Orgo Model Sets Question

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Compass

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How many sets do we need? One or two? I'm getting two to be safe, and I can sell it to a friend if I only need one, but I've heard that some organic models require more carbons than are in a set? I think there are 14 carbon molecules in a set. Do I need two or just one? Thanks 🙂
 
My set that we were required to buy is still sitting on my desk, still in the wrapper. Unless your professor is going to actually tell you what to do with it (mine didn't), I think it's a waste of money.
 
I'd just do one if you need to get one. We only used ours at the very beginning of the year. It helps initially to visualize the molecules if you have problems with that, but otherwise it's somewhat of a waste of money. Your prof should have larger models that he/she will use in class.
 
Waste of Money
 
1SwtWrld said:
Waste of Money

I agree. I'm glad I was outbid on ebay. I even tried using gum drops and toothpicks. Just ended up eating them.
 
I only needed them once to see stereochemistry. My sister was a chem major and she hardly used them also. Save money improvise if you need to like the above poster said.
 
BrettBatchelor said:
Haha...I guess that kit didn't get much use from its previous owner. 🙄


Yup, I'd say it was "lightly used" at best.
Hmmm, I hope the seller didn't oversell you on it's usefulness!

I think it was most helpful to determine stereochemistry on ring compounds, but there are certainly other ways to accomplish that.

Are you finished with Orgo now?
 
All4MyDaughter said:
Yup, I'd say it was "lightly used" at best.
Hmmm, I hope the seller didn't oversell you on it's usefulness!

I think it was most helpful to determine stereochemistry on ring compounds, but there are certainly other ways to accomplish that.

Are you finished with Orgo now?
Yep. A and A.

I found the lazy mans way of doing rotation was just to use your thumb, index and middle finger spread to form the 3 highest ranking substituents.
 
Well I did use the model kits for making rings and ring flips and such at first, and of course, chiral configs. I would say get it anyway to see if it helps you. Most people I spoke with (senior biochems) told me they didn't use them. Everyone is different. I would say just borrow from someone for the first month of class.
 
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I'll try to get one of my friends to buy this kit then 🙁
 
Compass said:
How many sets do we need? One or two? I'm getting two to be safe, and I can sell it to a friend if I only need one, but I've heard that some organic models require more carbons than are in a set? I think there are 14 carbon molecules in a set. Do I need two or just one? Thanks 🙂

I once combined my set with a friend’s, and we built a buckyball for fun--I think that was the most useful thing we ever did with them
 
My g/f worked at an Advertising agency. I built a molecule they used to pitch an ad to a chemical cleaner company 🙂

So they did come in handy afterall...
 
I can't visualize to save my soul, so I used mine like 10 times total over the year. Share with a friend if you feel that you MUST have it.
 
Yeah, I only used mine a few times in actual orgo...

I kept it though, and used it in biochem to build amino acids.

I thought it was kind of a fun and nerdy thing to have.

What you should buy is a little white board and some pens. Draw those mechanisms again and again! 👍
 
Wow....Im surprised to see the number of people who think its a waste of time/money....

I actually found them quite invaluable, especially for
stereo-chemistry...

Maybe it depends on the text book you are using
( I used John Mcmurry).
 
One is more than enough. I used it to build cyclohexane just so i could play w/ the diff conformations. We were allowed to take our kits into tests so i had a cyclohexane and an enantiomer pair ready to go. DIdn't really need it but you might as well. 2 kits is def over kill
 
They were fun for me, but I could never take one to an exam, even though it was allowed.

I definitely wouldn't purchase more than one set.
 
shuey123 said:
Wow....Im surprised to see the number of people who think its a waste of time/money....

I actually found them quite invaluable, especially for
stereo-chemistry...

Maybe it depends on the text book you are using
( I used John Mcmurry).

Thats the book I used, still never used the model set.
 
Waste of money.
 
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