CHEM 120 Week 5 Lab: Organic Chemistry

CHEM 120 Week 5 Lab: Organic Chemistry

Student Name

Chamberlain University

CHEM-120 Intro to General, Organic & Biological Chemistry

Prof. Name:

Date

OL Lab 9: Constructing Organic Compound Models

Learning outcomes

• Develop virtual 3D representations of various organic compounds
• Illustrate extended structural formulas of different organic molecules

Organic compounds are primarily made up of carbon atoms and typically include other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. These compounds form through covalent bonding—where electrons are shared between atoms. Due to its tetravalent nature, carbon can create a wide variety of molecular structures, giving rise to a diverse range of organic compounds. Organic molecules constitute the majority of substances in living systems and pharmaceuticals. In this lab, students will construct virtual molecular models of organic compounds and practice drawing their extended structural representations.

Online modeling platform

Use the virtual modeling resource available at: http://molview.org/. Follow the provided instructions to create and explore each compound’s model. After building each compound, copy the virtual image and paste it into this document. This interactive modeling process is essential for mastering the structure of organic molecules.

Exploration 1: Constructing Models of Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons consist solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. These compounds can exist in straight-chain, branched, or ring-shaped forms. Hydrocarbons may be saturated (single bonds only), unsaturated (double or triple bonds), or aromatic (containing conjugated ring structures).

Below is a table outlining the required hydrocarbon models with their condensed structural formulas:

Exploration 2: Recognition of Functional Groups

Part 2A: Constructing functional group models

Functional groups are specific groupings of atoms within molecules that significantly influence chemical behavior. Use the modeling tool to create visual models of the following groups:

• Alcohol
• Ether
• Ketone
• Carboxylic acid
• Aldehyde
• Ester
• Amine

(Paste images of each model under this section)

Part 2B: Identifying functional groups from formulas

Use the table below to match condensed formulas with their corresponding functional groups and organic compound names:

Exploration 3: Building Organic Compounds with Functional Groups

Use the modeling tool to construct and paste models of the following compounds that include functional groups:

Lab Questions

1. List a biomolecule that includes each functional group:

   • Amine – Proteins
   • Aldehyde – Carbohydrates (e.g., glyceraldehyde)
   • Carboxylic acid – Lipids
   • Alcohol – Carbohydrates

2. Find an ester used in flavoring or fragrance products:

   • Name: Methyl butanoate
   • Condensed Formula: CH₃CH₂CH₂COOCH₃
   • Flavor: Apple

3. Identify the functional group and practical application for each compound:

   • Formaldehyde: Aldehyde; used in biological tissue preservation
   • Ethanol: Alcohol; commonly used in sanitizers and disinfectants
   • Acetone: Ketone; serves as a solvent in nail polish remover
   • Phenol: Aromatic compound; applied in antiseptic sprays and disinfectants

CHEM 120 Week 5 Lab: Organic Chemistry

Reflection

This virtual lab offered insight into the structural diversity and behavior of organic molecules. I developed a deeper understanding of how to identify functional groups and how their positions in chemical formulas determine compound identity. Viewing extended structural models clarified the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms, making it easier to understand bond orientation and molecular geometry. Learning common prefixes and suffixes used in naming compounds was also informative, especially as these conventions appear frequently in pharmaceutical and chemical labeling.

Despite its benefits, some parts of the lab were time-intensive and could obscure rather than reinforce understanding. Additionally, determining naming conventions for esters was somewhat confusing—specifically the order of the acid and alcohol components in the formula. Nevertheless, this lab has practical relevance. Recognizing structures on medical labels or safety sheets (MSDS) could be valuable in healthcare or lab-based careers, as it provides the ability to interpret chemical information quickly and accurately.

Grading Rubric

References

Brown, T. L., LeMay, H. E., Bursten, B. E., & Murphy, C. J. (2018). Chemistry: The central science (14th ed.). Pearson. Solomons, T. W. G., Fryhle, C. B., & Snyder, S. A. (2016). Organic chemistry (12th ed.). Wiley. MolView. (n.d.). Online molecular editor and visualizer. Retrieved from http://molview.org/

CHEM 120 Week 5 Lab: Organic Chemistry

Smith, J. G. (2020). Organic chemistry: An acid-base approach (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.