Organic Chemistry
Functional groups, stereochemistry, substitution/elimination, carbonyl chemistry, and spectroscopy
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📂 Subtopics in Organic Chemistry
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1→
Functional Groups & Nomenclature
Naming compounds and identifying reactivity patterns
2→
Stereochemistry
Chirality, enantiomers, diastereomers, and optical activity
3→
Substitution & Elimination
SN1/SN2/E1/E2 mechanisms and reaction conditions
4→
Carbonyl Chemistry
Aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and derivatives
5→
Spectroscopy
IR, NMR, and mass spectrometry interpretation
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Organic Chemistry for the MCAT
Functional Groups
Key functional groups to know:
- Hydroxyl (-OH): Alcohols
- Carbonyl (C=O): Aldehydes and ketones
- Carboxyl (-COOH): Carboxylic acids
- Amino (-NH₂): Amines
- Thiol (-SH): Thiols
Stereochemistry
A chiral center has four different substituents. Assign R/S using Cahn-Ingold-Prelog priority rules.
- Enantiomers: Non-superimposable mirror images (same physical properties, opposite optical rotation)
- Diastereomers: Stereoisomers that are NOT mirror images (different physical properties)
Substitution & Elimination
| Reaction | Steps | Favored By |
|---|---|---|
| SN1 | 2 (carbocation) | 3° substrate, polar protic solvent |
| SN2 | 1 (backside attack) | 1° substrate, strong nucleophile |
| E1 | 2 (carbocation) | 3° substrate, heat |
| E2 | 1 (anti-periplanar) | Strong base, heat |
Spectroscopy
- IR: O-H ~3300 cm⁻¹ (broad), C=O ~1700 cm⁻¹ (sharp)
- ¹H NMR: Chemical shift reflects electronic environment; splitting follows n+1 rule
- Mass Spec: Molecular ion peak gives molecular weight
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What is Organic Chemistry?▾
Functional groups, stereochemistry, substitution/elimination, carbonyl chemistry, and spectroscopy
How can I study Organic Chemistry effectively?▾
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Organic Chemistry is part of the MCAT Prep course on Study Mondo, specifically in the Chemical & Physical Foundations section. You can explore the full course for more related topics and practice resources.