Organic Chemistry II laboratory
Undergraduate · Chemistry
Syllabus focus
Topics typically covered
Standard syllabus
Advanced lab planning
- Multistep retrosynthesis of a teaching-lab target
- Hazard analysis for oxidizing/reducing reagents
- Time planning across reflux, workup, and purification
- Intermediate purity gates before the next step
- Notebook traceability across multi-week projects
Carbonyl and aromatic labs
- Oxidation/reduction of alcohols and carbonyls (as scheduled)
- Electrophilic aromatic substitution teaching labs
- Aldol, esterification, or related carbonyl reactions
- Controlling regio- and chemoselectivity practically
- Relating lecture mechanisms to TLC timelines
Spectroscopy-forward characterization
- Combined IR + ¹H NMR assignment of unknowns/products
- ¹³C NMR or DEPT when available
- Using GC or GC-MS for mixture analysis (intro)
- Quantifying purity beyond melting point
- Writing spectral discussion paragraphs that argue identity
Multistep synthesis projects
- Two- to three-step teaching synthesis
- Isolation of intermediates with characterization
- Overall yield vs step yields
- Redesign after a failed step (troubleshooting report)
- Green alternative comparison for one step
Bioorganic / applied Orgo II labs
- Aspirin or related pharmaceutical teaching synthesis
- Natural-product isolation/mini-extraction labs
- Polymers or materials from organic reactions (intro)
- Safety for biological stains/reagents if used
- Connecting Orgo II functional groups to real molecules
Professional communication
- Full formal reports with experimental sections
- Peer review focused on reproducibility
- Preparing a short research-style presentation
- Building a personal techniques inventory
- Transition notes toward research or Orgo III/advanced lab
STEM / applied
Capstone-style organic lab work
- Independent or small-group inquiry synthesis
- Literature search for an alternate procedure
- Cost, safety, and green metrics comparison
- Final portfolio: best notebook pages + best spectrum set
- Oral exam / technique check-off
Study units
Each unit includes a study guide, worksheets, review, practice test, and answer key. One unit is free; subscribe for the full class.
- Advanced lab planning
Multistep retrosynthesis of a teaching-lab target
Coming soon - Carbonyl and aromatic labs
Oxidation/reduction of alcohols and carbonyls (as scheduled)
Coming soon - Spectroscopy-forward characterization
Combined IR + ¹H NMR assignment of unknowns/products
Coming soon - Multistep synthesis projects
Two- to three-step teaching synthesis
Coming soon - Bioorganic / applied Orgo II labs
Aspirin or related pharmaceutical teaching synthesis
Coming soon - Professional communication
Full formal reports with experimental sections
Coming soon
Notes
Companion lab to Organic Chemistry II lecture. Assumes Organic I lab technique (recrystallization, extraction, TLC, basic IR).