CHEM 311 is the first portion of a two-semester course designed to provide the student with a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of organic chemistry and the behavior of organic molecules. It introduces organic molecules and functional groups, the tools used to purify and structurally characterize these molecules, the chemical principles governing their stability and reactivity, and the application of these principles to organic synthesis. The laboratory portion of the course provides practical experience in the application of this knowledge and develops the basic laboratory techniques essential for the synthesis and purification of organic compounds. Three hours of lecture, one hour of recitation, and three hours of laboratory each week