Partial Charges Give Clues About Electron Flow

There’s a hidden layer of detail beneath chemical structures that students new to organic chemistry often miss. I’m talking about partial charges. Although each of

Calculating the oxidation state of a carbon

Try applying the rules for calculating oxidation states to carbon.

It’s going to feel a little bit weird. Why? Because there are two key differences.

First, carbon is often more electronegative (2.5) than some of the atoms it’s bound to (such as H, 2.2). So what do you do in this case?
Secondly, unlike metal-metal bonds, carbon-carbon bonds are ubiquitous. So how do you deal with them?

OsO4 (Osmium Tetroxide) for Dihydroxylation of Alkenes

Osmium tetroxide, OsO4 Osmium tetroxide (OsO4) is a useful reagent for the dihydroxylation of alkenes The products of these reactions are 1,2-diols (“vicinal” diols), where the two

Reagent Friday: Sodium Amide (NaNH2)

Sodium Amide (Sodamide, NaNH2), A Strong Base For The Deprotonation Of Terminal Alkynes (Among Other Uses) In a blatant plug for the Reagent Guide, each Friday

Steric Hindrance is Like a Fat Goalie

Steric Hindrance In Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions Sportswriter Todd Gallagher asked a question that every hockey fan has probably asked at one point. “Could a morbidly

Common Blind Spot: Intramolecular Reactions

Intramolecular Reactions So I bought a belt today (pleather, 75 cents at the Goodwill).  and decided to show it off. This is me putting it