Orgo II Final Studying?

[stiffany]

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Hi guys. My orgo professor just dumped three chapters chocoblock full of orgo mechanisms (Carboxylic acids, their derivatives, substitutions and condensations, etcetera) and I'm completely at a loss for how to study all of these plus everything else from this semester for the final, which will make or break my grade. Does anyone have any helpful tips for how to blow through this ridiculous amount of paper based on their own experiences?

Thanks!

 

[MU.Redskin]

Hi guys. My orgo professor just dumped three chapters chocoblock full of orgo mechanisms (Carboxylic acids, their derivatives, substitutions and condensations, etcetera) and I'm completely at a loss for how to study all of these plus everything else from this semester for the final, which will make or break my grade. Does anyone have any helpful tips for how to blow through this ridiculous amount of paper based on their own experiences?

Thanks!

I learned carbonyl chemistry (and most orgo reactions) by setting up page sized flow charts with as many reactions as I could fit. For example, group all your carb acid class I carbonyls on one (say using acetic acid in the middle). Then write all the general reactions you can fit as arrows off of the center acetic acid.

Then, for class two carbonyls (ketones and aldehydes), stick acetone in the middle and do the same thing. Most of the class I react the same, a molecule will either substitute in for -OH, -Cl, etc. or not. Class two, either something attacks the carbonyl directly or something reacts at the alpha-carbon.

It helps me to simplify as much as I can down to info like this, then represent it visually. I have page after page of these flow charts from O-Chem, and I did really well in that class.

For mechanisms, try to learn general mechanisms that can be applied to multiple reactions. For example, a nucleophilic acyl substitution (carb acid, acyl chloride, amide) will almost always have the same or very similiar mechanism. After you write out the mechanism, write a list of the steps involved as a numbered list below. Then, study the mechanism by stating the list (without looking at it), then study the list and rewrite the mechanism. Its a good way to learn... also you could just hope your prof is kind and doesnt make you regurgitate mechanisms over and over again.

My final was an American Chemical Society Exam over the entire year of O-Chem, so I bought their guide and studied the very simplified lessons on everything and I was ok.

Hope this helps, it worked for me.

 

[PariPari]

Hi guys. My orgo professor just dumped three chapters chocoblock full of orgo mechanisms (Carboxylic acids, their derivatives, substitutions and condensations, etcetera) and I'm completely at a loss for how to study all of these plus everything else from this semester for the final, which will make or break my grade. Does anyone have any helpful tips for how to blow through this ridiculous amount of paper based on their own experiences?

Thanks!

old tests & draw the "basic" reaction & memorize it
sorry it's not much help

 

[bbas]

Hi guys. My orgo professor just dumped three chapters chocoblock full of orgo mechanisms (Carboxylic acids, their derivatives, substitutions and condensations, etcetera) and I'm completely at a loss for how to study all of these plus everything else from this semester for the final, which will make or break my grade. Does anyone have any helpful tips for how to blow through this ridiculous amount of paper based on their own experiences?

Thanks!

Hmm, I actually just took an exam on carboxylic acids and their derivatives. It helps to make flashcards for the reactions, and for the mechanisms just write them out over and over again until its second nature. Fortunately, we don't have a cumulative final, so I can't really comment on how to prepare for that.

 

[PullMyFinger]

The reactions for carboxylic acids and their derivatives are easy and just about the same. Nucleophilic attack at an electrophilic center.

The whole alpha hydrogen stuff is confusing, but it follows the same pattern.

It sucks because I too am going to have a brutal final. If I screw up, I get a C, if I don't, then I maintain my B!

 

[CTtarheel]

Carbonyl chemistry can be summed up in one sentence:

nucleophiles attack electrophiles.

Find a good nucleophile, find a good electrophile there's a reaction . . . simple as that, no flash cards needed.

 

[medking]

^^^ Very well said.

Also, just remember some of the basic reagents for synthesis problems and you're set.

