Organic chemistry

• Esters are organic compounds that contain a carbonyl group (-CO-) bonded to an oxygen atom and an alkyl or aryl group.
• Historical survey of the development and importance of Organic Chemistry
• Isolation and purification of organic compounds
• Fullerenes as the fourth allotrope of carbon, with uses as nanotubules, nanostructures, and nanochemistry
• Determination of structures of organic compounds, including qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Electronic theory in organic chemistry
• Introductory reaction mechanism and kinetics
• Nomenclature and functional group classes of organic compounds
• Stereochemistry
• Chemistry of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, ethers, amines, alkyl halides, nitriles, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and derivatives
• Chemistry of selected metals and non-metals
• Comparative chemistry of group IA, IIA, and IVA elements
• Introduction to transition metal chemistry
• Importance and development of organic chemistry as it affects life
• Definition of fullerenes and its applications
• Discussion of electronic theory
• Qualitative and quantitative determination of structures in organic chemistry
• Rules guiding nomenclature and functional group classes of organic chemistry
• Identification and naming of organic compounds
• Continuous Assessment:

  • Class test/Assignments worth 20% Marks
  • Mid Semester test worth 20% Marks
• Examination worth 60% Marks
• 75% attendance required to sit for the examination
• Assignments must be submitted on time
• Contributions to group discussion and class work are noted
• Occasional quizzes will be given
• Recommended Reading/Texts:

  • Hoffman, Robert V (2004), Organic Chemistry: An Intermediate Text, 2nd Ed., USA
  • Clayden Jonathan, Greeves, Nick and Warren Stuart (2000), Organic Chemistry, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, UK
  • Joseph H. Hornback (2006), Organic Chemistry, 2nd Edition, Thomson Books/Cole, USA
• Organic chemistry began in the early 19th century as an attempt to understand the chemistry of life, leading to vast industries that impact daily life
• Organic compounds are those found in living things and formed over time from dead matter
• Classification tests categorize organic compounds based on their reactivity, known as organic qualitative analysis
• Functional groups in organic compounds are recurring sequences of bonded elements that determine chemical reactions
• Recognizing and understanding functional groups is crucial for predicting and understanding organic reactions
• Most organic reactions involve converting one functional group to another, making the study of functional groups essential in organic chemistry
• The term biotechnology was first used by Karl Ereky in 1919
• Various stages in the development of Biotechnology

  • Ancient biotechnology (8000–4000 BC)
  • Classical biotechnology (2000 BC; 1800–1900 AD)
• Examples of early biotechnological practices

  • Using poison darts from plants or toad skin for hunting
  • Using animals for cultivation of land
  • Designing plowing rakes and fitting them on donkeys, bulls, and mules
  • Hunting with dogs
• Man, from the early days, have been using biotechnology in solving many problems, even without knowing the principles of biotechnology
• In the period before the year 1800, events such as domestication of animals and cultivation of plants were categorized as biotechnological developments
• Definition of biotechnology

  • The application of biological organisms, systems or processes to the manufacturing and service industries
• Biotechnology

  The use of living organisms in whole (e.g. bacteria, fungus) or in part (genetic materials e.g. chromosome, gene), or biological substances (e.g. enzymes) to perform specific bioprocess tasks (technology)
• Genetics was developed in the period 1900–1953 and DNA research was initiated in 1953–1976