The Right Approach to Becoming an Expert in Organic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry is one of the branches of Chemistry that studies the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of compounds containing carbon. They contain hydrocarbons and compounds with other elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, halogens, sulfur, and silicon. Initially, organic chemistry was limited to compounds made by living organisms, but now it extends to artificial (artificial) substances such as plastics. From pharmaceuticals, foods, explosives, and petrochemicals to paints and cosmetics, the application of organic chemistry is vast.

Tips to Become an Expert in Organic Chemistry

Learn about Structure

Thanks to the 20 million organic compounds, organic chemistry becomes this giant jungle. The good thing is that we can sort all these compounds into groups based on their structures. Structure gives properties to a compound. It tells us which reactions are possible and which are not.

Understand how to draw structures from names and determine the number of bonds and hybridisation patterns of different atoms. Have you heard of link diagrams? You have seen that in benzene, we draw lines instead of particles. It’s tough to identify all the atoms present in the diagram. It also shows clearly which part of an organic compound will be most active in the reactions. Learn them correctly to master the name reactions of organic chemistry.

Read Chemistry NCERT to Build a Strong Foundation

NCERT books are the best to build a strong foundation in chemistry. It covers all the essential topics present in the syllabus in a very detailed and easy-to-understand language.

How to study NCERT for Organic Study?

• Understand the reaction given in each chapter and then move on to the exercises given at the back.
• Chapters on organic chemistry contain detailed information. Reading these chapters repeatedly will make them easy to understand.
• For a quick overview of the chapters, students should read the “pointers” at the end of all chapters of the Chemistry NCERT.
• Studying Acid-Base Reaction is Important

Studying acid-base reactions is crucial to learning organic chemistry because more than half of organic chemistry is based on it. You can entitle them Electrophile and Nucleophile if you like. Knowing how they link with each other and 90% organic chemistry would be a piece of cake for you.

Lewis’s concept of acids and bases teaches us an important concept in organic chemistry. It is predictive of where the load is most stable. It is crucial because the molecule tries to achieve its most stable form in any reaction. If we can anticipate where the charge is most stable, we can predict the reaction’s direction and what the products will be.

Try to Understand the Concept, Avoid Memorization

Memorization is, generally, a bad strategy to use when people haven’t planned enough and have to prepare the night before the exam. ; however, certain aspects of the course require memorization — such as nomenclature, reagent names, acronyms, functional groups, etc. While some students may get used to it after a few weeks of study, others may have to use flashcards or other memorization techniques to memorize study material. There’s nothing wrong with it, as long as it combines with enthusiasm for understanding the more profound concepts.

Revise Your Chemistry Textbook Before going to the Class

Ashima Gupta, a profound senior Chemistry faculty at Physics Wallah, advises students, “doing some work ahead of time will make their studies easier.” Make sure you are ready for the rigour and intensity of the Class. NCERT books are essential, but if the teacher suggests any reference book, go through it when a teacher tells you about the next day’s chapter or topic. Once you reach home, research that topic and try to understand the concepts by yourself.

This habit will help you in the following ways:

• You will be aware of all the concepts related to that topic or chapter.
• When the teacher teaches in the Class, then you will be able to understand all these concepts quickly.
• You will have a list of your questions and doubts, which you can clarify during the Class.

Practice reactions daily by making notes

Notes making is an integral part of effective learning. And for a subject like Chemistry, having good notes is necessary. Notes making is an art, and if you are good at it, it will help you a lot.

Here we are sharing some notes taking tips for Chemistry.

• Make detailed bullet point notes after understanding the concept.
• Revise your lecture notes every week and rewrite them using the fewest words possible in the arrow connecting related points.
• The most efficient way to learn organic chemistry is by solving more and more problems. The more problems you practice, the better your understanding will be. Once you have understood one concept, move on to more complex problems.
• Solve a set of practice problems from your NCERT book every day to keep up with your notes and NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry.

Tips for building a good Chemistry study habits

Join a Study Group

Group study is a great way to test your understanding and gain some new knowledge about what you have studied. When you explain a concept to others, you may realize something is missing. It can lead to a deeper understanding of the material itself. Also, other team members can help you learn concepts that are difficult for you. Choose a study partner who learns at the same pace as you. It won’t be beneficial if the band is too fast or too slow for you. You will be amazed at what you gain while explaining something to others. Never feel like you have to solve an organic chemistry problem on your own. Doing your study together with your friends is a great idea.

Attend Class Daily

It may seem obvious, but a lot of the effort spent on learning materials is just for show in Class. Paying attention and taking relevant notes in the Class are also essential. Be strategic about taking notes. Don’t take notes to take notes. Listen to what the teacher wants to explain, then summarize the information in your notes.

Take care of your health

The key to achieving the desired result while studying any subject is maintaining your health. Getting enough sleep, exercising about 25–30 minutes a day, and keeping a healthy diet are all necessary to keep yourself healthy and ready for work. Doing these three things will help keep your energy up and help you maintain the information that you are learning.

Sleep at least 7–8 hours every night.

Make time for exercise, even go for a walk. Make an effort to keep yourself hydrated, drink a lot of water, eat fruits and vegetables and stay away from sodas and excess caffeine.

CONCLUSION

In this subject, the key to success is to be prepared, focus on understanding the concepts, and solve a lot of problems. Suppose you are preparing for an exam practice Previous Year’s Question Paper and find out important questions for Chemistry. There is no magic trick to learning organic chemistry. You can also learn Chemistry Formulas that will help you in making organic chemistry easy and doable. Studying organic chemistry is like learning to ride a bicycle. You will make a lot of mistakes but do not lose motivation.