Hello Orgo Students!

Here at StudyOrgo.com we like to simplify things. You know that whole big chapter in your textbook on Chirality, Stereoisomers and Enantiomers that’s so confusing that you’re just lost?! Well, let’s see if we can simplify things.

Here is our summary on the topic:

This is some of the information presented in Part 9 of our Study Guide: one of the many resources available to StudyOrgo.com members. Learn more about it here: http://www.studyorgo.com/how-it-works.php

1. Chiral
   1. Definition: a plane of symmetry does NOT exist in a given structure
   2. Two objects are chiral if they are NOT superimposable on one another
2. Achiral
   1. Definition: a plane of symmetry DOES exitst in a given structure
   2. Two objects are achiral if they are superimposable on one another
3. Enantiomers
   1. Definition: Two isomers that are mirror images of one another
   2. Enantiomers are chiral and they are NOT superimposable on one another
   3. Properties of Enantiomers
      1. A pair of enantiomers almost have identical properties. They differ in one aspect:
         1. Two enantiomers rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions
            1. Plane polarized light are light waves that travel only in one plane
            2. This is referred to as optical activity
            3. Clockwise rotations are abbreviated by a (+) or the letter “d”
            4. Counterclockwise rotations are abbreviated by a (-) or the letter “l”
   4. Racemic mixture
      1. Definition: When equal amounts of each enantiomer of a pair are mixed together
      2. While each individual enantiomer on its own is optically active, when the two equal amounts are mixed together, the mixture is NOT optically active
   5. Meso compound
      1. Definition: A structure that possesses both a plane of symmetry and at least one asymmetric carbon. Meso compounds are achiral.
   6. Chiral carbons
      1. A chiral carbon has four different items attached to it.
      2. A chiral carbon is also known as asymmetric carbon
      3. The chiral carbon is the chirality center of the molecule
      4. Enantiomers possess chiral carbons.
4. R and S nomenclature
   1. Used to assign an identifying label to each chiral carbon in a given enantiomer
   2. How to determine R and S nomenclature
      1. Step 1: Find the chiral carbon
      2. Step 2: Assign the numbers 1 through 4 to each item attached to that carbon.
         1. Assign 1 to the item that is of highest priority through 4 to the item of lowest priority
         2. Hierarchy of priority (in order from most important to least important)
            1. a. Halogens (I>Br>Cl>F)
            2. O
            3. N
            4. C
            5. H
         3. Some important notes:
            1. a. Often you will have a tie. In that case, go to the next item after that atom to break the tie and determine the priority.
            2. b. When encountering double or triple bonds, pretend they are single bonds and duplicate the items attached to that bond. Duplicate twice for triple bonds.
      3. Step 3: Draw a circle from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4.
         1. Before starting, look and see where item #4 is. If item #4 is within the plane of the screen or paper: redraw the image to have item #4 going into the plane of the screen or paper before continuing.
            1. If item #4 is going into the screen or paper or coming out of the screen or paper, continue as follows.
         2. Determine if the circle was drawn clockwise or counterclockwise.
         3. If the circle was drawn clockwise: assign the letter “R”
         4. If the circle was drawn counterclockwise: assign the letter “S”
      4. Step 4: Check and see where the item #4 is
         1. Usually this item is a hydrogen. If item #4 is in the plane positioned behind you or is going into the plane of the screen or paper then leave the assigned letter as is. However, if item #4 is positioned in front or is coming out of the plane of the screen or paper, then assign the opposite letter from what you assigned in Step 3.
         2. If item #4 is coming out of the plane of the screen or paper? assign the opposite letter
            1. If R was chosen: new assignment is S
            2. If S was chosen: new assignment is R
         3. Remember, if item #4 is within the plane of the screen or paper: redraw the image to have item #4 going into the plane of the screen or paper before determining clockwise or counterclockwise (see step 3 above).

Question from one of our users:

Does your program cover organometalics?

Answer:

Yes, organometalics, specifically grignard reagents, are certainly covered in our program. They are predominantly covered over three reactions in the Alcohols category. There is also an example of Grignard epoxide opening in our alkenes section.

