{"id":8487,"date":"2014-09-05T15:10:11","date_gmt":"2014-09-05T20:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/?p=8487"},"modified":"2022-12-13T15:36:43","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T21:36:43","slug":"how-concepts-build-up-in-org-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/2014\/09\/05\/how-concepts-build-up-in-org-1\/","title":{"rendered":"How Concepts Build Up In Org 1 (“The Pyramid”)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Organic Chemistry 1 – A Roadmap For How The Course Material Builds On Itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since organic chemistry is also journey where a lot of students get lost along the way, it might be helpful to \u201cmap out\u201d the course for students so that they know how the different pieces fit together.<\/p>\n

Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A Map Of A Typical Organic Chemistry 1 Course<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. The Hierarchy of Concepts – How The Material In Org 1 Builds Upon Itself<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Week Six Is When The Sh*t Hits The Fan<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. The Alkynes Unit Is Where Synthesis Begins<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Wild Cards: Alcohols and Spectroscopy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    <\/a>1. A Map Of A Typical Org 1 Course<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Here’s a map of what a \u201ctypical\u201d Org 1 course looks like and how each chapter builds on the one before. There is lots of variation, of course, but about half the courses follow the \u201cstandard sequence\u201d elaborated below (very textbook dependent – McMurry in particular likes to cover alkenes late). Yours is probably different in some way – but the way in which concepts build up is still the same.<\/p>\n

    \"a<\/p>\n

    <\/a>2. The “Hierarchy Of Concepts” – How The Material In Org 1 Builds Upon Itself<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    One comes into organic chemistry from an introductory course in general chemistry<\/strong>. Starting out, it\u2019s assumed you have a basic knowledge of chemical bonding, the octet rule, VSEPR (geometry), equilibria, acids and bases, thermodynamics and so on.<\/p>\n

    Concepts build from this base.\u00a0 The general idea is that every level depends on concepts from the levels below it. I wouldn\u2019t take these \u201clevels\u201d too seriously, but they might be helpful to group together certain concepts and see how they build on each other.<\/p>\n

    Level 1 – Bonding and Geometry<\/strong>. The first week or two of organic chemistry goes over the key concepts of bonding from general chemistry, and introduces hybridization<\/strong>, bonding<\/strong> (sigma and pi), dipoles<\/strong>, molecular geometry<\/strong>, molecular orbitals<\/strong>, and other notions like condensed formulae. In other words, we\u00a0show how\u00a0atoms bond together to form small molecules like NH3<\/sub>, H2<\/sub>O, CH4<\/sub>, and so on.<\/p>\n

    Level 2<\/strong> – With the Level 1 concepts under our belt, we can now start to think about electron density and electron flow<\/strong>. We can describe functional groups<\/strong>, examine their dipoles (unequal sharing of electrons) and learn about the intermolecular forces responsible for physical properties like boiling points<\/strong>. We also learn about resonance<\/strong> (delocalization of electrons), and introduce the use of curved arrows<\/strong> to show electron flow. We can also use the tool of curved arrows to show simple chemical reactions such as acid-base reactions<\/strong>, and our lessons on electron flow help us understand the factors that influence acidity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Level 3<\/strong> – Building on \u201cLevel 1\u201d concepts like bonding and geometry, we can start to examine slightly larger molecules, and start with the simplest \u201cfunctional group\u201d (if you want to call it that) – alkanes<\/strong>. Importantly, line diagrams are introduced to show the structure of alkanes, and we learn about structural isomers<\/strong>, the energies of different molecular shapes (conformations<\/strong>) and the properties of cycloalkanes<\/strong>. Reactions are generally limited to free-radical<\/strong> halogenation of alkanes (alkyl halides are important for substitution\/elimination in Level 5). The structure, bonding and geometry of alkenes<\/strong> (but not their reactions) is often covered at this point as well.<\/p>\n

    These (arbitrary) levels 2 and 3 are actually pretty interchangeable in terms of the order in which they\u2019re covered.\u00a0 \u201cElectron flow\u201d goes on the bottom because the conformations\/cycloalkanes\/alkanes chapters flow naturally into stereochemistry – \u201cgeometric isomers\u201d (e.g. cis\/trans isomers in cycloalkanes and alkenes) being the prime example.<\/p>\n

    Level 4<\/strong>– Now comes the chapter on stereochemistry<\/strong>, which is probably the key theme of Org 1, since so many of the reactions learned in subsequent chapters will use the concepts introduced here. Here, the consequences of the three-dimensional nature of organic molecules are first demonstrated, and we learn about stereoisomers. Seeing molecules in 3 dimensions from their depiction on a 2-dimensional page is a struggle for many introductory students. If you start struggling here – as many do – get help now, because if you wait, it might be too late.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/a>3. Week Six Is When Stuff Really Hits The Fast-Rotating Metal Blades Hanging From The Ceiling<\/h2>\n

    Level 5<\/strong> – Three key classes of reactions are covered at this level – reactions of alkenes, nucleophilic substitution, and elimination<\/strong>. The order in which these topics are covered varies considerably from course to course.<\/p>\n

    This is really the \u201cwax on\u201d, \u201cwax off\u201d moment – where you\u2019ll be asked to put together all the concepts you\u2019ve learned previously and apply them.<\/p>\n