This document provides the course syllabus for CHEM 255: Basic Organic Chemistry, a 3 credit course taught by Dr. Mahmoud K. Faraj at Lebanese International University. The course objectives are to provide knowledge of the structure and chemistry of major organic functional groups and emphasize structure-property relationships and applications. The course outcomes are for students to understand the fundamentals of important organic functional groups, their properties, and relate organic chemistry concepts to natural and biological systems. The course meets prerequisites of CHEM-200 General Chemistry, uses the textbook "Organic Chemistry: A Short Course" and has assessments including 3 exams worth 30%, 30%, and 40% respectively.

1. Dr Mahmoud K. Faraj 1/2 CHEM 255-Fall 11/12
Lebanese International University
CHEM 255: Basic Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
Course Syllabus
INSTRUCTOR
CLASS HOURS
OFFICE HOURS
GRADE DISTRIBUTION
Exam I 30%
Exams II 30%
Final Exam 40%
COURSE OBJECTIVES
CHE 255 is a course of basic organic chemistry for non-major students. The goal of this course is
to provide knowledge on the basic structure and chemistry of alkanes, alkenes, alcohols,
aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, amines, amides, amino acids and carbohydrates with a
special emphasis on structure/properties relationship and the practical aspects of organic
chemistry in numerous health and daily life related situations
COURSE OUTCOME
At the end of this course,the student should have a profound understanding of the fundamentals
of the most important functional groups in organic chemistry: their molecular structure and
physico-chemical properties. He will be able to correlate his know-how in organic chemistry with
the natural and biological applications of chemistry.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
CHEM-200 General Chemistry.
TEXT BOOK
Organic Chemistry a Shot course, Hart/Craine/Hart/Haddad 12th
Edition.Houghton Mifflin Co.
.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students are expected to attend all lectures. Attendance will be taken periodically in
class.
EXAMS POLICY
There is no Make-up exams and in case of missing an exam, the student is refered to The
University policies in this regard.. In some well justified cases of missing exams, the
grade percent of that exam will be added to the final exam.

2. Dr Mahmoud K. Faraj 2/2 CHEM 255-Fall 11/12
Lectures distribution
PART I
Lecture 1
Review of atomic structure, Lewis and VSEPR theories, hybridization, line angle drawing.
Lectures 2-5
Alkanes: Nomenclature structure and properties. Cycloalkanes, isomers, ring structure and strain
theory. free radical halogenation of alkanes.
Lectures 6-10
ALKENES and ALKYNES Nomenclature, structure and properties. Synthesis and reactions of
alkenes. Addition reactions: Hydrogenation, halogenation. Hydration and addition of HX
(Markovnikove/Anti Markovnikove).Oxidation (Ozonolysis, KMnO4).
Exam I
PART II
Lectures 11-12
AROMATIC COMPOUNDS:What is "aromaticity"?. Nomenclature, structure and
reactions such as halogenation, nitration, sulfonation and orientation of di-substitution.
Lectures 13-15
Stereochemistry: geometrical and Optical isomers. One and two chiral centers.
Lectures 16-17
Alkyl Halides. Substitutions and elimination reactions SN2,SN1,E2 and E1
Lectures 18-20
ALCOHOLS,ETHERS AND THIOLS:Nomenclature, structure,synthesis and reactions of
alcohols: Oxidation, dehydration, halogenation and etherification. Thiols and thioethers.
Exam II
PART III
Lectures 21-24
Aldehydes and ketones: Nomenclature, synthesis, properties and reactions with alcohols(acetals,
ketals), water, hydrogen. Reactions with nucleophile and Oxidation (tests).
Lectures 25-28
Carboxylic acids and derivatives: Nomenclature, structure, properties and synthesis. Reactivity of
carboxylic acids. Carboxylic acid salts. Esterification. Esters properties and nomenclature.
AMIDES. Synthesis, Structure and nomenclature. Hydrolysis of carboxylic acid derivatives.
Lectures 29-30
AMINES: Nomenclature of amines. Synthesis and properties such as basicity and reactivity.
Amine salts and their properties.
FINAL EXAM: The final exam includes PART II and III. Good Luck