How long does it take to learn Chemistry if they're self teaching? (General/Orgo)

[ecouter11]

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If so, try out a process-oriented approach to transformations of one type of compound into another–e.g, suppose that I want to convert an X to a Y? What reactions will do that? Then, as you are going through the book, classify the reactions according to the transformations they accomplish, and group them in your mind that way. Take some care with molecules that have multiple functional groups–can you reversibly block one, to carry out a transformation on another? Some knowledge of the pKa’s of various compounds is useful, too.

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There is some theoretical framework that is necessary to establish before you can start memorizing reactions. Sn1, Sn2 rxns., the push of electrons by electronegative/electropositive atoms and how that affects reactivity. These are things not taught in gen. chem. Other than that, this is good advice.

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<p>Whoa, this is very helpful. Do you think it would be possible, then if I study the aforementioned material and maybe the build up concepts in isolation, to do both at once? I taught myself some biochem for work I was doing in grade 9 so I am quite familiar with the functional groups and their biological properties. </p>

<p>In any event thank you all for all your thoughts and help. They’ve been very helpful!</p>

[spdf]

<p>I don’t recall ever seeing any organic reaction mechanism questions on the Chemistry Olympiad exams. The organic chem questions are more basic than the general chem questions, and tend to be things like identifying functional groups, ordering compounds based on properties (vapor pressure or reactivity, for example), and knowing the products of various oxidation/reduction or substitution reactions on organic compounds. So you might need to know that a chlorine atom on a benzene ring is an ortho/para director, but you don’t need to know why.</p>

[ecouter11]

<p>That’s probably true for the America local exam which I think is he qualifying test for the ‘NCO Camp’. In Canada, it’s 1 shot to get to Nationals, I think, which is why they not only throw in Orgo but actually have the Olympiad test be part of a test for a nationwide Chem contest. I suppose that having only one test is more convenient but probably not so great if you happen to be really out of it just that one day (which does ocassionally happen to me). Ah well, at least either way, I’ll learn lots and all the standardized tests will be quite easy.</p>

[ChemistryTutor]

<p>2 years of hard work (enjoyed every minute of it) to become 1st and 3rd place nationally (same year but essentially in two different countries).</p>

[mathinokc]

<p>You might want to look at the topics covered in ChemWOOT at Art of Problem Solving. They’re the topics needed to bridge the gap between the national exam and the training camp.</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/chemwoot.php?page=schedule]ChemWOOT[/url”&gt;http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/chemwoot.php?page=schedule]ChemWOOT[/url</a>]</p>