Comments on: The Most Important Question To Ask When Learning a New Reaction https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/ Thu, 07 Dec 2023 22:25:27 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: The Third Most Important Question to Ask When Learning A New Reaction | Straight A Mindset https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-679059 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 22:25:27 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-679059 […] When learning any new reaction, I think you always have to start with the “what”. As in What bonds are forming, and what bonds are breaking. […]

]]> By: Learning New Reactions: How Do The Electrons Move? | Straight A Mindset https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-679058 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 22:18:30 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-679058 […] The most important question when learning a new reaction is recognizing “What Bonds Form, What Bonds Break?” […]

]]> By: Chethana https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-581166 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 17:27:49 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-581166 This is the only website that offers clear explanations for Organic Chem, a subject I’ve hated for long. It’s even better than a good textbook, like LG Wade. Thank You!

]]> By: James Ashenhurst https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-578884 Wed, 08 Apr 2020 04:25:36 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-578884 In reply to Aitch.

So glad you have found this website useful!

]]> By: Aitch https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-578766 Sun, 05 Apr 2020 01:03:38 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-578766 Thank you for taking the time to create such a comprehensible explanation of orgo. This website has provides such a lovely take on typically frustrating topics. SO THANK YOU.

]]> By: aditya https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-1644 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 14:19:03 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-1644 good line for students:After all, knowing the answer to “what happens” is a prerequisite to being able to answer “how it happens”, or “why it happens”.

u should write and discuss often. thanks for u suggestions.

]]> By: james https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-1009 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:29:34 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-1009 In reply to dave blackburn.

Thanks for sharing. You’ve described my experiences exactly. I’m not going to take this for granted anymore.

]]> By: dave blackburn https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-1005 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:29:09 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-1005 After reading this, I added a couple of questions to an in-class worksheet about acid-base reactions. This is 3 1/2 weeks into O-Chem 1. Starting with skeleton structures of acetic acid and ethoxide ion going to ethanol and acetate, I asked:
1. On the product side circle the new bond(s) formed in this reaction.
2. On the reactant side, draw a slash through the bond(s) that break.
3. What happened to the third lone pair on the ethoxide O?
4. What happened to the electron pair that connected the H to the O in acetic acid?
5. Draw electron-pushing arrows showing what happens in the reaction.

It was worth asking such basic questions – a good third of the class didn’t really get it. I had people moving the ethoxide’s lone pair over to the acetic acid, all kinds of oddities.

]]> By: james https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-900 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:27:00 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-900 Good point. I should probably have illustrated this with a simpler example, as OH(-) is a catalyst in this process. That causes a little bit of confusion. I’m going to edit this when I get a moment.

I’m not saying that arrow pushing isn’t important – it is – I’m just saying that in order to draw an arrow pushing mechanism you need to be able to recognize the sites where bonds form and break first. If you think of understanding a reaction like a pyramid, just being able to recognize which bonds are broken and formed to form the product(s) would be at the base. From there, I’d say that recognizing the partial charges in the reactants comes next, followed by drawing the arrow pushing mechanism that connects those charges. At the top of the pyramid would probably be seeing how the individual reaction is related to other reactions.

Thanks for the comment.

]]> By: csw https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2011/08/29/the-most-important-question-to-ask-when-learning-a-new-reaction/#comment-897 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 04:29:03 +0000 https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/?p=1920#comment-897 I am an undergrad who recently completed a three quarter o-chem series. Even after completing the course I don’t claim to have mastered o-chem, but I’m still hoping it will “click” for me one day. Can you expand a bit on how identifying bonds broken and bonds formed will fit into a complete understanding of a reaction? Without knowing how the arrow pushing works it seems impossible to definitively identify which bonds are broken. In the example above where did the other oxygen go (the one from NaOH)? Without arrow pushing how would I know whether the OH in the final molecule comes from the NaOH or is one of the original O in the reactants that gained a hydrogen?

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