MCAT and Organic Chemistry Study Guides, Videos, Cheat Sheets, tutoring and more

  • Tutoring
  • Organic Chem
    • Organic Chemistry Tutoring
    • Organic Chemistry Videos
    • Study Hall – Membership Site
  • MCAT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Tutoring
  • Organic Chem
    • Organic Chemistry Tutoring
    • Organic Chemistry Videos
    • Study Hall – Membership Site
  • MCAT
  • About
  • Contact

Swap Method for finding R and S Configurations Chirality

December 16, 2016 By Leah4sci 18 Comments

swap method for r and s stereochemistryChirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 4
R and S configurations are pretty straight-forward when priority group #4 is conveniently in the back of the molecule. There's even a quick trick for when group #4 is forward (as taught in this video).

But what happens when priority group #4 is in the plain of the page? Do you treat it as a rear group, forward group?

Many professors will teach you to build a model kit (hint: don't rely on your model kit) or mentally rotate and redraw the molecule placing group #4 in the back

OUCH! Not only are these methods a waste of time, they introduce too much stress and confusion on exams. My swap method taught below is tricky to learn at first. BUT… once you get it I GUARANTEE you'll find yourself saving 5, 10, even 15 minutes on your stereochemistry exam questions.


(Watch on YouTube: Swap. Click cc on bottom right for video transcription.)

<– Watch Previous Video: Finding R and S When Group #4 is Forward
–> Watch Next Video: R and S configuration for Lengthy Complex Substituents

This is Video 4 in the Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series. Click HERE for the entire series.

Ready to test your stereochemistry skills? Try my FREE Chirality/Stereochemistry Practice Quiz and follow along with the Stereochemistry Cheat Sheet

Would a Model Kit help you? Watch How to Use Your Organic Chemistry Model Kit.

Filed Under: Chirality and Stereochemistry Tagged With: chirality, r and s, stereochemistry, swap method

Comments

  1. Hawnaz Ahmed says

    August 8, 2019 at 7:55 am

    I have been watching your videos for a while now but this is the first time that I didn’t get word of what you are saying

    Reply
  2. Adriana says

    March 26, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    You’re my favorite online tutor, hands down! Thank you for explaining things so clearly and teachings us your little hacks, it really helps 🙂

    Reply
  3. Tu Anh says

    September 30, 2018 at 8:59 pm

    I would like to say THANK YOU to you for making these amazing videos. Honestly, I learn so much from your explanations in each video than I do in my Organic Chemistry class. Hands down. I am so ever glad I stumbled on these videos. Thanks again.

    Sincerely,
    Tu Anh Nguyen

    Reply
  4. sankalp says

    September 11, 2018 at 11:48 am

    Your meathodology is the best for organic chemistry thanks

    Reply
  5. Violetta says

    June 1, 2018 at 1:19 pm

    Vert helpful thank you very much

    Reply
  6. Ashley says

    February 27, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    How do you know how many swaps to perform? Enantiomers Vs. Same compound

    Reply
  7. virendra says

    February 8, 2018 at 9:12 am

    nice one please add some more for neet

    Reply
  8. Saket Verma says

    January 1, 2018 at 1:19 pm

    Couldn’t we just flip R to S and vice versa after one swap!?

    Reply
  9. Amman says

    December 6, 2017 at 2:32 pm

    woooow! Just woooow! I wish you were my teacher I swear, you are a very awesome person………………….. please keep on doing this okayyy!

    Reply
  10. Susan mathenge says

    September 29, 2017 at 7:19 am

    I have just watched your videos and they are amazing.how can I download the organic chem 2 book that you recommend in one of your videos

    Reply
  11. Komal says

    May 31, 2017 at 12:57 am

    Your videos are very helpful. Plz make video on Meso compounds also.

