ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 1 Expository Class: 28 Interactive Classroom: 25 Total: 54
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Organic Chemistry
Areas: Organic Chemistry
Center Higher Technical Engineering School
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
Course objectives
- To know the most important functional groups present in the organic compounds. To understand and to be able of using the IUPAC nomenclature system.
- To be able to represent organic compounds using Lewis's structures, structural formulae and with stereochemistry (Newmanm, Fischer, perspective) and using computer applications.
- To have basic notions of stereochemistry and conformational analysis.
- To relate physical properties (melting points, boiling points, solubility in water) with molecular structure.
- To know the main methods of separation of organic substances and their practical implementation.
- To know the most relevant chemical reactions of the functional groups studied.
- To know the industrial and environmental importance of organic compounds
- To know the structure of the main polymers and polymerization reactions.
- To have basic notions of the structure of enzymes and their function in biochemical reactions.
In accordance with what is established in the report of the Degree in Chemical Engineering, the contents of this subject must refer to the following headings:
1. Structure and formulation of organic compounds.
2. Hydrocarbons: reactions and industrial importance.
3. Organic compounds in industrial chemical processes: halogenated compounds, alcohols and amines, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and derivatives.
4. Polymers: polymerization reactions.
5. Introduction to biochemical reactions.
These contents are organized in the following lectures, interactive, laboratory and practical classes in the computer classroom:
TOPIC 1: STRUCTURE AND NOMENCLATURA OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Representation of organic molecules. Structural isomerism. Functional groups. Resonance. Hiybridization. Polarity. Intermolecular forces. Acids and bases.
Lecture/seminar/tutoring hours: 5 / 1 /1
TOPIC 2: ALKANES.
Physical properties. Conformacional analysis of Alkanes and cycloalkanes. Combustion. Halogenation. Petroleum.
Lecture/seminar hours: 3 / 1
TOPIC 3: STEREOCHEMISTRY. Chirality. Optical activity. Absolute configuration. Fischer Projection. Stereoisomerism.
Lecture/seminar hours: 2 / 1
TOPIC 4: ALKENES and ALKYNES
Alkenes: Structure and industrial importance. Electrophilic Aaddition to alkenes. Oxidation. Reduction. Diels-Alder's reaction. Polimerization. Alkynes: structure. Acidity of alkynes. Reactivity of alkynes.
Lecture/seminar hours: 3 / 1
TOPIC 5: AROMATIC COMPOUNDS:
Structure of benzene and aromaticity. Electrophilic aromatic substitution. Aromatic compounds: industrial importance.
Lecture/seminar hours: 2 / 1
TOPIC 6: HALOALKANES
Classification and importance. Nucleophilic substitution: SN1 and SN2 . Elimination: E1 and E2 .Organometallic compounds. Chlorofluorocarbons
Lecture/seminar hours: 3 / 1
TOPIC 7: ALCOHOLS AND AMINES
Alcohols: classification and importance. Acid-base properties. Nucleophilic substitution with alcohols. Reactions of Alcohols with acids. Oxidation. Ethers and epoxides.
Amines: Classification and importance. Acidity and basicity of amines. Alkylation of amines and Quaternary ammonium salts.
Lecture/seminar hours: 3 / 1
TOPIC 8 ALDEHYDES AND KETONES
Structure and properties. Additions to the carbonyl group. Hemiacetals, acetals, imines, enamines. Alpha reactivity: aldol condensation. Oxidation and reduction. Carbohydrates.
Lecture/seminar hours: 3 / 1
TOPIC 9: CARBOXILIC ACIDS AND DERIVATIVES
Addition-elimination reactions. Transformation of carboxilic acids to their derivatives and interconversion of carboxilic acid derivatives. Condensation Polimers.
Lecture/seminar hours: 2 / 1
TOPIC 10: BIOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
Reactions in living organisms. Amino acids and peptides. Protein structure. Enzymes.
Lecture/seminar hours: 2 / 1
LABORATORY:
SESSION 1: separation techniques:
a) Liquid-liquid extraction.
b) Column chromatography.
SESSION 2: Fisher esterification: ethyl acetate preparation.
SESSION 3: Preparation of polymers.
COMPUTER SESSION: use of computer applications to represent organic molecules.
BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
All the basic study material will be available in the Learning Management System physically or through the corresponding internet links.
HART, H.; HART, D. J.; CRAINE, L. E., Organic Chemistry: A Short Course. Ed Houghton Mifflin Compay, ISBN 9780618590735
VOLLHARDT, K. P. C.; SHORE, N. E. Organic Chemistry ", Ed W. H. Freeman, ISBN 9781429239240
COMPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY
William Reusch, Virtual Textbook of Organic Chemistry (free access under Creative Commons License)
Knowledge and contents
Con18: Knowledge of basic and technological subjects, enabling them to learn new methods and theories, and giving them the versatility to adapt to new situations.
