The Tollens Test for Aldehydes, also known as the Silver Mirror Test, is a great way to confirm if an unknown carbonyl is an aldehyde or not. This occurs by reacting the unknown carbonyl with Silver +1 which gets reduced to metallic silver (Ag 0) when the aldehyde is oxidized to a carboxylic acid. This […]
The internet will have you believe that if you don’t have a perfect GPA and MCAT score, you can’t go to medical school. Sometimes strangers (online) get in our heads, sometimes it’s our inner circle including family, friends, and advisors. And sometimes that little doubting voice comes from within. “My GPA is trash, I’ve already […]
In the previous video, Part 1 of the Aromatic Nomenclature, you saw how to name Benzene molecules using IUPAC and common nomenclature for a substituted benzene. This tutorial video below, Part 2, will walk you through the IUPAC rules for naming disubstituted benzene compounds using ortho meta and para. (Watch on YouTube: Aromatics 2. Click […]
Phenol is a unique alcohol due to having a benzene ring and associated resonance. This video walks you through phenol resonance structures to help you understand how resonance impacts its acidity. Examples include comparing phenol to acetic acid as well as the impact of substituents on the ring like nitrophenol. (Watch on YouTube: Phenol Resonance/Acidity. Click […]
Alcohols are amphiprotic making them both acids and bases. This video shows you how to rank acidity and basicity of alcohols using charge, electronegativity, resonance, and inductive effect with practice examples along the way. (Watch on YouTube: Acidity & Basicity. Click CC for Transcription.) Links & Resources Mentioned In This Video: Arrhenius, Bronsted-Lowry, and Lewis Acids […]
Weeks of preparation, countless hours of study and sleepless nights all boil down to this one exam. You’ve studied and prepared in every way you could. And you know you’re ready… Until you see your final exam. You attempt to read the first question… and you suddenly blank out! Somehow everything you’ve studied runs right […]
Aromaticity is one of the more exciting topics in organic chemistry! Partly because of it’s potential for easy points on your quiz/exam.. that is IF you truly understand, not merely memorize: when you know what to look for to identify aromatic, antiaromatic and non aromatic compounds. Start with the Aromaticity Review + Videos, then see how […]
Alkynes possess 2 pi bonds allowing for a full or partial reduction. This video walks you through the conditions required for all 3 reduction products including complete hydrogenation as well as the partial reduction to a cis or trans alkene. You’ll also learn the step by step mechanism for (radical) dissolving metal reduction. (Watch on YouTube: […]
Alkyne reactions typically mark the turning point between basic organic chemistry and this just got real! This video provides an introduction to what you can expect when studying alkyne reactions. From their basic chemistry and properties to the various alkyne reactions. (Watch on YouTube: Alkyne Intro. Click CC for Transcription.) –> Watch Next Video: Alkyne Reduction – Hydrogenation […]
Your organic chemistry class is just around the corner. You’re hoping, planning, committing, have the best intentions… you want to get an A! These are great steps, And they work, But they’re all hypothetical! At least until the semester begins and you have a chance to take action on your goals! Why not turn your […]
The true key to successful mastery of alkene reactions lies in practice practice practice. However, … [Read More...]
While the pre-2015 MCAT only tests you on science and verbal, you are still required to perform … [Read More...]
The Tollens Test for Aldehydes, also known as the Silver Mirror Test, is a great way to confirm if … [Read More...]