MCAT and Organic Chemistry Study Guides & Tutoring

Chirality and Stereochemistry Cheat Sheet Study Guide

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Chirality is a tough organic chemistry topic. But if you’re reading this you already know. Be sure to watch my chirality video series to make sense of chiral atoms, enantiomers, absolute configuration and finding R/S for simple and complex molecules.

The cheat sheet below is meant to serve as a study guide to help you as you learn. So download a copy to your phone, and another to your laptop and computer. And be sure to share with your classmates.

Once you feel confident click to try the Chirality/Stereochemistry practice quiz (coming mid October)

Click image below for full printable version. PC users hit ‘CTRL + P’ to print. Mac users… sorry I don’t know the print shortcut

Chirality Stereochemistry Cheat Sheet Study Guide Preview

Fischer Projection R and S Stereochemistry Trick

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Fischer Projection Stereochemistry to find R and S configurations Chirality Vid 6Chirality/Stereochemistry Video Series: Video 6
Fischer projections provide a simple 2-dimensional representation for complex 3-dimensional structures. Which is great for drawing complex molecules, but not so much fun if asked to determine R and S configurations.

Many books and professors will have you redraw the Fischer projection into a 3-dimensional sawhorse or skeletal structure.

I find this to be a waste of time and source of needless confusion on exams. This video shows you how to quickly and easily find R and S configurations directly on the Fischer Projection. Guaranteed to save you time on your next stereochemistry quiz/exam.

In fact, if it DOES save you time come back to this page and let me know by leaving a comment below.


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

Links & Resources Mentioned In This Video:

<– Watch Previous Video: R and S configuration for Lengthy Complex Substituents
–> Watch Next Video: Newman projection chirality

This is Video 6 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.