How Do We Know Methane Is Tetrahedral?
In our review of atomic orbitals, we saw that the orbital configuration of the valence electrons of carbon is 2s22p2 as shown below: Since the
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Hybrid Orbitals
Summary of today’s discussion on hybrid orbitals! [Note: This post was co-authored with Matthew Pierce of Organic Chemistry Solutions. Ask Matt about scheduling an online tutoring session here.
Read moreSigma bonds come in six varieties: Pi bonds come in one
You may recall from Gen chem (and no doubt your first week of o-chem as well), that orbitals on carbon come in two flavors: s
Read moreThe Marriage May Be Bad, But the Divorce Still Costs Money
Common misconception: energy is released through the breaking of bonds. Not correct. Energy is released through the FORMATION of chemical bonds. Formation of a new
Read moreGen Chem and Organic Chem: How are they different?
After finishing my freshman year of college, I spent my summer in the university town where I went to school. I had a menial telemarketing
Read moreFrom Gen Chem to Organic Chem, Pt. 4 – Chemical Bonding
Last time in this series we talked about the Coulomb equation and how important it is for understanding the electrostatic interaction between the electron and
Read moreFrom Gen Chem to Org Chem, Pt. 7 – Lewis Structures
There are essentially three uses for Lewis structures. They’re good at helping you get acquainted with the placement of electrons around atoms, helping to visualize
Read moreExam Tip: Don’t just bring your model kit – USE it!
Here’s something I don’t understand. Well, that’s not true – it’s something I understand, but I think is… unwise. Bringing a model kit to an
Read moreSummary Sheet – Introduction to Reactivity and Nomenclature
One of my students is taking an introductory organic chemistry course at a community college. While preparing for our next session, which is going to
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