Organic chemistry

[Dissonance]

So my involvement with my site will probably explain why I am quite eager to take this class. I have been looking forward to it my entire educational career since I love reading up on various substances.

I found out that the prof. that I have may be very tough, can anyone give me advice for a college organic chemistry class, maybe some helpful resources?

 

[delta_9]

maybe some helpful resources?

There is a list of free chemistry databases in ADD.

 

[trainwreckmolly]

i have 3 friends that took this class at East Carolina University. All 3 of them said its the hardest undergraduate class they took. Just be prepared and don't fall behind. 2 of them fell behind and had to drop the class and retake the next semester.

 

[Bedhead]

You need a solid understanding in inorganic chemistry. If you still think water breaks down into hydrogens and oxygens when its boiled, start filling out that add/drop form. (This was literally one of the 1st questions he asked on Day 1, and some people got it wrong)

I'm actually just starting this class this semester. The structure the prof. choose is fucked though, literally fucked. Break up into little groups every class, so much paper shuffling. I can't stand it. And he wonders why they never get through all the topics each year. I'd like it so much better if it was a lecture style class.

My advice is: stay on top of each chapter, learn every concept, and don't fall behind.
But if you have a natural nack for the sciences and a passion for chem, it shouldn't be a problem.

Resources on the internet will only confuse you, as the way certain things are explained don't always sync up with the book your prof. is using or his class notes. Read the book before each class, and ask questions about things you don't understand in class. That way you'll never fall behind.

 

[Cyc]

The little bit I learned of organic from Chem 101, I found utterly fascinating. I found organic much more enjoyable than, say, thermodynamics or gases.

The fact that it wasn't math intensive is very appealing to me. However, I don't know if that still applies in 2nd year orgo.

 

[adrian89987]

Read your book, if you can understand the implications of the concepts the book is trying to tell you..you are doing pretty good. Make sure you go to lecture and actually listen.

If you can build a good conceptual model in your mind of how the mechanisms flow and what factors lead to this you will do great. You need to build a good foundation in order to easily understand the more complicated aspects, so even though the beginning chapters and lectures may seem really basic and you don't wanna listen all too well...if you miss out on understanding some basic concepts it will lead to a somewhat flawed understanding of how things work in some cases.