Three Exam Tips

No doubt you’ve got some important exams coming up. With that in mind, here’s three simple tactics you can use during exams.

1. Draw partial charges

If you get complete brain-lock during a question, try drawing out the partial charges. Ask yourself what the most electronegative atoms in the molecule are.

The most electronegative atoms (e.g. oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine) are generally going to have partial negative charges on them, while carbons that they’re bonded to will have partial positive charges. This will help in identifying potential nucleophiles and electrophiles. And since opposite charges attract, this can help you figure out where the any reactions might occur – a handy thing to know when you’re stuck.

2. Draw in hidden hydrogens and lone pairs. 

Remember that we often – for reasons of laziness – won’t draw in the “hidden” hydrogens and lone pairs that are present on atoms. If a problem is giving you a hard time, draw them in. This especially goes for mechanism questions and synthesis questions,  since you’ll really want to be able to see everything that’s going on. Sometimes just a little clue like you’ve lost (or gained) a hydrogen on a certain atom can be the crucial piece of information that moves you forward.

3. Number your carbons. 

It’s hard enough to understand what reaction you’re looking at and how it might work. What really hurts is getting the answer right, but  losing grades because you skipped drawing in an atom or two. If you number your carbons, you’ll greatly decrease the chances of making simple mistakes like this. Even after all these years, I still make little mistakes. The difference is that I know how easy they are to make that I’m 10 times more paranoid about making them than normal people are.

The other nice thing about this technique is that it’s a little brainless. You can do it – and it’s useful – while actively thinking about how to do the problem.

What are some of your best organic chemistry study tips? Share them in the comments below!

James