SC 200 - Organic Chemistry

3 Credits
Outline Effective Date: Academic Year 2025/2026
Revised Date: Nov 24, 2025
Date Approved: Nov 24, 2025

Lecture Hours: 42 Lab Hours: 28

Course Description:
This course introduces students to the structure, properties, and reactions of the main classes of organic compounds and their relationship to living organisms and the environment. Laboratory techniques, including tests required for the assessment of environmental quality, are covered.

Rationale:
This course is required for the Environmental Conservation and Reclamation major and the General Environmental Sciences major within the Environmental Sciences diploma. This course is designed to provide a background on the fundamentals of organic chemistry and develop an understanding of how to apply these principles in the analysis of environmental samples (water, soil, and plant) using standard techniques employed by environmental technologists in the fields of pollution monitoring, water quality evaluation, and soil reclamation.

Prerequisites: SC 110
Corequisites: None

Course Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully completes the course will have reliably demonstrated the ability to

Identify organic compounds.
Distinguish between the main classes of organic compounds.
Name and write structure of organic compounds using International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature.
Recognize and describe functional groups in organic compounds and predict their reactions.
Identify organic compounds in Tier 1 guidelines for each of the major classes of organic compounds.
Describe the extraction, separation, and identification of selected environmental relevant organic compounds.
Safely conduct basic laboratory procedures, such as weighing chemicals, preparing solutions, and operating pH meters, routinely used in environmental chemistry.

Required Resource Materials:
Bettelheim, F.A. et al. 2020. Introduction to general, organic and biochemistry. 12th ed.

Cengage, Boston, MA.

Organic Chemistry SC 200 Lab Manual that is available in the bookstore.

Optional Resource Materials:
General reference material may be found in sections of the College Resource Centre.

Conduct of Course:
This course is delivered through lectures and assignments (42 hours) and laboratory exercises (28 hours). Students are encouraged to ask questions and participate in lectures, labs, and assignments throughout the course.

As per Lakeland College policy, class attendance is vital to the learning process and as significant to the students’ evaluation as examinations and reports, therefore absenteeism is recorded.

a. Students having a combination of excused and/or unexcused absence of 20 percent or higher for the scheduled course hours can be required to withdraw and would then automatically receive a “RW” (required withdrawal) for the course, regardless of any other evaluation results. (RW is a failing grade).

b. An excused absence is one that is verified with your instructor. Verification should be prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence. Verification of the absence may take the form of a note from your doctor/College nurse regarding illness, or a note from another instructor regarding a field trip or other activity, or authorization by your instructor following an in-person meeting. Be sure to contact your instructor and ask what they will require from you as verification for each absence. An unexcused absence is anything NOT verified by the instructor prior to the absence or the next class day following the absence.

NOTE: Any exceptions to the above attendance policy (e.g., timetable conflicts, work-related issues) must be approved in writing by the Department Chair prior to the beginning of the course.

It is the students’ responsibility to know their own absentee record.

Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with potential for evening courses, or exams. Students are expected to be available for classes during these times.

Content of Course:
Lecture Modules:

1.	Introduction to organic chemistry
2.	Saturated hydrocarbons: Alkanes and cycloalkanes
3.	Unsaturated hydrocarbons: Alkenes and cycloalkenes
4.	Unsaturated hydrocarbons: Alkynes
5.	Aromatic hydrocarbons
6.	Alcohols, Ethers, and Thiols
7.	Amines
8.	Aldehydes and Ketones
9.	Carboxylic Acids
10.	Carboxylic Anhydrides, Esters, and Amides

Laboratory Modules:

Lab 1.	Structures of Organic Compounds
Lab 2.	Identification of Hydrocarbons
Lab 3.	Identification of Alcohols and Phenols
Lab 4.	Properties of Amines and Amides
Lab 5.	Identification of Aldehydes and Ketones
Lab 6.	Properties of Carboxylic Acids and Esters

Course Assessments:
Learning will be assessed using the following:

Assignments assessing understanding of materials and concepts covered in class
Lab participation and reporting
Quizzes, midterm, and final exams

The final grade is an aggregate of the following components:

Quizzes and Assignments	20%
Midterm Exam	20%
Final Exam	30%
Lab Assignments	30%
Total	100%

Assignment and Lab due dates are discussed in class. Late assignments and labs are NOT accepted and receive a grade of zero.

Official final grades will be available on My Lakeland. Grades posted in D2L should be considered interim grades.
“Lakeland College is committed to the highest academic standards. Students are expected to be familiar with Lakeland College policies and to abide by these policies. Violations of these policies are considered to be serious and may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.”

Course Pass Requirements:
A minimum grade of D (50%) (1.00) is required to pass this course.

Letter	F	D	D+	C-	C	C+	B-	B	B+	A-	A	A+
Percent Range	0-49	50-52	53-56	57-59	60-64	65-69	70-74	75-79	80-84	85-89	90-94	95-100
Points	0.00	1.00	1.30	1.70	2.00	2.30	2.70	3.00	3.30	3.70	4.00	4.00

Students must maintain a cumulative grade of C (GPA - Grade Point Average of 2.00) in order to qualify to graduate.

Every effort has been made to ensure that information in this course outline is accurate at the time of publication. Lakeland College reserves the right to change courses if it becomes necessary so that course content remains relevant.

In such cases, the instructor will give students clear and timely notice of changes.

No part of this course outline may be reproduced in any form or resold without written permission from Lakeland College.

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