Organic chemistry as a second language: first semester topics

Is organic chemistry really as tough as everyone says it is? It's not about memorization. Like a movie, it's about making sense of the plot, the scenes, and the individual concepts that make up the story. This book reviews critical principles and explains why they are relevant to the rest of the course.

Includes index.

"New to this edition: detailed solutions for all problems"--Cover.

1. Bond-line drawings -- How to read bond-line drawings -- How to draw bond-line drawings -- Mistakes to avoid -- more exercises -- Identifying formal charges -- Finding lone pairs that are not drawn -- 2. Resonance -- What is resonance? -- Curved arrows: the tools for drawing resonance structures -- The two commandments -- Drawing good arrows -- Formal charges in resonance structures -- Drawing resonance structures-step by step -- Drawing resonance structures-by recognizing patterns -- Assessing the relative importance of resonance structures -- 3. Acid-base reactions -- Factor 1-what atom is the charge on? -- Factor 2-resonance -- Factor 3-induction -- Factor 4-orbitals -- Ranking the four factors -- Other factors -- Quantitative measurement (pKa values) -- Predicting the position of equilibrium -- Showing a mechanism -- 4. Geometry -- Orbitals and hybridization states -- Geometry -- Lone pairs -- 5. Nomenclature -- Functional group -- Unsaturation -- Naming the parent chain -- Naming substituents -- Stereoisomerism -- Numbering -- Common names -- Going from a name to a structure -- 6. Conformations -- How to draw a newman projection -- Ranking the stability of newman projection…