    Reply
    • Leah4sci says

      June 11, 2017 at 5:35 pm

      Thanks Komal. I have plans to add that video in the coming year

      Reply
  12. Devdatta Biswas says

    May 21, 2017 at 11:37 pm

    Amazing! A great help to me !

    Reply
    • Leah4sci says

      June 11, 2017 at 5:35 pm

      You’re very welcome Devdatta

      Reply
  13. Stacy says

    March 16, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    THANK YOU! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Heli says

    February 25, 2017 at 5:53 am

    U r awesome at teaching R and S

    Reply
  15. Linh Bach says

    February 9, 2017 at 12:41 am

    Why don’t you just swap once and reverse the chirality…

    Reply
  16. abc says

    January 13, 2017 at 7:04 am

    why is it necassary in this theory that it always work only when substituent 4 is behind(back)of the steriogenic centre(if u cn explain me with context to ur model in vedio it wld be awesome to get a feel of chem)?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

3 Month MCAT Plan

What does a 3-month MCAT Study Plan entail? Click to Read/Download

3 month mcat study plan leah4sci

Can I help you find a topic?

Download my Free Organic Chemistry Cheat Sheets by clicking on the image below



MCAT Tutorials, Videos & More

MCAT Home Page
Scroll down for orgo resources
MCAT Math Without a Calculator
MCAT Physics
MCAT Chemistry
MCAT Biology
MCAT Biochemistry
MCAT CARS / Critical Reading
MCAT Resources, Tips & More

Organic Chemistry Tutorials & Videos

Orgo Syllabus Companion
- Gen Chem Foundation for Orgo
- Orgo Basics Foundation
- Resonance Structures
- Naming Organic Compounds
- Acids and Bases
- Newman Projections
- Chair Conformations
- Chirality and Stereochemistry
- Fischer Projections
- Intro to Mechanisms
- Alkene Reactions
- Alkyne Reactions
- Free Radical Reactions
- Substitution Elimination Reactions
- Diels Alder
- Aromaticity & Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS)
- Alcohols
- Oxidation and Reduction
- Acetal / Ketal
- Enolate Reactions
- Proton NMR Spectroscopy

Organic Chemistry Study Guide Cheat Sheets

2022 MCAT Test Dates

Click image below for test + score release dates and more

2022 MCAT Test Dates by Leah4Sci

Radicals: Reactions, Stability Hybridization+

Click for New Tutorial: All about Free Radicals

Free Radicals in Organic Chemistry - Hybridization, Stability, Resonance, Reactions and Mechanism Videos

MCAT Students Come Work With Me

Work with me to figure out exactly what YOU need to ace your MCAT

Option 1: Strategy, tutorials, my help every step of the way in the MCAT Study Hall
[click for details]

Option 2 One-on-one Private MCAT Tutoring

Orgo Students: Come Work With Me

Work with me to ace your Organic Chemistry Course
Option 1: Join me for bimonthly live review/Q & A Sessions, 50+ Hours of Topic-Specific review/practice sessions, direct access to me and so much more... [click for details]

Option 2 One-on-one Private Tutoring

Organic Chemistry Reference Material and Cheat Sheets

Alkene Reactions Overview Cheat Sheet – Organic Chemistry

The true key to successful mastery of alkene reactions lies in practice practice practice. However, … [Read More...]

Click for additional cheat sheets

MCAT Tutorials

mcat math without a calculator 1 play

Introduction To MCAT Math Without A Calculator

While the pre-2015 MCAT only tests you on science and verbal, you are still required to perform … [Read More...]

Click for additional MCAT tutorials

Organic Chemistry Tutorial Videos

KET Keto enol tautomerization reaction and mechanism leah4sci

Keto Enol Tautomerization Reaction and Mechanism

Keto Enol Tautomerization or KET, is an organic chemistry reaction in which ketone and enol … [Read More...]

Click for additional orgo tutorial videos

Copyright © 2022 · Leah4Sci - All Rights Reserved. · Sitemap · Log in