Tips for Organic 1?

[Hum]

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Hey everyone,

I'm going into my 2nd undergrad semester, and my course load is Bio 2, Organic 1, Calc 2, and Psych. The class I'm worried about most is Organic 1, and I was wondering if you guys had any advice for how to approach the class, any outside books/guides that helped, how to study, etc.

I got an A in Gen chem 1 and an A- in Gen Chem 2, which had an organic section at the very end, mostly on nomenclature of Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes, but thats as far as my knowledge goes so far.

So for you guys who did well in the class, do you have any pointers? 😀

Thanks!

 

[UBDent19]

It helps to read a watered down book like OChem for Dummies first. It teaches very clearly and is easy to read. I loved "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language".

 

[bryce3306]

As long as you don't get behind in the material, you will be just fine. As hard as it may be with your course load, try and stay on top of everything. Read over your notes after each lecture and do some practice problems. The practice is what helps you with synthesis problems.

Everyone makes it sound absolutely terrible... I think those people just let it pile up. You can't learn three chapters in two nights.

 

[hoylematt]

A small book offered at our library called "Pushing electrons" was a pretty cool resource.

 

[jeffity]

Kind of related...

Does anyone know if the ochemplate crew is still functioning? They've had my money for a while, but I haven't heard anything or received any response.

Maybe I answered my own question. Maybe they're on extended vacation.

 

[tlloyd24]

Don't read the textbook, that is a waste of time in Ochem. Just work problems, work problems and work problems. The best way to learn Ochem is practice. I got an A in both Ochem 1 and 2. I didn't read the textbook at all but I did work hard by doing lots of problems. Check out this website. It is my professor's ochem 1 website. He posts all his lectures and has a ton of problems with explanations under the weekly works link:

http://chm233.asu.edu/

 

[PhoebeAZ]

Buy a huge pack of 3X5 notecards and make a flashcard for every type of reaction you come across. You have to memorize the reactions, there is just no way around it. Then practice working out problems. You'll be given a starting and ending compound and be required to draw out the reaction steps. You'll have to be able to work backwards and forwards.

 

[Hum]

Thanks for all the help so far guys! Yeah, I plan on trying my best to study Organic daily. Luckily I have a good Bio 2 professor (same prof I had for Bio 1), so that shouldn't be too bad, Psych I hear isn't all that bad, so I'm just worried about Organic and Calc 2. I have heard that Organic Chem as a second language is good so I'll probably pick that up. Do you use much of what you learned from Gen Chem 1&2 in organic chemistry?

 

[duckdds]

Thanks for all the help so far guys! Yeah, I plan on trying my best to study Organic daily. Luckily I have a good Bio 2 professor (same prof I had for Bio 1), so that shouldn't be too bad, Psych I hear isn't all that bad, so I'm just worried about Organic and Calc 2. I have heard that Organic Chem as a second language is good so I'll probably pick that up. Do you use much of what you learned from Gen Chem 1&2 in organic chemistry?

Pretty much the only thing you can apply from gen chem to organic is hybridization and the fact that carbon has four bonds. Everything else is new. Study regularly and always study older material as you are studying the new material.
Have fun, I enjoyed organic more than general chemistry.

 

[PhoebeAZ]

If your not good with converting a 2D image into 3D in your head, (which hopefully you are cause that's basically the PAT), buy a model set, they are really helpful for bigger compounds and especially when you first start OChem.

 

[DrReo]

Hey everyone,

I'm going into my 2nd undergrad semester, and my course load is Bio 2, Organic 1, Calc 2, and Psych. The class I'm worried about most is Organic 1, and I was wondering if you guys had any advice for how to approach the class, any outside books/guides that helped, how to study, etc.

I got an A in Gen chem 1 and an A- in Gen Chem 2, which had an organic section at the very end, mostly on nomenclature of Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes, but thats as far as my knowledge goes so far.

So for you guys who did well in the class, do you have any pointers? 😀

Thanks!

Some people will memorize every reaction. You need to do that to some extent, but understanding why the reaction proceeds in sin or trans addition or whatever configuration will make organic II a lot easier.

 

[sunkist89]

For Ochem, I would highly recommend a molecular model kit. It was required for all students to buy one at my school, and it was very helpful.
Also, it is important to read the textbook because you need to understand the material and not just memorize.
Good luck! =)

 

[txlonghorn]

Ochem is not that hard of a class, but is just different from other classes that you have taken in the past. You have to pay attention to details and learn all of the exceptions. Don't get behind in the class and do practice problems to ensure that you fully understand the material.

 

[Nat426]

My best advice from OChem 1 and 2 is do every problem in the book, this is a class where you have to put the time in yourself, period. There is no getting around this. The people who dropped or failed the class when i took it were always looking for a trick or shortcut but you will never find one, you just have to learn it. You will have to memorize a lot but more important is learning the rules and theory so when you come across somethings you haven't seen before you can sort out the way things should work. Oh, and buy the solutions manual because you will need it. Good luck!