Skills and abilities
H/D05: Ability to apply knowledge in practice.
Competences
Comp04: Ability to understand and apply the principles of basic knowledge of general chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry and their applications in engineering.
The subject will have a Learning Management System using the Moodle platform in which the whole teaching material of the course, including the schedule and links to pages of interest, will be provided. The Learning Management System will be the primary communication channel with the students.
Lecture teaching:
- Theoretical explanations will be alternated with the resolution of exercises to illustrate the explained concepts.
- Seminar classes, where problems assigned exercises will be solved.
- Tutorial classes. Besides clarifying doubts, complementary problems can be discussed. The attendance to the tutorial classes will be mandatory to pass the course.
- Laboratory classes: three laboratory practices of 4h. In each session 1-2 experiments will be done. A laboratory manual with the fundamentals and the experimental procedures for each experiment will be provided to the students. The attendance to the laboratory practices will be mandatory to pass the course.
- Computer practices: One session class using computer programs to represent organic molecules.
In addition, for practical computer classes, students will be able to download to their personal computer equipment the ChemDraw and Chem3D programs, for which the USC has a Campus license.
Competences:
- Lecture teaching: COMP04, CON18
- Seminar classes and tutorial classes: CON186, CON18
- Laboratory classes: COMP04, HD05
- Computer practices: COMP04, HD05
The evaluation of the subject will be carried out according to the following scheme:
- Final exam 70%. A minimum grade of 4.5 is required to pass the course.
- Continuous evaluation 30%. It is divided into the following activities:
a) Completion of the exercises of the bulletins in the seminars and tutorials, active participation in the classes: 15%.
b) Intermediate test: 10%.
c) Work in the laboratory and in the computer classroom (compulsory): 5%.
- Final exam: with theoretical and practical questions during the period of examinations at the end of the course. It will contribute 70% to the overall grade. It is necessary to obtain a minimum grade of 4.5 to pass the course.
- Intermediate test: consisting of several exercises on the material explained in the first three topics. The percentage of the final grade will be 10%.
- Continuous assessment (15%), where the active participation of the students in the resolution of the bulletins in the seminars and tutorial clases, and the active participation of the student will be taken into account. The percentage of the final grade will be 15%.
- Laboratory and computer classes (5%). Attendance is mandatory to pass the subject. For those students who have already attended in previous years, the attendance to lab is optional.
The students who fail the subject in the first opportunity of the final exam, will have a second opportunity in July. All the marks obtained in the other components of the grading, continuous assessment and practical work, will be kept.
FRAUDULENT ASSESSMENT OF EVALUATION TESTS
In cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the “Regulations for the assessment of the academic performance and the review of qualifications” will apply: "The fraudulent conduct of any exercise or test required in the assessment of a subject will involve the qualification of fail in the corresponding call, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be followed against the offending student."
Competences:
- Exam: COMP04, CON18
- Intermediate test: COMP04
- Seminars and tutorial clases: CON186, CON18
- Work in the laboratory and in the computer class: COMP04, HD05
Activity Work in class (hours) / Personal work (hours)
Theoretical classes 28 / 38
Seminars 10 / 20
Computer practices 3 /2
Laboratory Practices 12 /6
Tutorships (groups) 1 /4
Exam and revision 4 /22
Total 62 92
It is highly recommended the attendance to and the active participation in every class.
It is recommended the handle of molecular models
It is very important to keep up to date with the study of the subject and to work on the questions/exercises before they are addressed in class.
It is important that the students had previously studied the following subject: Fundamental chemistry in engineering
The course will be taught in Spanish. The subject will have a Learning Management System using the Moodle platform in which the whole teaching material of the course and links to pages of interest will be provided. The Learning Management System will be the primary communication channel with the students.
The students are required to know and follow the rules included in the Protocol of basic safety training for experimental spaces of the School of Engineering, available in the security section of its new website to which you can access as follows:
1. Access your intranet.
2. Enter Government and Management/Security/Teaching Forms.
3. Click on "Basic Safety Training Protocol for Experimental Spaces."
Agustin Antonio Cobas Martinez
- Department
- Organic Chemistry
- Area
- Organic Chemistry
- agustin.cobas [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
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| 18:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom A1 |
| Friday | |||
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | Spanish | Classroom A1 |
| 18:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLIS_02 | Spanish | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS01 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS04 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS07 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIS_02 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_03 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS03 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS06 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLIL_02 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS02 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS05 | Classroom A1 |
| 01.22.2026 16:00-20:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLIL_02 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS02 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS05 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLIL_01 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS01 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS04 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS07 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLIS_02 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLIL_03 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS03 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS06 | Classroom A1 |
| 07.01.2026 16:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | Classroom A1 |