Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution (With Negatively Charged Nucleophiles) Yes, there are a lot of reactions of carboxylic acid derivatives to learn! In this article we’ll explore
Read moreThe Second-Most Important Mechanism In Carbonyl Chemistry – Carbonyl Elimination The reverse of nucleophilic addition to the C=O bond (giving a tetrahedral intermediate) is elimination
Read moreSometimes The “Formal Charge” Does Not Accurately Represent The Electron Density Around An Atom! Formal charges have their plusses and minuses. Har har. In many
Read moreThere’s a hidden layer of detail beneath chemical structures that students new to organic chemistry often miss. I’m talking about partial charges. Although each of
Read moreWhen figuring out what the product of a reaction is, there are really two important steps. 1. Figuring out where the electrons go. 2. Drawing
Read moreWhen studying for organic chemistry, knowing the relationships between properties is more important than learning facts by rote.
Read moreBasic 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 moreWhat 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 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 Carbons Where Substitution and Elimination Reactions Can Take Place Substitution and elimination reactions need a leaving group in order for them to occur. Look
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