Reddit reviews Organic Chemistry As a Second Language, 3e: First Semester Topics
We found 26 Reddit comments about Organic Chemistry As a Second Language, 3e: First Semester Topics. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Used Book in Good Condition
I'm gonna jump on the top comment to add: David R. Klein's books Organic Chemistry as a Second Language was extremely useful as supplementary material. It really helped clear up any confusion I felt during lecture.
For pleasure:
Undergraduate
Organic Chemistry as a Second Language, The art of writing reasonable organic reaction mechanisms
Graduate
Organic Chemistry as a Second Language literally was the reason I aced orgo.
"Organic Chemistry as a Second Language" .... got a 3.7 in O Chem using this book. You definitely have to do a bunch of problems though.
http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-As-Second-Language/dp/111801040X
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-As-Second-Language/dp/111801040X
These two books helped me through Ochem: Organic Chemistry as a Second Language Vol. 1 and Vol 2. The guy also has a very good text book that comes with an absolutely ENORMOUS answer book that has every single problem in the textbook mapped out. I don't recommend the Wiley Plus/Orion online homework system thing, but these are great resources.
Get this:
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-As-Second-Language/dp/111801040X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494750631&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=ochem+as+a+se
Ochem 1 was pretty memorization and concept heavy. Not much to do other than practice and get concepts down.
For Ochem 2, do a lot of practice problems until you see the patterns. Treat it as math rather than chemistry. Each reaction is an equation that can be applied to specific situations. Learn to see those situations and apply the equation to it. Get help when you need it, go to office hours for the hell of it, and stay on top of things. And you dont really need to memorize the reactions. If you know the reagents, just remember that nucleophile attacks electrophile, e source to e sink. Just think and look.
The class itself isnt that hard. Theres nothing special about it. Its just chemistry. Go in with a good attitude rather than thinking its the hardest subject in the world and you will do just fine.
"Organic chemistry is learned only with a pencil and paper"
-My orgo professor
Best advice I got, I say it all the time as a chemistry teacher, repetition, writing things over and over, is the only way to really get it, at least for me. I would take a ream of paper from the printers in the library and sit at a desk and write structures and reactions until I got them.
Also I really liked these books as a supplement
I've found David Klein's Organic Chemistry as a Second Language to be an indispensable resource.
I used the second edition, but I would imagine the third is still up to par.
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-As-Second-Language/dp/111801040X
Buy it
Just finished my first semester of o chem! A few tips:
In terms of the actual class...
Good luck!
I took Ochem I and II, and I remember my professor recommending "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language," by Klein: http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-As-Second-Language/dp/111801040X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457564400&sr=1-1&keywords=organic+chemistry+as+a+second+language
Note that there are separate versions for Ochem I and II.
Which one are you taking? Is it the only class you are having trouble with?
Flashcards. Reaction on the front, mechanism on the back.
*If that doesn't work, this book saved my life in undergrad.
Honestly, if you are willing to spend a bit of money, David Klein's Organic Chemistry as a Second Language is concise, fun to read, and gives a deep understanding of orgo. I highly recommend it, and it was a huge help to me when I took it. You may want to start with the first and buy the second if the first appeals to you.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Try this book for organic chemistry at least.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/111801040X/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=1FFPQ068FSFZDCJVTHB4
It can be found far cheaper in other places, but this book really helped me to grasp organic concepts. I have a bunch of books in PDF format, so if you'd like me to forward them to you PM me your email address. I'd be more than happy to fire them over to you.
In addition, I recommend getting a cheap molecular model kit to further help you to grasp some of concepts that relate to the spatial orientation of molecules/stereochemistry; a lot of people seem to hit the wall when it gets to that point because visualization is difficult. eBay have some cheap sets. Better yet, you could make some with dowel rods and colored beads/polystyrene balls.
I've the utmost admiration for your desire to learn despite your 'age'. Not that it should ever deter you, it's just that I've come to accept that the majority of people just stop caring about learning once they pass a certain point, and so I find it refreshing when I do see somebody striving to learn.
I did both Organic Chemistry classes over 1 summer (5 weeks/class). It was easily the most brutal classroom experience of my academic career.
If I could go back I'd definitely start by completing the Organic Chemistry as a Second Language books (http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-As-Second-Language/dp/111801040X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377566755&sr=8-1&keywords=organic+chemistry+as+a+second+language). There is one for each class, and they are enormously helpful. Aside from that, do all the practice problems from your textbook. Unlike some of your other science classes it can be difficult to memorize the rules and then apply them... you will learn the rules by doing problems.
When it comes to stereochemistry, use models. After you have the 3-dimensional structures down, it is doubtful you will need to come back to the models again.
Sorry, I screwed up the title! Here is the proper link
Organic Chemistry As a Second Language, 3e: First Semester Topics https://www.amazon.com/dp/111801040X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_almNDbJMVD438
I took 109A last quarter with Bruice and LMAO rip it was 2 fast and furious 4 me, and thus my weary brain and butt is re-taking it right now with Aue.
Anyway, I went into this quarter expecting the first half at least to be a breeze for me since yeah, I'd gone through the course once already. But to be honest, Aue's style of teaching is completely different from Bruice's, and I was pretty lost myself and felt like I was taking the course for the first time again. So even more respect to the students that are taking O-chem for the first time under him.
I'm not the best student, but from my own experiences comparing the two classes, I feel like you shouldn't focus too much on the textbook, since Aue deviates from it a lot and teaches things that aren't mentioned in it at all. In Bruice, her tests were basically just the book problems (the questions weren't too hard, there was just so much to cover in so little time, whic, but I'll look through the book now and realize there's so much stuff I had to study in her class last quarter that seems to never be mentioned in Aue.
