Why is Organic Chemistry HARD?

I agree completely with RG and Neoga. So, why is it hard? I answer many questions about organic chemistry problems and it isn't unusual for a student to say, "I don't want an explanation, I just want the answer." That embodies why organic is hard. If the student knew the explanation, they wouldn't be asking the question. The question is a revelation about a student's understanding of reactions. That still doesn't explain why organic chemistry is hard. This is where I too like the foreign language analogy. If you wanted to be fluent in a foreign language, learning the 20 most commonly used phrases would be quick, but you would never become fluent. You have to know the words. If you know the words, you can make the phrases, but not the other way around. I wrote a blog on my website about flash cards and why I don't like them. I think they may be popular and many students may use them, but I don't think that is the best way to learn. However, Ohio State University has organic chemistry flash cards. I see this as part of the problem. Organic chemists are not in agreement on how to best teach organic chemistry. I had an organic chemistry professor say to me, "You know, some students just don't get mechanisms". Do you think this professor would pick a mechanistically oriented textbook? I've looked over a number of popular texts. I would say the majority do not have a commitment to using a mechanism based approach. They are more like "mechanism optional". Now, organic chemistry is seeming a lot more difficult. My teaching objective was to give an explanation for everything. That is what a mechanism is, an explanation. That means I used a mechanism approach. I used the book "The Language of Organic Chemistry; A Guide to Organic Chemistry Mechanisms" at http://www.curvedarrowpress.com . I was able to raise my organic chemistry scores on the ACS organic chemistry exam by 20 percentile points across the board. Everyone improved, top to bottom. I really believe that book is the best mechanism book available. But, it is only useful for students or professors believing mechanisms are useful or necessary (I do!). Two students, that scored in the 90+ percentiles on the ACS exam, said they liked it, "because the mechanisms are easier to understand." Oh, before I end, I need to back over part an assumption here. Organic chemistry has topics on nomenclature, conformations, stereochemistry, etc. Those are things, they don't change. While they can be difficult, most student do not struggle with them. Reactions are dynamic. They are what make organic chemistry hard. Trying to learn organic chemistry is like trying to learn long division by memorizing the quotients from the divisors and dividends. Neither will work.

Honestly, in my experience teaching college organic chemistry I find that people actually tend to enjoy it, when it is presented in the right way. Too many people approach organic chemistry as a matter of rote memorization, which is a sure-fire way not to enjoy it. While a certain amount of memorization is needed -- orgo is very similar to learning a foreign language -- the fact of the matter is that there are certain rules (like grammar) and patterns to recognize, which when used appropriately can allow a logical flow to solving problems in organic chemistry (be it mechanism, synthesis, etc). Framing the material in this context, and being able to clearly explain the concepts, makes all the difference. It is a tough subject by nature -- so much variety and breadth in the topic, but with the right framework (good textbook, good lecturers/associates) most people can do reasonably and can actually enjoy it in the process. [Of course there is also a whole other dimension in terms of the experimental end of it -- since ultimately orgo is truly an experimental science. That's a discussion for another day perhaps... since your question is probably mostly framed around college lecture course in particular]

Because unlike most chemistry classes, o-chem makes is really necessary to learn the concepts from experience, rather than memorizing formulas. It's tough as hell because you have to visualize 3D molecules in space, and hard to teach because well, the board is flat. :] It's all about homework and using your model kit to get the nuances of how molecules exist in space, bond, react, etc. It tests how much you payed attention in general chemistry too. It totally builds up. And, like the English Language, in many rules made, there are always exceptions. Cheers, H

It's not hard!! Just be patient with it.

i honestly thought it was easy when i took it. everyone is different. some things that click right away for you would give me absolute hell, but not ochem. you would laugh if you saw me breeze thru ochem and then stumble over another thing.

You have to have good spacial awareness.. "I found this hard at school, I've got crap spacial awareness...thats why I keep walking into doors and stuff" - Dr T