In this video Paul Andersen explains how you can use Lewis Diagrams and VSEPR Models to make predictions about molecules. The Lewis diagrams are a two-dimensional representations of covalent bonds and the VSEPR models show how the...

Today Hank talks about the deliciousness of alkenes & alkynes, their structures, and how to remember which is which by simply knowing the alphabet. Also, he breaks down hydrogenation, halogenation, polymerization, and...

The organic molecules that make up life on Earth are more than just the 2-D structures we’ve been drawing so far. Molecules have 3-D shapes that help us understand what they can do. In this episode of Crash Course Organic Chemistry,...

Hybridization Process: Carbon atoms undergo sp² hybridization, mixing one 2s and two 2p orbitals to form three sp² hybrid orbitals arranged in a trigonal planar geometry (120° bond angles). Bond Formation: Two sp² orbitals form sigma (σ)...

Resonance is a way of describing delocalized electrons within certain molecules where a single Lewis formula cannot express the bonding. To understand resonance in chemistry, you need to first understand covalent bonds, sigma and pi...

Alkanes do not exhibit geometrical isomerism because they only contain single bonds (sigma bonds), which allow for free rotation. Geometrical isomerism requires restricted rotation, such as in double bonds or cyclic structures, which is...

Resonance is a way of describing delocalized electrons within certain molecules where a single Lewis formula cannot express the bonding. To understand resonance in chemistry, you need to first understand covalent bonds, sigma and pi...

Looking at the usage of beta-dicarbonyl compounds.

Professor Dave explains the science and theory behind pericyclic reactions (Part Two)

Professor Dave explains the science and theory behind pericyclic reactions (Part Four)

After revisiting the Diels-Alder reaction, we are ready to learn about some other cycloadditions with great synthetic utility. This will include 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, which are very neat. Don't take my word for it, check this out!

Professor Dave explains the science and theory behind pericyclic reactions (Part Three)

Alkene Epoxidation: Theory, Mechanism, and Examples

Pi-donors, Sigma-donors, and Pi-acceptors: Orbital Overlap

Before we dive into the applications of organometallic reactions, let's look at one more type of reaction: metathesis. In metathesis reactions, two bonds will break and two bonds will form. Let's look at some of these possibilities!

We've seen that KMnO4 can oxidize alcohols and aldehydes to give carboxylic acids and ketones, but this reagent can also oxidize alkenes. The product(s) will be different depending on whether we use cold basic conditions or hot acidic...

Admittedly, my prior tutorial on MO theory was a little confusing, and had some errors. I wanted to make things right, so here's another one! This will clarify some of the basic concepts, and will also extend them to discuss a new...

Alkene Addition versus Elimination: A Thermodynamic Approach

Now that we've made it through the periodic table, it's time to look at transition metals and the coordination compounds they can form. What types of ligands can they interact with, and how? What shapes do they make? There is so much to...

Pi-backbonding with Strong-Field Ligands

Now that we have sufficiently covered cycloaddition reactions, we can move on to the next type of pericyclic reactions. That would be sigmatropic shifts. This includes important synthetic techniques like the Cope rearrangement, Oxy-Cope...

This time we have a starting material, and we are gonna do just two reactions. But it's a little tricky! See if you can figure it out.

Rings upon rings! Forwards and backwards! Give these a shot.

Need some organic chemistry practice? Here's a tricky mechanism to try!