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3 Easy Steps to Drawing Chair Cyclohexanes, Perfect Every Time

3 Easy Steps to Drawing Chair Cyclohexanes, Perfect Every Time

Let’s face it, chair cyclohexanes are not a shape that comes naturally for anyone to draw. That’s why you need a system to get them right. Here is how to draw chair conformations in 39 seconds… How to draw chair conformations… in 39 seconds! Stop drawing bad chairs! Get chair cyclohexane templates, as seen in the video…

How to Assign R and S Configurations Without a Molecular Model
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How to Assign R and S Configurations Without a Molecular Model

Chiral centers come in two flavours – vanilla or chocolate chip… Just kidding! They come in R and S varieties. There’s a three-step process for assigning the R or S, and one of the steps in putting the lowest priority group at the back, away from you. But what do you do when the lowest priority group isn’t behaving and isn’t already…

5 Rules for Organic Reaction Mechanisms
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5 Rules for Organic Reaction Mechanisms

If there’s one thing you’re guaranteed in Organic Chemistry exams, it’s to be asked mechanism questions! Reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry are the bread and butter of exam questions! So how do you avoid the most common mistakes? The best way to get good at mechanisms is through lots of practice! But, apart from that,…

Organic Chemistry Nomenclature Practice – Naming Alkanes

Organic Chemistry Nomenclature Practice – Naming Alkanes

Want to eat organic nomenclature problems up for breakfast? Let’s put the system for naming alkanes to work and practice organic chemistry nomenclature with one big, convoluted molecule – I’m calling it “alkane spaghetti”! ???? An IUPAC name for alkane spaghetti My previous post aimed to help you become a ninja at naming alkanes, and from there you’ll be ready for…

Nomenclature Ninja – Naming Alkanes

Nomenclature Ninja – Naming Alkanes

Naming organic molecules is… complicated! Or, it can sure seem that way. There’s alkynes of rules in organic nomenclature 🙂 What are the most important things to know when naming alkanes? What is a system for naming compounds? And, what is going to be on the exam? Yes, nomenclature will be on the exam Pretty much every organic chemistry course…

MoleculAR: an augmented reality app for organic chemistry

MoleculAR: an augmented reality app for organic chemistry

I made an app! MoleculAR is an Augmented Reality app for iOS and Android that gives you the ability to visualize and interact with molecules. Point your device’s camera at a MoleculAR structure in your lecture notes, and an interactive, 3D representation of that molecule will appear before your eyes! The molecule can be manipulated the following ways: Rotate – drag…

Carbocation Rearrangements – Explained!

Carbocation Rearrangements – Explained!

How and why do carbocations rearrange? Professors love to torture, err.. I mean “test” students with exam questions that involve carbocation rearrangements. So, when do carbocation rearrangements occur? It can be confusing to know how to spot what will happen in these reactions, but there’s some basic principles that will have you migrating the right…

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