Introduction to the Site
How we approach learning Organic Chemistry
Is learning Organic Chemistry difficult? YES.
Is learning Organic Chemistry impossible? NO, BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD.
BE ORGANIZED, STUDY CONSISTANTLY, PRACTICE A LOT.
Organic Chemistry has a negative reputation. Part is earned, part is myth, and part is the result of former students complaining about not passing the course, or not getting the grade(s) that they have been accustomed to. Organic can be difficult if approached the wrong way, yet it can be interesting and rewarding if the student brings to the table a mix of talent, dedication, and work ethic, along with a desire to develop their problem-solving skills.
General Chemistry is a very different beast to Organic Chemistry. The first year course is more mathematical with many calculations and not so much deep thinking. Organic has very few calculations and all kinds of thinking. The step up to the Organic sequence needs to be seen for what it is – a big leap in difficulty and expectation that requires a change of approach. Many students get stuck in first gear trying to memorize and not understanding the concepts.
The transition from General Chemistry to Organic and then, for many, to Biochemistry should be as seamless as possible. The subjects need to be seen as a study in scale in which the basics of how chemicals behave are presented in General Chemistry, the bigger ideas of molecular structure, molecular construction, and analysis developed in Organic, and then the application of macromolecules to biosynthesis covered in Biochemistry.
WHY IS THIS SUBJECT SO CHALLENGING?
It’s very different to General Chemistry, it’s more conceptual than mathematical, it requires better critical thinking skills, and it comes at a difficult time in the sophomore year. Issues over the two terms are traced back to the first semester where the foundational material is introduced and developed. The images below show how most of the key material tracks back to five first semester sections. Not knowing the basics makes it very difficult to do well.
The typical topics over 2 semesters
How they are related to Organic 1
HOW DO WE HELP STUDENTS BUILD A MORE SOLID FOUNDATION?
Establish the basics early on in Organic 1 – See Preparation & Organic 1 pages
Revisit the basic topics each time a new concept or reaction is introduced
Remind students that only so many things can happen in a chemical system
Offer students alternative ways of studying material – video, audio, animations
We offer a variety of engaging resources, ranging from text-based explanations to video shorts and longer-form videos, that will make studying Organic Chemistry from the ground up more manageable and interesting. An example of content is shown below.