Introduction to Free Radical Substitution Reactions
The four posts on acid-base, substitution, addition, and elimination covered the 4 main reactions in organic chemistry I. In this second series of posts we go beyond these to introduce a
Read moreWhere Memorization Helps in O-Chem
Although in my last post I basically poo-poohed memorization as a study strategy, I don’t mean to imply that it does not have its place.
Read moreLearning vs. Memorization In Organic Chemistry
“Learn the concepts! Don’t memorize!”. It’s one of the most common sentences found in the many examples of instructors’ essays on “How to Succeed in
Read moreBlogaversary
Feb 18, 2010: Wasn’t sure what I was going to do with my career. I wanted to teach, but after two years of failed academic
Read moreThe World’s Cheapest Molecular Model Kit
I see a lot of students who have trouble visualizing how molecules appear from different directions. Probably the best way to solve this problem is
Read moreThe Principle of Least Effort
It’s a common misconception that the sciences are impersonal and somehow “less human” than, well, the “humanities”. I beg to differ. Is there any trait
Read more“Make All The Necessary Mistakes As Quickly As Possible”
The beginning of a new semester is a quiet time. Time to resolve to do things differently. Try and fix problems from last semester to
Read moreFare Thee Well, Oh Cats of Jerusalem
Our contracts have ended and the wife and I have moved from Jerusalem to small town Ontario, somewhere between Lebanon and Carthage. A little over
Read morePutting Diels-Alder Products in Perspective
One of the things I like about teaching is that it helps me realize some of the things I take for granted that newcomers find
Read moreThe Ups and Downs of Cyclohexanes
Drawing cyclohexane chair forms can be a tricky business. While it’s often intuitive to pick out which groups are up and down when they’re axial
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