Skipping Alkenes/Alkynes section in Kaplan Orgo Book?

[hookgrip]

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The Kaplan orgo book has an entire chapter (chapter 5) covering mostly reactions of alkenes/alkynes (and some elimination rxn material). Since alkenes/alkynes aren't covered on the MCAT anymore, is it ok to skim over this chapter instead of learning all of the reactions in detail?

 

[coyotelime]

1. You don't have to memorize any reagents for the MCAT as far as I know
2. You should be familiar with alkene/alkyne reactions from your organic chemistry class anyways, so just review them
3. Alkyne weren't in TBR o-chem which is pretty dang detailed so I think you'll be okay.
4. But for alkenes, you should understand the basic mechanism behind SN1/SN2/E1/E2 and what conditions favors each, and what determines rate of rxn(electrophile only for SN1, nucleophile + electrophile for SN2, strong acid for E1, strong base for E2, carbocation intermediate in E1/SN1, concerted E2/SN2, effects of LG/nucleophile/solvent/other substituents that may influence the basicity of the LG and stability of the electrophilic carbon)

I don't know if you really have to memorize what conditions favors what, but going in overprepared is better than under.

 

[salim271]

^This. Alkene mechanisms and reactions are such a large part of the basic foundation in organic chemistry, I think its really detrimental towards your understanding if you just skip over them.

 

[Swagster]

^This. Alkene mechanisms and reactions are such a large part of the basic foundation in organic chemistry, I think its really detrimental towards your understanding if you just skip over them.

But why study something that won't be tested? I'm not going to study calculus for the MCAT either, because it's not tested.

 

[coyotelime]

It's my understanding that most of the MCAT is critical thinking, and that content review serves as background information at best.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85566/data/bstopics.pdf

I guess it's not covered anymore. Maybe too many people complained. It's not that hard of a concept and is a biggie in any orgo class. Oh well...

 

[salim271]

But why study something that won't be tested? I'm not going to study calculus for the MCAT either, because it's not tested.

You need to understand algebra for the MCAT, calculus isnt part of algebra. But alkenes and alkynes are part of organic chemistry, and you need to understand organic chemistry for the MCAT. Dont study it, it doesnt matter to me.

 

[ghostman]

If you're shaky in Orgo, spend the time to read it. It's in the Kaplan book for a reason. My Kaplan instructor explicitly told us not to skip Alkenes/Alkynes since it's such a basic component of Orgo. It may not be explicitly tested, but it may be part of a longer synthesis. For example, alkenes may appear in Wittig reactions and probably others that ARE on the MCATs.

 

[tman5890]

I read mine yesterday, it wasn't too bad. It'll be helpful at least a little bit later on.

 

[Calvinball]

Alkene chemistry underlies a lot of other topics that are still covered on the MCAT, and is pretty fundamental to organic chemistry in general. You probably don't need to have memorized every single reaction involving them, but a good general understanding of alkene chemistry is pretty important to moving forward with many other topics in organic chemistry.

 

[ANEShopeful2018]

Alkene chemistry is necessary, imo. Electrophilic additions ftw! Btw, SNx/Ex stuff is for alkanes.

 

[hookgrip]

Yeah, I definitely read over the chapter and took notes on the important reactions. I know that some of the fundamental reactions are important for many aspects of organic chemistry. I was just wondering if it was necessary to know every little detail since Alkenes/Alkynes are not included in the MCAT topic list anymore.