Ochem prep

[gsims2]

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I'm taking ochem this upcoming semester. Does anyone have any tips/tricks that may have helped them?

 

[Optimist Prime]

man there's nothing tricky about college. Take notes in class, read the textbook, study your notes, study the textbook, and take the tests. Just learn what your teacher emphasizes lol there isn't a secret to college and all teachers are different.

 

[Fluffyone]

I'm taking ochem this upcoming semester. Does anyone have any tips/tricks that may have helped them?

Hey, I took ochem 1 this past summer and did decently. I would say the best way is the make sure you grasp the concepts. I didn't take ochem 2 yet but I think it's also important in it to master concepts. I was able to get the concepts by studying my notes in depth and doing a lot of problems. Once you get the reason why certain mechanisms happen it become easier. Good luck 🙂

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[GCS-15]

By the book: Organic Chemistry As a Second Language, 3e: First Semester Topics (by David Klein)

Study and practice everyday!

 

[DBC03]

Khan academy really helped me! I hadn't taken gen chem (took AP Chem. in 1998) and KAwas a good resource to get caught up. Organic Chem. as a second language is great as well.


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[jm192]

Do everything in pencil.

 

[Blanky]

By the book: Organic Chemistry As a Second Language, 3e: First Semester Topics (by David Klein)

Study and practice everyday!

^ This times 1,000,000

 

[Gilakend]

Khan Academy was what helped me mostly. There is no substitute for practice though, you can't just look at the reaction and the product and go "That's how that works." you have to actually attempt it. Don't just memorize the mechanisms, know WHY things are moving.

 

[dougsoccer]

Treat orgo as a priority. Become obsessed with it. Review your notes and do practice problems everyday. You need to put the work in to be successful. It is a difficult class but my one of my favorites during undergraduates so far.

 

[DBC03]

Oh, do ALL The practice problems in your book and in the Organic Chemistry as as Second Language book. Honestly, it was my first class when I went back to school after graduating 14 years before, and I put my heart and soul into it and did just fine. Just understand that you will be putting in a TON of time.

 

[Dox4lyfe]

Khan academy really helped me! I hadn't taken gen chem (took AP Chem. in 1998) and KAwas a good resource to get caught up. Organic Chem. as a second language is great as well.


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Everyone is saying to get second lang. Is it something I should get even if I seem to be grasping concepts as I learn from my textbook? Also, does it cover more advanced concepts or tricks that might show up on exams?

 

[Dox4lyfe]

Buy the book: Organic Chemistry As a Second Language, 4e: First Semester Topics (by David Klein)

Study and practice everyday!

Ftfy

 

[DBC03]

Everyone is saying to get second lang. Is it something I should get even if I seem to be grasping concepts as I learn from my textbook? Also, does it cover more advanced concepts or tricks that might show up on exams?

I had it for my second semester, not my first. First semester seems to be a bit easier than second since you're going over structures of compounds for nearly half the semester. I did find the book very helpful and it's fairly inexpensive - at least for a "textbook." (honestly it's a paperback - get the ebook if you have something like a kindle or ipad as it's easier to use on those). It provides an easy explanation of the mechanisms and concepts and it gives you more practice. You will not learn Organic Chemistry through rote memorization - you absolutely have to practice. I tried to find as many opportunities to practice as possible.

 

[pseud0]

just do a ton of practice problems. The only way to learn this is to constantly draw the mechanisms. It's really a slog

 

[Dox4lyfe]

just do a ton of practice problems. The only way to learn this is to constantly draw the mechanisms. It's really a slog

Sorry if this is a dumb question bcuz I haven't taken ochem yet, but are the mechanisms you're asked to draw that similar that continuously drawing them out saves your life when it comes exam time?

 

[DBC03]

Sorry if this is a dumb question bcuz I haven't taken ochem yet, but are the mechanisms you're asked to draw that similar that continuously drawing them out saves your life when it comes exam time?

Organic chemistry is the study of how reactions proceed and what products will be produced from those reactions. While it is possible that you might be able to memorize nearly all the reactants and subsequent products, the best way to study is to understand how different functional groups act when they are in a particular position in a compound and that compound is in a specific type of solvent at a certain temperature. There is quite a bit of memorization for some aspects, but you are expected to understand how to apply the information you have memorized to compounds you have never seen to determine the new compounds that will be created. I know this is all very vague, but it's really hard to describe if you haven't gone through the class. Just be assured that if you do practice problems you will start noticing the patterns that are necessary to predict reaction sequences. Someone who understands reactions thoroughly will be able to determine products from two unknown compounds while someone who is very good at memorization may be dead in the water.

 

[ChymeofPassion]

If you have a chemistry mindset, and you understand why everything is happening, organic isnt hard. Just dont be the stereotypical biology major premed who tries to memorize every reaction and fails.