Module: Organic Chemistry Lab & Spectroscopic Workshop for AC

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Organic Chemistry Lab & Spectroscopic Workshop for AC
Module Code	CHM1022 (ITS: CS262)
Faculty	Chemical Sciences	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

The CS262 module facilitates the development of manipulative and observational skills through experimental procedures in multistage organic syntheses and utilising a wide range of spectroscopic methods. Experience and application of spectroscopic methods to routine product examination. A reinforcing of the understanding and knowledge of various aspects of the 2nd year organic lectures. A special emphasis will be placed on reaction mechanisms and interpretation of spectra using infra-red and 1H (proton) NMR spectroscopy. The experiments will be written up and dated on a hardback notebook in the laboratory and mostly typed experimental reports will be submitted later (usually within a week).

Learning Outcomes

1. Perform basic and advanced synthetic organic chemical and analytical laboratory experiments.
2. Use a range of chemistry and analytical laboratory instrumentation. Analyse the experimental data and write a comprehensive 4-5 page laboratory report discussing the importance and relevance of the experimental results.
3. Describe the Organic chemical reactions with the appropriate REACTION MECHANISM and discuss and comprehend the chemical reactions undertaken in each experiment. Interpret the spectra for the synthesized organic products.
4. Understand and adhere to fully the health and safety guidelines and rules in the chemistry laboratory.
5. Fully understand and comply with the implications of plagiarism in writing up of experimental notebooks and the submission of experimental reports.
6. Analyse and interpret the infra-red and NMR spectra (1H, 13C) for simple organic molecules in the Spectroscopic workshop.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Laboratory	100	Experimental synthesis, analysis, experimental laboratory write-up, health and safety aspects of laboratory training.
Assignment Completion	125	The experimental report with diagrams [up to and including 5 pages per experiment] together with answers to the questions.
Independent Study	25	There will be several training videos and hybrid online learning components during the Chemical laboratory and detailing experiments, experimental practices and laboratory health and safety.
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	10254	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Ruairí Brannigan	Module Teacher	John Gallagher, Kieran Nolan, Loanda Cumba, Mary Pryce, Nessan Kerrigan

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Laboratory Portfolio	SYNTHESIS. Several synthetic chemistry experiments will be undertaken as assigned by the two academics supervising the laboratories during semester 1.	50%	Every Week
Performance evaluation	You will be assessed on your performance in the laboratory; some guidance and instruction will be necessary	12.5%	Every Week
Practical/skills evaluation	You will be assesed on your overall ability in the laboratory and knowledge and practice of health & safety measures and guidelines.	12.5%	Every Week
Assignment	Spectroscopic workshop	25%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	a,
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

AC2 CHEMISTRY LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS
SYNTHESIS. Several synthetic chemistry experiments will be undertaken. These are intended to illustrate relevant and interesting aspects of theory and techniques. Some of the experiment examples include: 1. Conversion of acetanilide to sulphanilamide via the intermediacy of 4-acetamidobenzene sulphonamide; diazo coupling of sulphanilamide with 2-naphthol. 2. Conversion of benzaldehyde to stilbene via the intermediacy of 1,2-diphenylethanol using Grignard reagent; crossed aldol condensation of benzaldehyde and acetone. 3. Oxidation reactions, for example cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone; steam distillation; adipic acid formation. 4. Reduction reactions, for example, reduction of benzoin obtained from benzoin condensation, reduction of benzil, borohydride reductions. 5. Electrophilic aromatic substitution, e.g. Friedel-Crafts alkylation, benzypyridine nitration to give a photochromic material, Sandmeyer reaction, e.g. anthranilic acid to o-iodobenzoic acid. 6. Protection and deprotection groups in organic syntheses. 7. Malonic ester chemistry. 8. Preparation of E,Z-stilbenes using the Wittig reaction: use of flash chromatography. 9. Preparation of dimedone and derivatives/recrystallisation techniques. QUALITATIVE ORGANIC ANALYSIS. Precise identification of a number of unknown organic substances using combinations of screening tests, confirmatory tests for functional groups, derivative formation and spectroscopic analysis.

Spectroscopic Workshop
Problem solving and interpretation of Infra-red and NMR spectra

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Vincent Hooper and John Gallagher 2020, The 2nd year Organic Chemistry Laboratory Manual.: 2020, Laboratory manual,
Any general Organic chemistry book with reaction mechanisms and spectroscopic methods: 0, General Organic chemistry,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None

This module is an amalgamation of a chemistry laboratory module in semester I and the spectroscopic workshop in semester II.