Evaluated Electronic Resources for Pitt Chemistry Instruction
 Chem 0310
Organic Chemistry 1

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The following "modules" are based on the 4th edition of Vollhardt & Schore.

Chapter 0.  Review of General Chemistry Concepts Needed in Orgo
Learning Assessment General Chemistry Review Jeopardy! Game
Use a web-based Jeopardy!-like game emceed by a chemistry instructor to review how well a group understands general chemistry concepts assumed as known for the learning in an Organic Chemistry lecture course.  Used in the first class or the first recitation, this 61 question game (Single Jeopardy!, Double Jeopardy!, Final Jeopardy!) is a challenge to complete in a 50-minute recitation, but is an engaging, positive, and non-threatening way to start off the semester.  Because this game is actually a collection of multiple choice questions, it works extremely well with an Audience Response System.  The solution key is also available on this web page.  [2/04]

 

Chapter 1.  Structure and Bonding in Organic Molecules
Learning Activity Atomic and Molecular Orbitals and Representing Compounds
The first interactive flash animation reviews atomic oribitals, the visual representation of 's' and 'p' orbitals, their relative energies, their hybridization and the formation of molecular orbitals.  The second interactive flash animation reviews the 4 major ways of drawing chemical compounds (Lewis and dash, Condensed, Bond-line, and Dash-wedge Formulas).  They contain a good written explanation of what is happening in each step and allows the user to replay important parts without starting the animation over from the beginning.  These are two good 15-minute activity for students to do out-of-class to strengthen their understanding of the subject.  [4/04]

 

Chapter 2.  Structure and Reactivity
Learning Assessment Beginning Orgo Structure and Reactivity Jeopardy! Game
Use a web-based Jeopardy! game to review how well a group (large or small) understands acid-base concepts, specific pKa values, elementary functional groups, and alkane nomenclature.  This is a student designed Single Jeopardy! game (30 questions) and could easily be used by student study groups.    The solution key is also available on this web page.   [2/04]
Learning Activity Alkane Physical Properties
An interactive flash animation on how the different van der Waals forces (dipole-dipole, dipole-induced dipole, and induced dipole-induced dipole) arise, their effects on an alkane's phase (gas, liquid, or solid), and boiling and melting points of the compound.  It contains a good written explanation of what is happening in each step and allows the user to replay important parts without starting the animation over from the beginning.  This is a good 15-minute activity for students to do out-of-class to strengthen their understanding of the subject.   [4/04]

 

Chapter 4.  Cyclic Alkanes
Learning Activity Cycloalkanes and What is a dihedral angle?
The first interactive flash animation on torsional strain and how cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, and cyclohexane relieve this strain.  The second einteractive flash animation explains how a dihedral (torsional) angle is established.  Both animations contain a good written explanation of what is happening in each step and allows the user to replay important parts without starting the animation over from the beginning.  These are two good 10-minute activities for students to do out of class to strengthen their understanding of the subject.   [4/04]
Learning Assessment Fundamental Concepts of Cycloalkanes Jeopardy! Game
Use a web-based Jeopardy! game to review how well a group (large or small) understands the concepts of "strain", "nomenclature", "trends", "conformations", "substitutions" and "potpourri", all related to cyclic alkanes.  This is a student designed Single Jeopardy! game (30 questions) and could easily be used by student study groups and is best used when a chemist serves as the MC and answer judge.    The solution key is also available on this web page.   [4/04]

 

Chapter 5.  Stereoisomers
Learning Activity Stereochemistry
An interactive flash animation on what makes a molecule chiral or achiral and differences between enatiomers and diastereomers, and the optical activity of enantiomers.  It contains a good written explanation of what is happening in each step and allows the user to replay important parts without starting the animation over from the beginning.  This is a good 10-minute activity for students to do out-of-class to strengthen their understanding of the subject.   [4/04]
Learning Assessment Fundamental Concepts of Stereoisomers Jeopardy! Game
Use a web-based Jeopardy! game to review how well a group (large or small) understands many of the introductory concepts of stereoisomerism in organic chemistry.  The six categories are "Isomer Types", "Chirality", "Optical Activity", "Stereocenters", "Fischer Projections", and "More Than 1 Chiral Center".  This is a student designed Single Jeopardy! game (30 questions), could easily be used by student study groups and is best used when a chemist serves as the MC and answer judge.    The solution key is also available on this web page.   [4/04]

 

Chapter 6.  Properties and Reactions of Haloalkanes
Learning Objective Develop skills for drawing SN2 reaction mechanisms using arrow formalism.
Learning Activity Reaction Mechanisms at a Glance
The user will work through the SN2 reaction (others are available) stepwise, identifying reactive sites and drawing arrows properly. Each successive step is dependent on correctly completing the previous step. Each mechanism tutorial will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. [5/04]

 

Chapter 7.  Further Reactions of Haloalkanes
Learning Objectives Develop skills for drawing SN1 reaction mechanisms using the correct arrow formalism, understand why SN1 reactions lead to rearranged products, and be able to articulate the competitive nature of SN1 and SN2 reactions.
Learning Activity Reaction Mechanisms at a Glance
The SN1 reaction is covered in an interactive flash tutorial. The tutorial will also develop basic skills for drawing organic mechanisms using arrow formalism by asking the user to identify elctrophilic/nucleophilic sites, acidic/basic sites, and atom mapping.  The user work through this reaction (others are available) stepwise, identifying reactive sites and drawing arrows properly. Each successive step is dependent on correctly completing the previous step. Each mechanism tutorial takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. [5/04]
Learning Activity Carbocationic Rearrangements and SN2 vs. SN1
Two interactive flash animations on how and why carbocations undergo rearrangement to become a more stable carbocation and the differences between SN1 and SN2 chemical reactions.  They contain a good written explanation of what is happening in each step and allows the user to replay important parts without starting the animation over from the beginning.  These are two good 10-minute activities for students to do out-of-class to strengthen their understanding of the subject. [4/04]

 

Chapter ?.  Pinacol Rearrangment
Learning Activity Pinacol Rearrangement
An interactive flash animation on the vicinal diol functional group reaction with a strong acid, focusing on the pinacol rearrangement.  It contains a good written explanation of what is happening in each step and allows the user to replay important parts without starting the animation over from the beginning.  This is a good 10-minute activity for students to do out-of-class to strengthen their understanding of the subject. [4/04]

 

This page last updated:  05/04/2004