Organic Chemistry Study Tips: Learn the Trends
When studying for organic chemistry, knowing the relationships between properties is more important than learning facts by rote.
Read moreBasic Hydrolysis of Esters – Saponification
Basic Hydrolysis of Esters (Saponification) When esters are treated with sodium hydroxide, they are converted into carboxylate salts, which upon neutralization yield carboxylic acids. This
Read moreThe Most Important Question To Ask When Learning a New Reaction
What Bonds Form, What Bonds Break? About a month or so ago I had a big revelation as an instructor. Something that I’d been taking
Read moreIntroduction to Rearrangement Reactions
Introduction to Rearrangement Reactions Reactions that involve a carbocation intermediate may be accompanied by rearrangements where a pair of electrons from a C-H or C-C bond
Read moreIdentifying Where Substitution and Elimination Reactions Happen
Identifying Carbons Where Substitution and Elimination Reactions Can Take Place Substitution and elimination reactions need a leaving group in order for them to occur. Look
Read moreTypes of Isomers: Constitutional Isomers, Stereoisomers, Enantiomers, and Diastereomers
Types of Isomers: Constitutional Isomers, Stereoisomers, Enantiomers, And Diastereomers How do we tell if molecules are “related”? And once we know that they are, how
Read moreD and L Notation For Sugars
The D- And L- Notation For The Absolute Configuration Of Sugars And Amino Acids The terms D- and L- are often found in front of
Read moreTransesterification
Transesterification of Esters Conversion of one ester into another ester via exchange of -OR groups is called transesterification Transesterification can be performed under basic or
Read moreWhat’s The Alpha Carbon In Carbonyl Compounds?
Alpha Carbon? Beta Carbon? Alpha, Beta Unsaturated Carbonyl? Making it through the chemistry of carbonyl derivatives (ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, esters, and more) there are
Read moreEnolates – Formation, Stability, and Simple Reactions
All about enolates Enolates can be formed through removing the proton on carbons adjacent to a carbonyl (i.e. the “alpha-carbon“). The resulting anions are much
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