This core chemistry course aims to develop your understanding of fundamentals of organic chemistry concepts that are essential for future advance chemistry courses and any practicing chemists. This course is also great preparation for a PhD and a career in chemistry research.
On completing this course, you have extended your understanding of organic reaction mechanisms beyond the first- and second-year contents to more advanced chemistry. You will understand issues of selectivity and specificity, especially in terms of regio-, stereo-, and chemo-selectivity and specificity. You will be able to propose syntheses of molecules of higher complexity.
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Taken in: AY 20/21 Sem 1
Grade: AMidterm 1 (20%): 15/15
Homework 1 & 2 (15%): 4/5 & 10/10
Midterm 2 (30%): 87/100 [average: 72]
Finals (40%)This mod was not as intimidating as CM2031, but some reactions from CM2031 are used to teach new concepts/models, such as Michael Reaction. The first part regarding Diels Alder, sigmatropic, electrocyclic reactions, etc was more difficult because a lot of visualising is needed. BUT once you get it, it becomes quite straightforward, just be careful not to make mistakes. The 1st prof gave us 2 homework which, in my opinion, was very difficult so maybe y’all would want to discuss answers with your friends before submitting, only 1 submission is allowed. Both midterms are closed book, but finals are open book. Both midterms and finals are held physically in school. Also, because of covid-19, for the 1st half, the prof would record herself teaching the content and upload it onto blackboard, you can just watch it at your own time. Lecture time would be delegated to Q&A, but most of the time there would be no questions lol so the Q&A would end within 30mins or so. For midterm 1, do her pyp, as there is a chance the same qns maybe asked (the exact same definition qn was asked for our batch). The type of qns are also the same as pyp. I think because her homework was very difficult, so she set a relatively easy midterm for us.
For midterm 2, it was not difficult, but do take note of everything covered in lecture and tutorial qns that is not printed in the slides. So during the lecture, the 2nd prof would show extra slides of additional examples that are not in your notes, I thought those were not necessary, but apparently, a midterm qn was set based on those additional examples. So the entire 10 marks I had no idea what the qn was asking, was surprised I even got 2 marks for the nonsense I wrote 😂 And of course, I was super surprised by my results, the prof was super lenient, I must say. He is very nice too! 🙂 Maybe a tip for the 2nd prof qns, just showing the mechanism for the favoured pathway is enough to get full marks, don’t need to waste time to show for the minor product although the prof says it’s good to show both pathways.
For finals, I was too complacent (because I did relatively well for the 60% already and finals were going to be open book), so I made many careless mistakes. Hence, I am not sure how my grades are going to turn out lol 🙃
This review was reposted with the kind permission of Awesome NTU CBC Student. Originally published at https://awesomentucbcstudent.blogspot.com/2020/12/ay2021-y3s1-review.html
July 18, 2021 -
Year Taken: AY 18/19, Sem 2
Arghhhh can’t do organic chem. Even though all the exams are open book, I just can’t do it. Maybe its also cos I didn’t attend the lectures 🙁
Ok this is really due to my laziness and trying to smoke my way through
But it didn’t work, so everyone please attend all the lectures and tutorials in this course. There are two mid terms and tutorials are graded, but I skipped them to go earn money. $.$
I’m just glad that this is over phew
Finals was also open book, but it feels like there is no use when I didn’t understand the notes in the first place. I’m just stupid and lazy hahaha.This review was reposted with the kind permission of Hairdryer. Originally published at https://ionhairdryer.blogspot.com/2019/12/ay-201819-ntu-spms-cbc-y3s2.html
June 15, 2021
