OVERVIEW

The course Organic Chemistry Laboratory involves the application in practical laboratory activities of the concepts and main reactions seen within the Organic Chemistry 1 course. The laboratory activities of this course are chosen so as to involve as many topics as possible within the theoretical teaching that preceded it.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The goal is to acquire the ability to carry out the main operations that characterize an organic chemistry laboratory (synthesis, purification and characterization of organic molecules) autonomously, with awareness and safety. Added to this is the acquisition of the ability to work correctly in a group and to learn to draw up a report on laboratory activities in a critical and scientifically correct manner.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to acquire the ability to carry out the main operations that characterize an organic chemistry laboratory (synthesis, purification and characterization of organic molecules) independently, with awareness and safety. Added to this is the acquisition of the ability to work correctly in a group and to learn to draw up a report on laboratory activities in a critical and scientifically correct manner.

Specifically, the student will be able to:

• work in a chemical laboratory in a conscious way, respecting the safety rules (correct use of personal safety devices, structures and instrumentation made available, consultation of safety data sheets, etc.);
• use the main purification techniques of organic compounds (extraction, crystallization, distillation, chromatography, sublimation);
• perform simple syntheses with isolation and product characterization (determination of melting or boiling point; determination of optical rotation if applicable; occasionally: GC-MS, IR, 1H-NMR);
• include scientific data correctly in a (scientific) report;
• manage social interactions in a collaborative way, thanks to constant constructive communication between colleagues. This is favored by the fact that the laboratory activities, as well as the drafting of the related report, are carried out by pairs of students. The constant interaction during the laboratory activity is, indeed, sufficiently structured to be considered an example of cooperative learning. The drafting of reports on laboratory activities can therefore be seen as an example of a reflective diary. All these activities also involve interactions and discussions with other students of the course and, at this level, are more configured as group teaching.

PREREQUISITES

Basic concepts of general and inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry.

TEACHING METHODS

The course, worth 7 ECTS credits, consists of theoretical lectures covering the topics included in the syllabus (2.38 ECTS) and supervised practical laboratory activities (4.62 ECTS), corresponding to a total student workload of 175 hours, as specified in the Degree Programme Regulations. The laboratory experiments are also described in detail during the lectures. Laboratory sessions are conducted under the continuous supervision of the course docent, assisted by: a) one laboratory technician, b) typically one early-career researcher (PhD candidate or research fellow), and, when necessary, c) a permanent research staff member. Lecture slides and additional teaching materials of interest to students are available on AulaWeb.

To support individual study, several innovative teaching methods are provided to help students assess whether they have achieved a sufficient understanding of the laboratory experiments presented during the lectures. These include self-assessment quizzes, which students are required to complete before attending the corresponding laboratory sessions, with an estimated annual workload of approximately 2-3 hours. Meeting the minimum performance requirements is mandatory for admission to the practical laboratory activities. In addition, recordings of the laboratory experiments, produced by the course docent in collaboration with the University's e-learning service, are made available to students in advance to further support their individual study.

Please note that attendance at the lectures in which the laboratory experiments are explained is mandatory. The laboratory techniques required to perform the experiments, together with the detailed procedures for each experiment, are covered during the vast majority of the lectures. Attendance at all laboratory sessions is also compulsory.

Lecture recordings are made available to working students.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Basic safety principles in the organic chemistry laboratory.
• How to keep a laboratory notebook.
• Methods for separation and purification of organic compounds, including basic theoretical principles: extraction, crystallization, distillation (simple, fractional, reduced pressure distillation, steam distillation, azeotropes), sublimation, column chromatography, thin layer chromatography.
• Analytical methods: melting point, optical rotation power.
• Redox reactions in organic chemistry: how to balance them.
• Description of the laboratory experiments: theory of the reactions and, in particular, practical aspects of the laboratory procedures will be surveyed.
• Laboratory experiments on purification methods and on syntheses of compounds. Determination of melting points, optical rotation power by polarimetry, diastereomeric ratio through gas chromatopgraphy coupled with MS or FID. Recording of IR and NMR spectra of the prepared compounds.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The didactic material made available on Aulaweb and the notes taken in class are essential. It is also advisable to consult a text of Organic Chemistry of your choice for the in-depth analysis of the reactions subject to laboratory activities. For any further information, the following texts can be consulted (available for consultation/loan at CSB Cannizzaro) specifically dedicated to Experimental Organic Chemistry:

