Organic Chemistry 1
This page covers the topics and content covered in a first-semester undergraduate Organic Chemistry course (commonly referred to as Orgo or O-Chem).
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Course Topics
The topics listed below frequently appear in a first-semester undergraduate Organic Chemistry course (commonly referred to as Orgo or O-Chem). These review pages are built on the principle that true mastery of O-Chem comes from active problem-solving rather than passive reading. Instead of dense textbook chapters or lecture transcripts, these pages focus on building intuition for organic mechanisms and reactivity by guiding you through the standard problem types you'll face.
Structure, Bonding, and Resonance
Atomic orbitals and hybridization (sp, sp², sp³); Lewis structures, formal charges, and resonance; Molecular geometry and bond polarity
Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
Nomenclature (IUPAC rules); Physical properties and conformational analysis (Newman projections, chair conformations of cyclohexane); Ring strain, steric strain, and torsional strain
Stereochemistry
Chirality centers (R/S configuration); Enantiomers, diastereomers, and meso compounds; Optical activity and polarimetry
Alkyl Halides and Introduction to Reaction Mechanisms
Nomenclature and properties of alkyl halides; Nucleophilic substitution (SN1 and SN2); Elimination reactions (E1 and E2); Reaction mechanisms, rate laws, and transition states
Alkenes and Alkynes
Nomenclature (including cis/trans and E/Z); Electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes (e.g., hydrohalogenation, halogenation, hydration, hydroboration–oxidation); Concepts of regioselectivity (Markovnikov vs. anti-Markovnikov) and stereoselectivity; Introduction to alkyne reactions (hydration, hydrogenation, halogenation)
Acids and Bases in Organic Chemistry
Brønsted–Lowry and Lewis definitions; pKa values and their significance in organic mechanisms; How acid/base strength affects reactivity and reaction equilibria
Alcohols (Introductory Treatment)
Nomenclature and basic properties; Acid-base behavior of alcohols; Simple reactions (e.g., substitution to form alkyl halides)
Spectroscopic Methods (Introductory Overview)
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy basics (functional group identification); Mass spectrometry (MS) basics (molecular ion, fragmentation patterns); Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR) fundamentals (chemical shift, integration, splitting)
Mechanistic Themes & Reaction Pathways
Arrow-pushing notation and mechanism steps (nucleophilic attack, proton transfers, leaving groups); Kinetic vs. thermodynamic considerations (where relevant)
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