Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM-40012
Hands-on Online Organic Chemistry Lab
The Organic Chemistry I Laboratory is a hands-on course designed to complement the theoretical concepts covered in the CHEM40010: Organic Chemistry I lecture course. The lab focuses on the separation, purification, and synthesis of organic compounds using distillation, recrystallization, melting point analysis, chromatography, and other techniques. Emphasizing safety and precision, students will perform a series of carefully designed experiments, analyze data, interpret results, and engage in scientific reasoning. It is recommended that students have completed a college-level Organic Chemistry I lecture course prior to enrolling in this course. This course is designed to provide an introductory-level college organic chemistry lab for health science majors. Please note: the laboratory and lecture courses were developed independently and are not synchronized on a week-by-week schedule and students are advised to first complete an Organic Chemistry I lecture course prior to enrolling.
Learning Outcomes
- Interpret chemical structures, draw bond-line molecule representations, draw resonance structures and assess their relative contribution, predict the position of acidbase equilibrium.
- Learn the concept of atom hybridization and bond geometry. Identify major functional groups and be able to name simple chemical compounds or draw their structures based on the name.
- Become familiar with typical organic chemistry lab equipment and their use.
- Develop skills to recrystallize, separate, and purify molecular species.
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct a reaction and understand the reaction mechanism.
- Demonstrate understanding and the utilization of reading FTIR and NMR spectra.
- Provide technical reports in pdf format detailing the experiments and their findings.
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have completed an undergraduate-level Organic Chemistry I lecture course prior to enrolling. While not required, completion of Organic Chemistry II is recommended and will be beneficial.
Format
This course is offered in an online asynchronous format. There are no set meeting times, however, students follow a weekly schedule and there will be deadlines to meet in terms of course requirements. This course cannot be completed at an accelerated rate.
Transferring for College Credit
Many courses at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies may be eligible for college credit at UC San Diego or other institutions. Credit transfer is determined by the receiving institution. We recommend consulting with the registrar's office at your intended institution before enrolling to confirm how your courses will transfer.
Note On The Lab
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 8/10/2026
Schedule:
Instructor: Shawn Shahsavari
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 8/31/2026
Schedule:
Instructor:
Lisa McCoy
Lisa has over ten years of experience teaching and mentoring undergraduate and master’s students in chemistry laboratory and lecture settings. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from UC San Diego and brings research experience that enriches her teaching. She has designed, synthesized, and characterized a wide range of molecules, including aminoglycoside antibiotics, nucleoside triphosphates, modified oligonucleotides, and heteroaromatic compounds for academic research and the pharmaceutical industry. This background allows her to connect the fundamental principles of chemistry to practical applications in biomedical research and drug discovery.
By fostering a positive and supportive learning environment, Lisa helps students gain confidence while mastering complex concepts. She believes chemistry is important not only for understanding reactions and mechanisms, but also for applying this knowledge to predict outcomes in new situations. These skills build a strong foundation for critical thinking, equipping students for successful careers in healthcare and biotechnology.
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 8/31/2026
Schedule:
Instructor:
Jacob Strain, PhD
Jacob Strain currently works as an Engineer at Samsung Austin Semiconductor studying thin films; He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Texas at Austin where he is currently working on organic-Silicon interfaces. He has over 15 years of laboratory experience and has published numerous articles. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and received his Ph.D. from the University of Louisville, where he studied the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide.
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 9/21/2026
Schedule:
Instructor: Shawn Shahsavari
Related Courses
FAQs
Many UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies courses can be transferred to other UC’s and/or other colleges or universities. The transfer of credit is determined solely by the receiving institution. It is recommended you discuss how your individual courses will transfer with the registrar's office at the receiving institution before you enroll. A syllabus can be requested from the department.