Introduction

Preface

Let us begin by saying that the first semester laboratory course will not correlate with the lecture material in all instances. However, your lecture text will serve as a useful background and reference source (i.e., the chapter on infrared spectroscopy, functional groups, and molecular structure). There will be experiments that explore concepts developed in lecture, but they might appear earlier (or sometimes later) in the lecture than performed in the laboratory. With several instructors, each traveling at their own pace, it is a difficult task to have the laboratory experiments fall at exactly the time the material is covered in the lecture. Also, the first semester laboratory course is one in which the student is exposed to the more common techniques that are used by organic chemists; therefore, one will find that most experiments are designed to introduce a technique rather than focus on a specific reaction. The second semester of the sequence is more reaction oriented. In an effort to keep the laboratory text cost minimal, students in the one-semester organic chemistry laboratory course also use this text. They too will perform several experiments where the emphasis is on techniques. Hopefully, the experience will be an enjoyable one for all.

Check-In

Everything must start somewhere! Your experience in Organic lab will start by learning the equipment that you will use throughout the course. It is essential that you learn the names of all of the equipment in your drawer. You will be quizzed on this equipment throughout the semester. Also, make sure to follow all safety protocols and familiarize yourself with all of the emergency and safety equipment in the lab.

• 1
  Sign out a pair of eye protection. This EYE PROTECTION MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN LAB! Failure to do so will risk eye injury and subject you to immediate expulsion from lab!
• 2
  As soon as you are assigned a drawer, take out ALL of the equipment and line it up in the same order as it appears on the "INVENTORY" on page 21. If any items are dirty, they must be cleaned. If any items are broken or missing, make a list of these. When you have checked ALL of your equipment, go to the Stockroom and receive the missing equipment. Trade-in any broken equipment. (To save time, try to make only one trip to the Stockroom.)
• 3
  Clean the empty drawer. When you are certain that you have a complete inventory of all items in clean and useable condition, carefully put them back into the drawer, checking each item on the Inventory sheet as it is placed in the drawer. Try to place the equipment neatly, keeping like pieces together.
• 4
  When finished, date and sign the completed Inventory sheet. If any items can not be found, ask your Instructor to initial that fact on your Inventory sheet. You will be held responsible for the contents of the drawer when you complete the course.
• 5
  Carefully read the seven pages of Laboratory Safety Rules and Regulations found later in this text. Do you have adequate Eye, Torso, and Foot protection? At every succeeding lab, no matter what the weather may be, you will be denied admission to lab if you do not follow this "Laboratory Attire Policy".
• 6
  Complete the map of Exits and Safety Equipment (found later in this text.) Locate the Exits, Eye Wash, Safety Shower, Fire Extinguisher on that map. What is the best route to use on exiting the building in an emergency? Where is the nearest Rest Room? Check emergency equipment and exits now before an emergency exists.

Tips for Success

In order to get the most out of the laboratory experience, it is essential that you come prepared! Your grades will be much lower if your TA determines that you are unprepared for a lab.

Check the lab schedule in the front of this book. Make certain that you understand what experiment you are going to do each week. Listen carefully to your TA for any instructions that may change the order in which the experiments are to be done or the way they are to be carried out.

At the minimum, read the entire experiment for the coming lab period at least twenty-four hours ahead of time. Underline the points that appear to be the most important. Put question marks in the margin at those places you do not understand or cannot follow to ask questions later about.

Prepare your Notebook (see more detailed Notebook directions later in this text) by completing the pre-lab instructions. Draw in a balanced equation for the reaction. Put the molecular weights of all species under them as they appear in the equation. Also, list the melting points of all solids, and the boiling point and density of all liquids. If a gas is evolved in the equation, clearly indicate this fact with a vertical arrow (pointing up!) next to the gas in the equation. Is the gas hazardous? Does it need to be trapped? Listen to your TA for special Notebook Instructions!

Sketch the apparatus needed in the experiment that it will be set up if this is the first time that apparatus/arrangement has been used. If the equipment was used previously, under "Equipment" write " see p. ----" on which you have already drawn that set-up.

Make a step by step outline of the procedure to be followed, in your own words! Make special notes of places in the procedure at which you will be waiting, and suggest activities that could be done at that time to "save time". An important activity should be cleaning any equipment that was used earlier in the experiment and now needs to be cleaned and put away. This will save the end of lab rush to get finished.

• Pre-Lab counts 20% of your daily lab grade!!!

Remember (and practice) the "Five P's" -

• Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Lab Report Format

Before you come to lab, prepare your pre-lab:

• •
  Title (this can be the same title as in the lab manual, or you can elaborate to make it more descriptive)
• •
  Brief outline of the procedure, written as a flow chart. Make it detailed.
• •
  Answer the pre-lab questions from the lab manual.
• •
  Reagent data table that includes all the chemicals to be used for the experiment. The table standard format is as follows:

The properties and hazards for each compound can be found in the Merck index (library), Aldrich catalog (Tutorial Center and labs), online at www.chemfinder.com, or www.ncsu.edu/ncsu/ehs (has the complete MSDS information).

In the lab, you will do the experiment and collect your data and observations. Each experiment is different; some require you to do some calculations. Make sure to include all observations and all calculations.

Turn in the white pages with your lab report to your TA and keep the yellow copy for your records.

If you have any questions, please ask your lab TA.

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