“Compare Organic Chemistry To A Movie…”
Love this quote, from Organic Chemistry 1 as a Second Language by David R. Klein (fuller review to come) on organic chemistry and memorization. You
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How to Get An A In Organic Chemistry
When I ask my students what their goal for the course is, the most common answer is this: “To get an A”. I don’t know
Read moreHow (and why) electrons flow
So what is the key “driving force” involved in chemistry? A chemist would say that “opposite charges attract, like charges repel.” But how can we
Read moreGrossman’s Rule
A few months ago after putting up this post on “Hidden Hydrogens, Hidden Lone Pairs, and Hidden Counterions”, commenter Stewie Griffin made me aware of
Read moreThe Organic Chemistry Reagent Guide is here!
It’s taken a long time – late April through early May was hectic – but today I’m thrilled to finally announce the launch of the
Read moreOrganic Chemistry Study Tips: Super-Detailed Advice
The other day a student named Peter left several comments about his specific study methods in organic chemistry. I thought it was so useful that
Read moreWhere Memorization Helps in O-Chem
Although in my last post I basically poo-poohed memorization as a study strategy, I don’t mean to imply that it does not have its place.
Read moreLearning vs. Memorization In Organic Chemistry
“Learn the concepts! Don’t memorize!”. It’s one of the most common sentences found in the many examples of instructors’ essays on “How to Succeed in
Read moreWhat Does “Don’t Memorize!” Mean, Anyway?
“Memorize Everything!” was good organic chemistry study advice in 1952. From the MIT Technology Review, a letter to the editor: A Memorable Chemistry Final There
Read more“Make All The Necessary Mistakes As Quickly As Possible”
The beginning of a new semester is a quiet time. Time to resolve to do things differently. Try and fix problems from last semester to
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