CHEM 420 - Organic Chemistry I

    Recent Professors
    Maximillian E. Mahoney, Casey Sugie
    Recent Semesters
    Fall 2026, Spring 2026, Fall 2025, Spring 2025
    Class Size
    Not published
    Credits
    5
    Prerequisite
    CHEM 401 with a grade of "C" or better
    Fall 2026 Sections
    View Fall 2026 sections of CHEM 420
    Transfers To
    UC and CSUCal-GETC Area 5A · Cal-GETC Area 5C · IGETC Area 5A · IGETC Area 5C · CSU GE Area B3 · CSU GE Area B1
    Description
    This is a lecture/laboratory course designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of organic chemistry. This course is designed for science majors, pre-med, pre-dental, and pre-pharmacy majors. Lecture topics will include acid/base chemistry, pushing electrons, organic nomenclature, alkane chemistry, alkene chemistry, alkyl halides, alcohols, ethers, physical properties of alkanes and cycloalkanes, SN1, SN2, E1, E2 mechanisms. Laboratory work will include characterization of organic molecules using modern analytical instrumentation such as (GC, GC/MS, NMR, FTIR, polarimetry, and HPLC) and the measurement of their physical properties. Separation and purification of organic compounds will also be covered in the lab section; these techniques include distillation, recrystallization, preparative chromatography, liquid-liquid extraction and thin-layer chromatography. This course requires that students purchase additional supplies such as a Gas Chromatography micro-syringe and safety goggles. Students will need to purchase a lab journal to record experimental information. Students will also need to check with the instructor for supplemental lab supplies that may not be provided during check-in.
    Usually Held
    Tue Thu 12:30pm–1:50pm, Tue Thu 9:00am–12:05pm, Mon Wed 12:30pm–3:35pm, Mon Wed 9:30am–10:50am