Is 1/2 year of Org. Chemistry enough for DAT?

[Dr IWannaBe]

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Just trying to pace myself for application time, come 2007. I was wondering if I needed to take the entire year of organic chemistry prior to taking DAT.

 

[duh?]

You should be fine with Org I. Studying would involve some material from OrgII, but nothing you can't handle if you grasp the concepts in Org I. Good luck!

 

[bloodygums]

You could still take it and do alright, but I would say that the other half would be a big help. There are a lot of reactions and concepts such as IR and aromaticity that you don't cover until the second half of O-chem and these things will be tested.

 

[polarnut]

concepts such as IR and aromaticity...

lol. oh the memories.

 

[beezies]

Just trying to pace myself for application time, come 2007. I was wondering if I needed to take the entire year of organic chemistry prior to taking DAT.

You should definately take the second semester, either that or buy Kaplans Organic Chemistry Edge, everything in that book was on the DAT. The only part of the DAT that I was able to just read one book and not worry about again. I got a 22 on that section I think.

 

[mcshow2]

I think if you got every question right from first semester material only you could get an 18 or a 19. I think having both semesters and with study, this is a section that can really bring up the total science score.

Not only is aromaticity a main topic in second semester, but carbonyl chemistry ( C=0 ) is a huge topic as well.

 

[The_Baron]

I would first compare your syllabus or talk to someone that has taken the entire class and then just quickly walk through the scope of the O Chem section as told by Kaplan or other study tool. Such as:

http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/scope.asp#part1

which list the scope of the O Chem. section.

Organic Chemistry:

* Mechanisms (Energetics, Structure, and Stability of Intermediates)—SN1, SN2, elimination, addition, free radical, and substitution mechanisms

* Chemical and Physical Properties of Molecules and Organic Analysis—inter and intra molecular forces, separation, introductory infrared spectroscopy, 1HNMR spectroscopy, 13CNMR, chemical identification, stability, solubility, and polarity

* Stereochemistry—conformational analysis, geometric isomers, stereoisomers (enantiomers, diastereomers, meso compounds), optical activity (planes of symmery)

* Nomenclature—IUPAC rules and functional groups in molecules

* Individual Reactions of the Major Functional Groups and Combinations of Reactions to Synthesize Compounds—arbon-to-carbon bond formation, functional groups conversions, multistep synthesis, redox reactions, name reactions, grignard, witting, deiels-adlet, aldol reaction

* Acid Base Chemistry—resonance effects, inductive effects, and prediction of products and equilibria

* Aromatics and Bonding —concept of aromaticity, resonance, atomic/molecular orbitals, hybridization, bond angles/lengths.


Then, you can decide how much you will have to teach yourself. ANd what makes the most sense for you. I would assume the content taught semester to semester varies among different schools.

Personally, I only got a 19 on the O Chem section be cause I essentially gave up on that section when studying. The toughest part of this section would definately be the different mechanisms. You can only logic out so much; you must memorize every one. The analytical protion of this section was much easier. Just my opinion I suppose.