Here is where they are covered:
Alcohols:
Alcohol Formation (reaction 1 of 25)
Grignard Epoxide Opening (reaction 19 of 25)
Grignard Formation (reaction 20 of 25)

Alkenes:
Epoxide Opening (reaction 14 of 25)

 
Happy studying!

The acid-base properties of organic compounds are of utmost importance as they can provide critical information regarding the reactivity of a given compound.

Organic compounds can be defined in a number of different ways:

After determining whether the compound is an acid as opposed to a base, one can look at the pKa to determine its strength. The lower the pKa, the stronger the acid. Also, the more readily a compound can donate a proton, the more acidic it is. Certain functional groups are more acidic than others (such as carboxylic acids and phenols). The more stable a molecule is without a proton, the more easily it will give it up and become deprotanated. On the other hand, the more readily a compound donates electrons the more basic it is. These acid-base properties all play an important role in the reactivity of organic compounds.

For more information regarding Acid-Base Organic Chemistry- check out Part Seven of the StudyOrgo.com Summary Guide. To practice what you learned, test your knowledge with the Part Seven Exercise Set.

Confused about hybridization or molecular orbitals? Don’t be! The details can be very confusing, but don’t loose site of the overall big picture!

Many exams in organic chemistry courses and on standardized exams focus on a number of key concepts and actually don’t typically require that you completely understand the nuts and bolts of the topic.

For example, a very common exam question is regarding the sigma bonds (σ) and pi bonds (π) in molecules. Here we sum it up for you. If you are looking for some practice then sign-up at StudyOrgo.com and  check out our Molecular Orbitals, Hybridization and Geometry Exercise Set!

1. Molecular orbital =overlap of two atomic orbitals from different atoms
2. There are two types of bonds formed in molecular orbitals: sigma bonds and pi bonds.
3. sigma bond (σ)= overlap of hybridized orbitals along the line between nuclei
   1. single bonds are sigma bonds
   2. double and triple bonds each have one sigma bond
4. pi bond (π)= sideways overlap between two p orbitals
   1. double bonds have one pi bond
   2. triple bonds have two pi bonds
   3. there must be a sigma bond in order for a pi bond to occur
5. Summary Chart

Ah, yes, the age-old question. What is the best way to study orgo… the quick answer: there is no one best way. The best way is the way that works for you. Since every orgo student is different you need to find a method that works for you.

Here are some thoughts:

Just like anything else, succeeding in this course takes time and patience and perseverance. Its almost like running a marathon- you need stamina and you need to pace yourself. You can not learn organic chemistry overnight and you cannot run 22 miles in 3 minutes.

So let’s review some study tips:

1. Get a clear idea of what examination content you will be test on. It would be a shame to study something you aren’t tested on.
2. Try to find out the ways in which you will be tested.Example: Reaction “Fill in the blanks” questions, multi-step synthesis problems, drawing out mechanisms, comparing and contrasting different reactions etc…
3. Make a game plan, figure out how much time you have to study then plan out your study timeline. Here is a sample plan for two weeks prior to an exam or midterm:Days 1-5: Review the content and spend time learning the basics. Read your course’s assigned textbook.Days 6-12: Begin memorizing and committing the details to memory, learn the ins and out of the material, learn reactions backwards and forwards and how they relate to one another. Use the StudyOrgo.com Study Guide and Exercise Sets, Study Mode Reaction Pages and Organic Chemistry Study Charts to learn the material and gain insight on help hints and tips. Use the StudyOrgo.com Reaction Roadmap to understand the intricate interrelationship of the reactions you will be tested on.Days 12-14: Review and test yourself using the StudyOrgo.com Quiz Mode.
4. When you study something, make sure that you know not just how to recognize it but how to draw it out yourself. For example, you should know how to draw out the reactants, reagents and products on paper. The StudyOrgo.com Quiz Mode’s drawing box allows you to do just that! Alternatively, you can use the StudyOrgo.com organic chemistry flashcards, cover two elements then draw out the third on paper.
5. Practice, practice, practice. Run through the each element of the program and the flashcards many times, and try to come up with your own examples of each reaction
6. While many questions are centered around organic chemistry reactions, other exams test other concepts and ideas aside of reactions. Make sure you study everything you need to know!
7. Get together with friends and test each other. When you teach someone else, you learn it better yourself.