Nordin Bin Mohamed

School of Chemical
Sciences
U.S.M., Penang
 Examination Format
Paper 1 (MCQ) 1 hour
(30%)
30 questions (5 easy + 20 std. + 5
difficult)
Paper 2 (Structured & Essay) 2
hrs (70%)
Part A : 4 structured (@10 marks)
Part B : 6 essays (@ 15 markah)
Answer 4 + 4 questions only
Syllabus for SK027

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY (10

+ 30 M)
Thermochemistry (5 hrs)
Electro chemistry (8 hrs)
Reaction Kinetics (8 hrs)
 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (30 + 60 M)
Introduction To Organic Chemistry (9
hrs)
Hydrocarbons (11 hrs)
Aromatic compounds (6 hrs)
Haloalkanes (Alkyl Halides) (5 hrs)
Hydroxy compounds (5 hrs)
Carbonyl Compounds (6 hrs)
Carboxylic Acids & Its Derivatives (7
hrs)
Amines (6 hrs)
Amino Acids and Proteins (2 hrs)
Polymers (2 hrs)
Why is Organic Chemistry
Important?
C compounds are the main
components in all living things

DNA Enzymes Proteins Carbohy-

drates
Petrol Plastics Rubber Medicine

Pesticides Pollutants Chemical Dyes

Warfare
Where is Organic Chemistry
Medicine
needed?
Pharmacy
Biology
Food Sciences
Environmental
Sciences
Military
Polymer Industries
Chemical Engineering
Cosmetology
& many other fields
 Types of Examination Questions
1. Naming of cpds (IUPAC and Common name)
2. Definations
3. Explanations
4. Order Arrangements
5. Completion of Rxns (1- 2 steps)
6. Serial Rxns (given molecular formula or
structural formula)
7. Mechanisms
8. Synthesis
9. Change from one structural formation to a
different one.
10. Chemical tests
Types of questions for Physical
Chemistry
1. Definations
2. Calculations, using standard equations;
application type problems.
3. Explains, drawing of E diagrams, &
Born Haber cycles.
4. Writing of redox equations. for
electrochemical cells & determination of
electrode potentials.
5. Drawing of graphs & application.
What you need to learn
from
Drawthis Organic
Molecular Structures
Chemistry course.
Naming Cpds (IUPAC & Trivial)

Physical characteristic trends

Preparation of Cpds
Reactions
Reaction Mechanisms
Chemical tests
Basic concepts
Why you feel Organic
Chemistry is a difficult
subject to
Weak basics
master?

Too much to memorise

Module difficult to understand
Dont understand what had been taught
Insufficient reference
Initial negative perception
Too many difficult concepts
Contents too packed
No interest in Chemistry
Tips for answering questions
Right mind setting organic
chemistry is easy because
You need to know only a few
alphabets, i.e. C, H, N, O
Need to count only from 1-10
Able to read & write
Answers already in the
questions
Tips for answering questions
All topics have same sub-
titles:
1. Systematic Naming
2. Physical properties
3. Chemical properties/
chemical rxns.
4. Chemical tests
4 main types of rxns in Organic
Chemistry

Addition
Elimination
Substitution
Rearrangement
others: Oxidation & reduction
Is it true that Organic
Chemistry is very
difficult?
Organic Chemistry can be
understood easily & successfully
without a photographic memory
But..

You may not be successful if you

do not have good study habits.
 5 secrets to be
successful in Organic
Chemistry
1. Dont lag behind in your
class
2. Study proactively

3. Do lots of exercise
4. Always ask why & how when
rxns occur.
5. Use all available sources
 What you need to do
to prepare yourself for
an examination.
Obtain a suitable text book
Prepare short simplified notes

Have pencils & paper readily

available during every revision

Study in a calm atmosphere with a

healthy body
Good study skills
Under
Read Memorise
stand

Apply

Analyse Synthesize
Basic knowledge that
you have to know
Molecular Structure
&
Systematic
names
If you dont know how to name
a simple compound, you will fail
every test. Guaranteed.
 How to make
summarized notes
1. Read text books /notes
2. Close books
3. Make summary from
memory
4. Double check
5. Try out questions

DO NOT borrow or copy from anyone.

Effective Summarized
Notes
3 Forms of summarized no
A. Short list

ALCOHOL SYNTHESIS
1. From Alkenes
Gen. Formula:
Example: .
Footnotes:
2. From Aldehydes
Gen. Formula:
Example: .
Footnotes: ..
B. Draw a mind map

-C=C- -C--C- -C--C-

-C--C-
H X H OH
X X >C=C<

-C--C- -C--C-
-C--C-
H H X X H
C. Flash cards

RXNS. >C==C< (Behind)

1.+ H2 1. -CH-CH-
2. + X2 2. -CX-CX-

3. + HX 3. -CH-CX-

4. + H2O/H+ 4. -CH-C(OH)-
5. >C=O +
5. + O3 + O=C<
How to minimize memory
work?
1. Understand rxn mechanisms.
2. Familiarise yourself with all
the diff. types of functional gps.
& the diff. types of rxns.
Reactivity of functional gps
depend on their polarity.
3. Get familiar with the
functions all types of
reagents
4. DO LOTS OF EXERCISE
Exampl
e + -
C=O

Reacts with base, Reacts with

Reducing agents acids,
or oxidising
agents or
nucleophiles
electrophiles
Types & functions of reagents
- +
Example: RMgX = R - Mg X

R:MgX + H:OH R:H + OH- + Mg2+ + X-

Others
KOH/alcohol
K2Cr2O7/H+
LiAlH4
HBr/H2O2
 Predicting Rxns
Look at the characteristics of starting
materials. (saturated/unsaturated/
electrophilic, nucleophilic, functional
groups)
Look at the structure of the product
(saturated/unsaturated/oxidised
/reduced..?)
Look at type of reagent (acid/ base
/oxidising or reducing agents
/electrophiles /nucleophiles)
TIPS
All Chemical Rxns are due to
ELECTROSTATIC FORCES

+ -
+ -
Help sources
Text books/modules & study guide

Your lecturer

Internet

Fellow students

Past year exam. Questions.

 DO NOT study last minute
Study proactively draw
structures, write eqns. Do NOT
just highlight)
Do exercises intensively
Arrange / summarise all facts
Have good rapport with all
your lecturers
Strengthen your mental health
Always hold discussions
Give your full attention during
lectures
Stress on details
UNTUK DI FIKIRKAN
UNTUK DIFIKIRKAN
UNTUK DIFIKIRKAN
Thank you.

May you have success

in
everything you do.