One application of organic chemistry that you can (and should) perform throughout your life is to critically evaluate the chemistry that goes on around you every day. This particular assignment focuses on chemical reactions, many of which have become so common that we all tend to forget that they are chemistry at all. The chemicals used to perform these reactions are chosen based on chemical reactivity and physical properties, both of which depend on chemical structure. This assignment, therefore, should provide you with a focus for synthesizing material from the entire semester Your assignment is outlined below.

• Select an organic reaction that impacts you in daily life or has application in your major - if you are interested in a complex process such as fermentation or respiration you will need to include not only the net reaction, but will need a specific conversion of one intermediate to the next. Seek help if necessary.
• Classify the reaction as belonging to one of the classes from the categorization exercises (other categories may apply as well, such as polymerization or hydrolysis, and these may be included as extras)
• Analyze the structures of the starting materials to indicate why they are capable of undergoing this type of reaction
• Type a 1-2 page (double spaced) paper that includes the following:
  • A brief introduction to the reaction (why did you choose it, how does it impact you?)
  • A representation of the chemical reaction - either 2 dimensional structures from ChemDraw may be copied and pasted into a Microsoft Word document or you may very neatly add this by hand.
  • Identification of the reaction type (should be one of the four major reaction categories covered on the categorization exercises) with explanation of why you classified the reaction that way.
  • An analysis of the structure of the starting materials indicating why they react this way - consider suggesting other chemicals that might also be suitable for this reaction.
• Turn in 5 copies of your paper on July 1 for distribution to a peer group. Your peer group will be selected so that you have an opportunity to read about and discuss several different types of reactions.
• Instructions for peer evaluation will be given in class on July 2.

Incremental Deadlines:

This assignment is frequently challenging for many students as the focus of the paper (reaction classification and analysis) is NOT available in reference books. For that reason, elements of the paper will be due in stages, with feedback at each stage. The following items (and the points awarded at each increment) are shown below:

Reaction Equation	15 points	June 22
Reaction Impact	15 points	June 24
Reaction Classification	20 points	June 26
Structural Analysis of Starting Materials	20 points	June 29
Paper	200 points	July 1
Peer Evaluation	30 points	July 2

KEY ELEMENTS: Provides a detailed (and correct) explanation of the reaction type

Explains WHY the reaction is classified that way

Correctly identifies structural characteristics that confer this reactivity

Explains WHY these structural characteristics confer this type of reactivity

SECONDARY ELEMENTS: Gives an introduction that indicates the everyday importance of the reaction.

Reaction is organic

Focuses on a single reaction rather than a net reaction

Includes correct representation of the reaction

Reads clearly (occasional errors acceptable if they do not distract from the content)

Characteristics of a 4.0 paper: (184-200 point range)

Contains all key and secondary elements

Characteristics of a 3.5 paper: (175-183 point range)

Key and secondary elements present - some detail lacking in explanation of one element

Characteristics of a 3.0 paper: (164-174 point range)

Missing secondary element

AND/OR

some detail lacking in explanation of one or two key elements, but analysis still correct

Characteristics of a 2.5 paper: (153-163 point range)

Several secondary elements (2-3) not satisfied

OR

some errors in a key element

Characteristics of a 2.0 paper: (144-152 point range)

Several secondary elements (2-3) not satisfied

AND

some errors in a key element

Characteristics of a 1.5 paper: (135-143 point range)

A key element missing

OR

most (4-5) secondary elements not satisfied

OR

Errors in more than one key element

Characteristics of a 1.0 paper: (124-134 point range)

A key element missing

AND

most (4-5) secondary elements not satisfied

OR

Two missing key elements

Characteristics of a 0.0 paper: (0-123 point range)

There's a paper with a name on it, but it's not clear that person knew what the assigment was.