cover less material than most other instructors in General Organic Chemistry I. Specifically, my first semester class covers only alkyl halides and alkene reactions, I do not cover alkynes, alcohols or other functional groups. So, if you covered alkynes, alcohols etc in your first semester course you should be "ahead". However, I find that most students who didn't take my first semester class do less well in second semester, even in topics they have already covered, since they usually covered these topics too quickly and superficially. In addition, I spend a lot of time on the fundamental issues in my first semester class, and I expect you to know them since I will not have time to re-teach them second semester. In other words you REALLY need to understand resonance, hybridization, curved arrow pushing mechanisms, bond strengths and PREDICTING Bronsted acidity. If you know that you covered these topics but also know that you were never really comfortable with them, then you definitely need to make sure that you are up to speed on these topics. I have a web page that is designed to help you review a lot of the material I need you to know, click HERE. In particular, you will need to know, understand, and to use the following: How electron energies determine (almost) everything in General Organic Chemistry Fundamental Bronsted and Lewis acid/base theory Basic bromination and elimination reactions, INCLUDING radical bromination, which you may not have covered in your first semester class Resonance, this is VERY important, and is a common weakness coming into second semester organic chemistry Energy diagrams, and how they help us to understand organic mechanisms Solve simple organic chemistry structure problems from mass, IR and NMR spectroscopy Each of these topics, and many other first semester review topics are covered in the review page that is linked above. |
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