Main Sequence     Interdisciplinary Discussions     Verbal Reasoning     Essay

Module 5 - Organic Functional Groups, Conformations, and Stereochemistry

We are moving directly to Organic Chemistry from our study last module of Atomic Theory, Periodic Properties, Chemical Bonding, and Intermolecular Forces. In fact, this module will mainly be an Overview Cycle nested within the Main Sequence, a tour of the Organic Chemistry reactions from beginning to end. We will go more slowly through these reactions again later in the course. Many students find reviewing Organic Chemistry for the MCAT to be one of the biggest challenges of preparing for the exam. A consciously structured review process will help your comprehension and retention. With the Organic Chemistry, it is definitely helpful to augment your Main Sequence study with carefully structured Overview Cycles. Triangulation and repetition instead of one slow slog. Look for the patterns underpinning the variety of chemical behaviors across the expanse of material. Instead of twenty five reactions of aldehydes and ketones, for example, look for two big groups with a few sundry tag-alongs.

Module 5 - Overview

Main Sequence - Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry, Conformations of Organic Molecules, and Stereochemistry.

Overview Cycle - There are no specific Epicycle goals or tasks this module. The Main Sequence survey of the Functional Groups is a comprehensive tour of the organic reactions. In other words, the distinction between the two modes of study is not as important this module.

Interdisciplinary Discussions - A great deal of coaching advice on mastering the organic reaction mechanisms and some key discussions in the organic context to prepare us for Chemical Thermodynamics.

Verbal Reasoning and Essay - Review the types of Verbal Reasoning questions and take a Verbal Reasoning practice exam. Analyze your performance. Write an essay.

Module 5 - Main Sequence        { 10 - 12 hours }

This module our Main Sequence topics are Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry, Conformations of Organic Molecules, and Stereochemistry. We will be taking our coverage of the organic functional groups as an opportunity to review the organic mechanisms from beginning to end, the first of many cycles through the reactions in this learning program. The first step in reviewing this large body of material is to re-establish the broad familiarity you possessed at the end of your organic chemistry course. Each subsequent cycle will make your knowledge of the mechanisms richer, more articulated, and more manageable.

Here are our Main Sequence topics for Module 5:

Functional Groups on the MCAT

Understanding the behaviors of the main organic functional groups in organic chemistry is another way to describe, really, understanding the basics of organic reaction chemistry. Because organic chemistry comprises approximately one third of the Biological Sciences section of the MCAT typically, there will be many instances on the test where you will be called upon to demonstrate familiarity with the properties and behaviors of various organic functional groups.

Learning Goals for Organic Functional Groups

Suggested Assignments

Conformations of Organic Molecules on the MCAT

Questions involving conformational change often appear on the MCAT. Typically, the context will not directly involve ethane or cyclohexane, but more complex situations. Catalysis facilitated by conformational change occuring upon an enzyme substrate undergoing induced fit is a typical example. Also, be aware that students often miss conformation questions by forgetting the partial double bond character which may be imparted to single bonds through resonance, which will prevent free rotation.

Learning Goals for Conformations of Organic Molecules

Suggested Assignments

Stereochemistry on the MCAT

Stereochemistry is a crucial topic for the MCAT. Nearly every exam will contain at least one question dealing directly with stereochemistry and several questions dealing indirectly. An MCAT passage presenting a reaction mechanism will often be followed by at least one question dealing with issues such as inversion of configuration or racemization. Students are often asked to recognize meso- forms on the MCAT or predict the number of stereoisomers a structure may have. Watch for stereochemistry to be presented on the MCAT in an unusual context such as coordination chemistry.

Learning Goals for Stereochemistry

Suggested Assignments

Module 5 - Interdisciplinary Discussions        { 3 hours }

Although there are a few crucial Interdisciplinary Discussions this module under the topic, Conformations of Organic Molecules, staying on the main interdisciplinary road, advancing our understanding of the relationship between the electrostatic basis of chemistry and Chemical Thermodynamics, many of the discussions you will cover before reaching that point, within the topic Organic Functional Groups, are more of the coaching variety.

You will especially notice these two subgenres within the Interdisciplinary Discussions this module, those which are moving the spiraling curriculum forward, and those which are more along the lines coaching, i.e. Tips & Hints, MCAT Advice, and Special Emphasis.

Interdisciplinary Discussion - Learning Goals

Suggested Assignments

Module 5 - Verbal Reasoning        { 2 - 3 hours }

It is extremely helpful to approach the Verbal Reasoning exam systematically in terms of the different types of Verbal Reasoning questions. Here is a reprise of the descriptions of the five main types of Verbal Reasoning questions which we introduced in Module 1.

Main Idea
These are general questions dealing with the cardinal issues of the passage. Main idea questions are designed to see if you grasped the central theme of the passage as a whole.

Author's Tone
This type of general question asks whether you understood the author's point of view on the subject of the passage. These questions are often the most subtle. Is the author being critical or supportive. Is their tone objectively neutral or biased and partisan? The differences among the answer choices in tone questions can sometimes be hard to tease out.

Thematic Extension
These questions are in the same family with the Main Idea or Tone questions, which deal with the passage as a whole, but Thematic Extension questions ask you to take the author's argument or point of view and draw a conclusion about another subject or derive a broader proposition.

Specific Inference
These questions will identify a specific section of the passage and ask for an interpretation that goes a little deeper than the explicit reference, asking you to read 'between the lines'. These questions are often about judging the shade of meaning the author puts on a word within a specific context.

Facts & Information
On one level these questions are a test for your retention of specific facts or concepts stated in the passage. However, on another level, they are a test of how well you synthesized and retained the organization and flow of the passage. This is because often the process of answering this kind of question involves returning to the passage to find the information.

Verbal Reasoning Tip of the Week

Both Thematic Extension and Specific Inference questions require you to look beyond the text. With these types of questions, an answer chioce containing wording that is a direct repetition from the passage is usually wrong.

Verbal Reasoning Assignments

Module 5 - Essay        { 1 hour }

This is the fifth essay. The keys to preparing for the essay are to learn a good technique and practice. In module two, we discussed some techniques for structuring a unified critical MCAT essay in some depth. Here is a LINK to that discussion for a refresher.

Essay Assignments