Organic Chemistry I

The Organic Chemistry course is intended for college science majors or pre-medical students and is typically offered as a two-semester or three-quarter sequence. This course builds on the concepts discussed in general chemistry and focuses on how the structure of an organic molecule determines how that molecule functions. In addition, this course focuses on understanding and reasoning of reactions, mechanisms, synthetic analysis, and practical applications of the main functional groups in organic chemistry. A concurrent laboratory component may also be required, but is often considered to be a separate course. Students who successfully complete the Organic Chemistry course in Achieve have demonstrated: • Conceptual understanding and ability to articulate organic chemistry principles • Ability to systematically name an organic molecule using IUPAC rules • Ability to predict the synthesis or reactivity of a functional group • Understanding of the “why” and “how” of reactions via curved-arrow pushing mechanisms • Ability to determine an unknown structure via spectroscopic methods • Ability to relate the reactivity of organic functional groups to real-life biological molecules and their reactivity