Ochem Blog

On May 08 2008 06:17 Steelflight-Rx wrote:
While general chemistry focuses a lot on the mathematical aspects of chemistry, organic chemistry focuses more on the conceptual aspects of chemistry. While general chemistry might ask you to calculate the dipole of a bond or molecule, organic just asks you to recognize that there is a dipole, then asks how that dipole might affect the way this molecule interacts with other molecules.

For a taste of what I'm talking about, I'll explain a simplied version of the simples reaction in organic chemistry, the Sn2. Basically, any molocule with a lone pair of electrons is able to add to a carbon with a full octet as long as there is another molocule on that carbon which is more electronegative. For example, in this molocule [ (H3)C-Br ], the Br is electronegative, so an iodide anion (I-) which is less electronegative will bond with the carbon, and push the Br off. Now the iodide is sharing its electron density with the carbon through a bond, while the Br is a more stable anion. Things can affect the success of this reaction: for example if the (H3) were replaced with 3 hydrocarbon chains, the chains would block any viable path to the carbon, making the reaction near impossible.

The difficulty in o-chem is in learning many different concepts, being able to generalize them, and apply them in new situations. Doing an o-chem problem is much more like solving a puzzle, while doing a general chemistry problem is much more like doing a math problem.

But I'm no expert on the matter, I've only been studying it for a year =p

On May 08 2008 06:37 evanthebouncy! wrote:
Ochem was alot like Chem.
General Chem leaves me disgusted because it tried to do math and fails at it. ~~

On May 08 2008 06:37 evanthebouncy! wrote:
Ochem was alot like Chem.
General Chem leaves me disgusted because it tried to do math and fails at it. ~~

On May 08 2008 07:44 fight_or_flight wrote:


Hm, sounds interesting, but I don't think it would really be my thing. Its kind of funny because right now I'm taking a class called "Linearity, Symmetry, and Prediction in the Hydrogen Atom" which basically describes the hydrogen atom completely using only quantum mechanics and group theory. I don't think its possible to solve for the helium atom (3 body problem).

Its really interesting, because everything (electronegativity, 8 electrons per shell, shell structure, etc.) is completely described by geometry (or so I think, we haven't actually solved the hydrogen atom yet). I'm pretty sure you are able to predict the periodic table in this way.

(btw, I'm lost in the class at this point)