Introduction to Organic Chemistry

What the unit covers

The resources here start with the basics and build towards reactions and synthesis. The mind map Organic Chemistry + Alkanes/Alkenes opens with why carbon forms so many compounds: four outer electrons, four covalent bonds, stable and non-polar. Other maps and decks cover homologous series, hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, carbonyl compounds, nitrogen compounds and aromatic compounds.

Where to start

Begin with the basics. The flashcard deck Introduction to organic chemistry and the deck on general formulas and functional groups set up the vocabulary. The deck Organic Chemistry: 1,2,4,6,8,9,5,10 runs through the functional groups, from alkanes and alkenes to amines, nitriles and thiols. Then move to Homologous Series and Hydrocarbon Nomenclature, a flowchart on naming.

Moving on to reactions

1. Read the ISOMERISM mind map, then test yourself with the Stereoisomers deck, which asks how to tell an E-isomer from a Z-isomer.
2. Look at Free Radical Substitution and Nucleophilic substitution for mechanisms.
3. Work through Alcohols and Esters, then the Hydrolysis of esters flowchart.
4. Finish with Synthetic routes, which is a flowchart and a flashcard deck, to link the reactions together.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first to see the shape of a topic. Then take a quiz on it, such as Esters Quiz or Chemistry Functional Groups Quiz. Wrong answers show you which branch of the map to revisit. For harder practice, OCR A2 Organic Chemistry asks about comparing hydrolysis rates of haloalkanes.

Exam boards and where this fits

Many resources name their course, including OCR, AQA, CIE, IB and MCAT material, so look for your own. This unit sits in the Organic Chemistry strand of Chemistry. Teachers can pick ready-made maps and decks for class. Choose one topic today and see how much you can recall.