• R. M. Roberts, J. C. Gilbert, S. F. Martin "Chimica Organica Sperimentale", Ed. Zanichelli, Bologna.
• D. L. Pavia, G. M. Lampman, G. S. Kritz "Il Laboratorio di Chimica Organica", Ed. Sorbona, Milano.
• D. Pasto, C. Johnson, M. Miller "Experiments and Techniques in Organic Chemistry", Prentice Hall.
• J. Nimitz "From Microscale to Macroscale", Prentice Hall.
• T. Cordioli, E. Ferrarese, B. Corain "Chimica Organica Pratica", Libreria Cortina.
• A. I. Vogel "Chimica Organica Pratica", Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For the start date of the lectures, please refer to the following link https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/11894/studenti-orario

The detailed schedule for laboratory training of the first semester will be given at the beginning of the lessons. The schedule of training of the second semester will be given within February, 22rd, 2027.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam includes a written test whose passing entails admission to the oral exam. The written test consists of 3 exercises: a) separation of the components of a mixture of three organic compounds; b) an exercise related to the synthesis, isolation and purification of an organic compound (the topic is chosen from the syntheses carried out in the laboratory, including stoichiometric calculations; c) two multiple-choice quizzes on the topics covered in class. The oral test focuses on the topics covered in class with particular emphasis on practical aspects.

In case of failure of the oral exam, the student will have to take the written test again. At the end of the 1st semester, students who have already passed the Organic Chemistry 1 exam will be able to take an intermediate written test (enrollment is via Aulaweb only for this test) which, if passed, will exempt from the written test, provided that the oral to be taken by the end of July of the same year.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

• During the teaching period, students are required to write reports on laboratory procedures (laboratory notebook) and to deliver them periodically, according to the calendar provided at the beginning of the lessons of each semester. The evaluation of the reports does not contribute to the definition of the exam grade.
• The actual learning of the practical aspects related to the laboratory activities will be verified through quizzes on Aulaweb and any possible questions posed to the students in the laboratory. The evaluation of these verifications will contribute to the definition of the judgment on the laboratory activity.
• With regard to the written test, the members of the examination commission establish criteria for the attribution of partial scores to the various exercises (or parts of them), which also take into account the difficulty of the exercises. Based on these criteria, it is possible to precisely associate the total score acquired with the achievement of learning outcomes. The oral exam is conducted by two teachers. In addition to a discussion on the written test, the teachers will ensure that the student has acquired a sufficient theoretical basis and that he has understood the meaning of the fundamental laboratory operations. In particular, the oral exam will focus on the discussion of at least a laboratory experience and on the description of a purification technique of organic compounds. When these objectives are not achieved, the student is invited to deepen the study and to make use of further explanations by the teacher.
• The final grade will be established considering, with decreasing weight: a) the oral test, b) the written test, c) the judgment on the laboratory activity. A written test with a medium-low grade (up to 21/30) and/or a just sufficient or sufficient evaluation of the laboratory activity will allow to obtain a final grade not exceeding 26-27/30, regardless of the outcome of the oral exam.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The exam can only be taken by students who have already passed the Organic Chemistry 1 exam. Admission to the intermediate written test is also subject to passing the Organic Chemistry 1 exam.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

Students with certified disabilities who need special supports for lab attendance (e.g., workstation modification, tutor support) are asked to contact the teacher before the start of class so that arrangements can be made for access to lab exercises.