 

[akinf]

I just wrote mine last week. Anyways, carbonyl chemistry is ALL THE SAME. Nucleophile attacks the electrophile. Know what the nucleophile is, what the electrophile is, and if something is a good leaving group. In fact, this applies for most of organic2. Good luck. I recommend making a cheat sheet with all of the reactions you need to know, then throw the cheat sheet away.

 

[beastly115]

Does anyone else's school use the ACS test? My school dropped a 130 page review book on us which covers all organic chem from both semesters!

 

[MU.Redskin]

Does anyone else's school use the ACS test? My school dropped a 130 page review book on us which covers all organic chem from both semesters!

My school uses the ACS exam over the full yeare of O-Chem also. We were "recommended" to spend 20 bucks to buy the review book. For what its worth, I have heard that the ACS exam is usually significantly less challenging than standard O-Chem curriculum, at least at Miami. Also, the test is graded based on a national average, so unless everyone else in America does unbelievably well, you just have to compete with other O-Chem students, not a percentage correct. Sorry if that doesn't make any sense, but basically just don't worry too much about it because it probably won't be as bad as you are expecting. The ACS general chemistry exam wasn't bad.

 

[sperola]

As far as studying for a cumulative exam, I have found that the professor doesn't go back to specific mechanisms, but looks for a more general view of how the processes all come together. For instance being able to reason why certain tests are used like the Tollen's to determine the structure of a sugar molecule.

I'll be glad when Orgo is finally over. Good Luck on your final!

 

[masterMood]

oh god organic chemistry looms in the near future.

 

[PullMyFinger]

oh god organic chemistry looms in the near future.

It all depends on your professor. The material itself is NOT that bad at ALL if you put in effort. It's easy to accomplish a good grade. However, if your Professor or TA (whichever writes up the exams, our TA does it and he's brutal) are hard, then you're gonna have a miserable semester or year.

Last semester for Orgo I, I loved it. The professor was very fair, and I got a great grade. This semester, the TA writes terribly hard exams, and I nailed a D on the first exam, got lucky and nailed a B on the second, and for the third exam..the TA was too busy so the professor wrote it and got an A. The final however, the TA is writing again...I can only hope for a prayer now.

 

[akinf]

Why would a TA be writing exams? I see this as being pretty bizarre; do other schools do this or is it just for where PullMyFinger goes?

 

[yomaxpower]

I learned carbonyl chemistry (and most orgo reactions) by setting up page sized flow charts with as many reactions as I could fit. For example, group all your carb acid class I carbonyls on one (say using acetic acid in the middle). Then write all the general reactions you can fit as arrows off of the center acetic acid.

Then, for class two carbonyls (ketones and aldehydes), stick acetone in the middle and do the same thing. Most of the class I react the same, a molecule will either substitute in for -OH, -Cl, etc. or not. Class two, either something attacks the carbonyl directly or something reacts at the alpha-carbon.

It helps me to simplify as much as I can down to info like this, then represent it visually. I have page after page of these flow charts from O-Chem, and I did really well in that class.

For mechanisms, try to learn general mechanisms that can be applied to multiple reactions. For example, a nucleophilic acyl substitution (carb acid, acyl chloride, amide) will almost always have the same or very similiar mechanism. After you write out the mechanism, write a list of the steps involved as a numbered list below. Then, study the mechanism by stating the list (without looking at it), then study the list and rewrite the mechanism. Its a good way to learn... also you could just hope your prof is kind and doesnt make you regurgitate mechanisms over and over again.

My final was an American Chemical Society Exam over the entire year of O-Chem, so I bought their guide and studied the very simplified lessons on everything and I was ok.

Hope this helps, it worked for me.

👍 Great advice. We recently covered carbonyl stuff, I studied in a similar way and got the A. I am of average intelligence. The best way for me to learn is to practice the mechanisms by repeatedly writing them out while solving super long synthesis problems. I have that final exam in a few weeks as well. Good luck everyone!