A continuation of CHEM 221. The second semester of the organic chemistry course first examines in considerable detail the chemistry of the carbonyl group and some classic methods of organic synthesis. The latter section of the course is devoted to a deeper exploration of a few topics, among which are the following: sugars, amino acids and proteins, advanced synthesis, and acid-base catalysis in nonenzymatic and enzymatic systems. The laboratory experiments illustrate both fundamental synthetic procedures and some elementary mechanistic investigations.

There is a tremendous gap between the length scale of the molecular world and the macroscopic dimensions of our experience, but macroscopic observation and physical manipulations nonetheless lie at the heart of the experiments that gave rise to atomic theory and modern chemistry. Although sophisticated instrumentation has been developed to “image” atoms and molecules, macroscopic observation in the laboratory remains an essential component of teaching and learning chemistry at the elementary school, secondary school, and undergraduate level.