Are you enrolled in CLAS? That's really helpful for me. I did pretty well on the first midterm this quarter, and it's all because one of the CLAS instructor's pre-midterm review sessions taught me so much and saved my butt.
Seems like the best way to study for Aue is to study his past midterms. I don't have any of my own, but I know he does post an old one online on Gauchospace. Just see if you can get a good understanding of the free response questions, since the first midterm was pretty similar in concept, and if anything, it was the multiple choice questions I struggled more with LOL.
Additionally, one of my older friends gave me this book to supplement my readings last quarter, that I didn't crack open at all until I was in Aue lmao. But I found it pretty helpful, too, since I was too lazy to read the textbook and it seemed like Aue followed the order of this handbook better than Bruice's textbook. I believe it's also one of the supplemental readings he mentions in the syllabus: O-Chem As Second Language
But yeah. Don't stress too much. I hope some of this could be helpful, but take it with a grain of salt, since this is also my first time taking a course under Aue. I too am in the same boat as u in that i feel fked for the next midterm atm :-) But dw, you've still got a couple of days left and I had no idea that I would do decently well on the last midterm until it happened. That can be you, too.
HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF AND GOOD LUCK!
I am currently completing my two semesters of organic after completing gen chem seven years ago. I spent the summer reviewing the gen material and I felt pretty well prepared for organic. Like some of the other users have said, a good class will pull you up to snuff on what you need to know. Besides, organic has a lot more to do with the illustrative way that say, a hydrogen atom binds with an oxygen, and its effects, than with numbers. It often feels like it's more of an art class with puzzle-solving than a science class.
I would highly recommend getting a copy of Organic Chemistry as a Second Language. Amazing reference and clarifying tool. It will carry you through about 2/3rds of the 1st semester material, as well as give you a good foundation for everything. Not having that foundation is where most people flounder at the end of 1st and all the way through 2nd semester organic. Hope this helps!
Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-As-Second-Language/dp/111801040X
|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|France|amazon.fr|
|Germany|amazon.de|
|Japan|amazon.co.jp|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|
|China|amazon.cn|
This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting).
Go buy Organic Chemistry as a Second Language Link
and use Khan academy or any other youtube videos to fill in the general chemistry blanks. Maybe review lewis structures if you're not doing that in class. To be honest there's not a ton of overlap conceptually with your general chemistry courses, so you shouldn't be terribly unprepared. Just do not get behind, if you keep up with the material it shouldn't be overwhelming, you get behind and it'll get really overwhelming really quickly.
The ACS exam is a large standardized multiple choice test written by the American Chemistry Society. The ACS chemistry subject exams are frequently used to prove proficiency for incoming graduate students.
The two tests are not necessarily all free response. She prefers to give part multiple choice and part short answer. There are built in curves for the exams. Things like there being 8 short answer questions, but you pick four and those are the only ones you have to answer.
As for what is sufficient, I don't know. I go for there is no kill like overkill, so that isn't a help. How long the Sapling homework takes you is highly variable. If I started at the beginning of a chapter it always took me longer than if I started by the midpoint, but that's a personal thing. If you keep after it and actually do work about two hours a day every single day, then you should be just fine for any course.
This said, I highly recommend reading Organic Chemistry As A Second Language to help get your head around the topics. Keep track of the electrons and what they are doing rather than specific mechanisms by name. Look for the patterns rather than trying to memorize everything. Don't be afraid to use the CRC for tutoring, second floor of the chem building on your left as you walk through the doors, it's paid for in your tuition and fees for taking organic chemistry. Also, make use of your resources and use YouTube videos and Khan academy when you get stuck. They don't often go in a great deal of depth, but they can get you on the right track.
Dandekar does reward work. If she can see that you are busting ass because your study group leader reports that you've been there working hard that helps. If you do all of the extra credit and it isn't slapdash, that gets rewarded as well. I can't speak to the bumping grades by a letter, but I can tell you she respects it and she rewards it.
The commute is what concerns me in your case. I'm not much better off living in the Frisco area about half an hour away from campus. Having been there done that, what really helped for me was that I set things up so that I would spend the entire days at UNT alternating with the community college. The commute is not trivial. Also, thanks to the lovely parking situation, you should plan to arrive at the campus nearly an hour before class to give yourself time to find a parking spot, walk to class, and get settled in the right frame of mind to learn something new. After 9:30 am and before 2 pm, finding parking is not easy.
Organic Chemistry As a Second Language by David Klein
Buy both the books!
Instead of using my class textbook, I used these two books. These books will cover most of what you need to know in your ochem courses. I wasted money buying the class textbook when I could have used these two books alone.
I've yet to have to use it, but I've hear this book Organic Chemistry As a Second Language, is amazing
Not an ncsu student (wtf am I doing here).
What you need to do is be very very dedicated throughout the summer session and resolve yourself to study everyday. I dont know if you are a premed of some kind or if you are content with leaving with a C. Either way, you need to go through your textbook while in the class, and do EVERY problem in the chapter and the problems at the end of the chapter.
You may read this as over kill, but when I took the class I had already read the first 3-4 chapters before the class started. I left with an A in both I and II.
If you need extra study material, I suggest these:
Textbook (best organic textbook imo):
http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-David-R-Klein/dp/0470917806
A second language book (DO NOT USE THIS AS A SHORTCUT TO LEARN WHY THINGS HAPPEN):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/111801040X/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0470917806&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1FXC7SNT8XJA6F816TAJ
reply if you need anything else. I dont know anything about feducia or the course itsself. I do know organic though
The book, for the uninitiated: Organic Chemistry as a Second Language