So you have some time now. What should you do to get ready for fast-track summer ochem?
1.) Get the Klein textbook and Pavia lab textbook (if you can afford it, get the solutions manual and supplemental books).
Start reading chapters 1-3 and do the in-chapter problems. (Do more chapters if you can!)
Start collecting these notes/problems in a notebook for review later.
***If you don’t have the textbook yet, sign up for a two-week free trial of Wiley Plus, which includes an ebook and practice problems/videos.***
2.) The Klein textbook also contains review of gen chem in chapter one, parts of chapter two, parts of three, and parts of six.
It’s a good idea to hit these topics-
Ch 1: bonding, formal charges, hybridized atomic orbitals, VSEPR, dipoles and polarity, intermolecular forces, Lewis structures, Ch 3: Introduction to acids/bases, Use of pKa values to determine strength of acidity, Ch 6: enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy, equilibria, kinetics, reaction (energy) diagrams.
Here’s a page of videos you can work through for preparing for organic chem.
3.) Once the syllabus is available (your instructor will usually email it out a week in advance), start working on preparing your lab notebook for the whole quarter (this is called your prelab assignment each day). Here’s how to prepare your notebook: https://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/organic-notebook-prep/9033048/ This can take up to one hour a day so it’s very helpful to get this done before the quarter starts!
(Lab handouts for first three labs: exp2solubility, exp3crystallization, exp4extraction)
4.) Figure out a good schedule for going to class, studying, eating and sleeping. Plan to bring your lunch to school everyday so you don’t have to rush. There aren’t very good places nearby to get food quickly. Eating healthy and getting enough sleep are very important for having a good experience in class!
5.) If you know you are going to struggle with organic chemistry and you find success in tutors, then find a tutor to start the first day of classes (or before if possible). Email your instructor for ideas for tutors and check our tutoring center and give them a call for chemistry tutors this summer.
Last Updated June 18, 2023