First Organic Chemistry Exam
Stress? What Stress? Perhaps the most anxious time for a beginning students in Organic Chemistry is when they have their first Organic Chemistry exam. Many of them have spent time reading the chapters...
View ArticleEducational Psychology for Organic Chemistry
Educational Psychology in Organic Chemistry Classrooms, Part I Of all the sciences, there are some known to be far more challenging than others. Courses in general chemistry require an adept knowledge...
View ArticleAre Vitamin B12 Shots Necessary?
Vitamin B12 Shots Recently, I was “assaulted” by an advertisement urging people to get routine vitamin B12 injections because “B12 can naturally increase energy and stamina, improve sleep and immune...
View ArticleTwisted Carbocation Rearrangement
Just How Twisted Can a Carbocation Rearrangement Get? Most students of Organic Chemistry are introduced to the carbocation rearrangement when learning the SN1 and E1 processes, as this is their first...
View ArticleInfrared Spectroscopy Zone System
Infrared Spectroscopy Made Easy Infrared spectroscopy (IR) is a vintage technique of using mid-infrared frequency electromagnetic radiation (400-4000 cm-1) to induce characteristic vibrations in...
View ArticleNMR Spectroscopy Part I
NMR Spectroscopy Basics Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy is a method of analysis, particularly useful to organic chemists, wherein a compound’s structure may be elucidated utilizing...
View ArticleNon-Science Major Organic Chemistry Adventure
Ten weeks ago I walked into a classroom of 180 non-science majors to teach a course in Organic Chemistry. Many of these non-science majors were anxious about the experience to come, knowing only that...
View ArticleGaming Deductive Reasoning and Teamwork Into University Classes
Teamwork is just as critical a factor in securing employment as GPA. I had the privilege of teaching chemistry to non-science majors for two quarters. Some professors may clearly look upon this as a...
View ArticleProton NMR Spin-Spin Splitting
Spin-Spin Splitting: First Order Effects In NMR Spectroscopy Part I, we discussed the origin of non-equivalent energy levels of protons in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field, Bo,...
View ArticleRestoring the Image of Philosopher Tutor as Mentor
Restoring the Image of the Philosopher Tutor as Personal Mentor On a warm Sunday afternoon in the year 417 B.C., a scholarly Philosopher Tutor visited the home of his student, a fourteen year-old boy...
View ArticleDeductive Reasoning Skills in Organic Chemistry
Deductive Reasoning Skills are Critical in Organic Chemistry Deductive reasoning skills become manifest in Organic Chemistry somewhere around week 7-8 when SN1, SN2, E1 and E2 reactions are introduced....
View ArticleEquilibrium Constant and pKa
Calculating the Equilibrium Constant From pKa Data The topic of pKa of acids is one introduced early in most Organic Chemistry courses. Some professors are rigorous with their coverage of material...
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