Organic Chemistry For Dummies

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What topics are covered in an organic chemistry college course?

I keep hearing nightmare stories about how hard this course is so I've convinced myself that I need to study independently a semester in advance so I won't feel too overwhelmed when I eventually take it.

I bought a cheap ochem textbook (and ochem for dummies to supplement) but I'm not sure what parts I should read in the textbook, unless most courses require that you read the book from beginning to end! (which in that case, might be a good idea to start reading now!)

oh yea, if possible, can you specify which ones are in ochem-I and ochem-II?

I am very grateful for your answers. Thanks in advance!

I can't speak for your school, but the course and expectations can vary quite widely. From my experience, most students succeed with stereochemistry, conformational analysis, nomenclature, etc. They describe static things. If given enough practice, students know what sp3 or axial mean.

Reactions are a different matter. You start with something and end up with something else and the variations are endless. I used reaction mechanisms or mechanistic thinking as a staple of my teaching activities. I also introduced a mechanism workbook to supplement the class. By doing so, I raised my class average on the ACS organic exam by 20 percentile points.

Many students (and professors) resist a mechanism approach. A mechanisms is a logical explanation of the electron movements that lead to the products. I like it. That kind of thinking appeals to me and has worked well with my class.

Learn reaction mechanisms with "The Language of Organic Chemistry; A Guide to Organic Chemistry Mechanisms" at http://www.curvedarrowpress.com. Incidentally, I had a summer high school student learning reactions from the book without taking organic chemistry. The book makes the reactions accessible and I believe my results are a reflection of that.

At the other extreme, some schools emphasize retrosynthesis and can be rigid in how it is formatted. I have tutored some students in schools like that. I mention this because it strikes me as being extremely challenging to try to make use of reactions frequently did not know. It is like translating from English with a foreign language dictionary. I would expect organic chemistry to be extremely challenging at those schools.

Catalysts for Dummies


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Chemistry For Dummies Online

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Last Minute Guide to Acing Final Exams

As the fall semester draws to a close, many college students are faced with increasing anxiety over final exams, or rather whether or not their performance during those exams will elevate their grade to the desired level. While there’s no substitution for semester long studying and academic preparedness, there are a few things students can do besides cramming to put their most knowledgeable face forward.


The first step is to know your professor. Most college professors will give plenty of indication as to what the final exams will contain. If not, you can usually expect something similar to the midterm or any other tests you’ve taken along the way. Some professors take great delight in testing on the most esoteric statements or principles of the study materials or lectures while others simply stick to the salient points. Those who fall into the former category should take up a lot more of your precious study time than those from the latter.


The second step is to study smart by tailoring your efforts to fit the type of class you’re in. As an example, few literature professors will ask for specific details of a drama or novel, instead wanting to make sure you understand the overall themes of a story or the motivations behind the character contained therein. Study guides on popular fiction, such as the “for dummies” series of books will usually impart a high level of understanding in a very small timeframe. A calculus final, on the other hand, will likely require you to have mastered the equations covered in class throughout the entire semester or at least the second half. Systematically going over them and working through some examples, either as a refresher or to learn what you should have already, is a good investment of your time.


The third step is to know yourself, specifically how much sleep you need to be functional. Getting less sleep than normal is a given, but there’s a point at which your mind will have a much harder time recalling all that last minute knowledge you’ve attempted to stuff it full of. Some people can function perfectly with three hours of sleep, while others need six. It’s better to be under-prepared and well rested than to be the walking dead.


The final step is to play the odds based on your academic situation. If you have a high GPA and want to retain it, you probably have a class or two that doesn’t present much of a problem for you. Skip studying for those and concentrate on the classes that you have a hard time with. Analytical thinkers who dread an essay test may want to brush up on their understanding of sociology themes for a sociology class rather than spend time solidifying their understanding of covalent bonding for a chemistry final. Needless to say, if your goal is simply to pass and you have a class or two for which your performance up to finals leaves you wondering if you’ll have to take the class again, spend your time there.

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