TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1. PRINCIPLES OF ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND CHEMICAL REACTIVITY.
Chapter 1. Atomic Structure
Chapter 2. The Octet Rule and Lewis Structures
Chapter 3. Representing Organic Structural Formulas
Chapter 4. Covalent Bonds: Energetics and Properties
Chapter 5. Bond Length and Bond Strength
Chapter 6. Electronegativity and Bond Polarity
Chapter 7. Formal Charge
Chapter 8. Molecular Shapes: Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory
Chapter 9. Atomic Orbitals
Chapter 10. Orbital Hybridization
Chapter 11. The Functional Groups
Chapter 12. Physical Properties and Molecular Structure
Chapter 13. Lewis Acids and Bases
Chapter 14. Isomers and Stereochemistry
Chapter 15. Introduction to Organic Reactions
Chapter 16. Organic Reaction Mechanisms: A General Overview
Chapter 17. Steric Hindrance.
PART 2. THE FUNCTIONAL GROUPS: PROPERTIES AND REACTIVITY.
Chapter 18. The Alkane Hydrocarbons
Chapter 19. Alkyl Halides: Substitution and Elimination Reactions
Chapter 20. The Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: Alkenes and Alkynes
Chapter 21. Free-Radical Reactions
Chapter 22. Alcohols and Ethers
Chapter 23. Addition and Substitution Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones
Chapter 24. Oxidation and Reduction Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds
Chapter 25. Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
Chapter 26. Reactions of the Carbonyl Group
Chapter 27. Resonance Structures and Electron Delocalization
Chapter 28. Aromatic Compounds and Aromaticity
Chapter 29. Electrophilic Aromatic Substitutions
Chapter 30. Reactions of Enolate Carbanions
Chapter 31. The Amines
Chapter 32. Overview of Reaction Mechanisms: The Production and Fate of Reactive Intermediates.
PART 3. THE SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS OF ANALYSIS.
Chapter 33. Introduction
Chapter 34. U-V Visible Spectroscopy
Chapter 35. Infra-Red Spectroscopy
Chapter 36. Proton NMR Spectroscopy
Chapter 37. Carbon-13 NMR
Chapter 38. Mass Spectrometry.
John Heden – Great overview of Organic Chemistry –
“Organic Chemistry made ridiculously simple” is a great supplementary text. Its emphasis on first principles helps to establish a solid starting point for any organic chemistry student. It is direct and easy to understand with great diagrams, many examples, and occasional humor that help to introduce and emphasize various basic organic concepts. This emphasis on basic and core concepts helps to set up an intuitive foundation for branching out to other more complex subject areas. I would recommend this book in addition to the standard course text for any student and perhaps especially for a student who may be struggling a bit with this subject.
Xia Workman – Great overview –
I recommend this book as a straight forward outline of organic chemistry. It is an excellent supplement to use during an organic chemistry course.
* The information is accurate
* There isn’t a lot of extra information, but it is complete
* It is organized along the lines of a standard organic textbook
* There seems to be a good mix of regular organic chemistry and biological applications
* I found it very easy to find what I was looking for
Mister Zorba – Terrific study guide –
Let’s face it, nothing is going to make Organic Chemistry simple, but if you use this study guide as an adjunct to your text, you may very well raise your grade from a C to a B, or from a B to an A. It’s not magic, it’s synergy. Dr. Davis has hit all the hot-button issues, pointed you at the important concepts, and outlined the major reaction mechanisms, all in a straightforward non-intimidating way. I’ve used this book twice, and it’s paid off twice. If you’re a natural A student, maybe you don’t need this, but most of us can get real benefit from parleying this book with reasonably good study habits.
Frank Lovell Jr. – WHO SAYS Organic Chemistry is just TOO HARD to reasonably simplify? –
Delightful — this is a book I always wanted to write but never found time to write, PLUS THIS book by Gene Davis is a lot better than I could have written! I recommend it for any who are interested in casual study of organic chemistry or who formerly were once adept at organic chemistry but became rusty and are looking for a refresher review. I like this book WAY better than any other less-than-full-blown university Organic Chemistry books I have yet examined (and over the years I have examined a bunch of “made easy” and “for idiots” books on organic chemistry).
sgrisel – Five stars –
It was a very helpful book to help me break down some of the complex subjects of chemistry.
Kersi Von Zerububbel – Excellent supplemental and review text. –
I found this book very helpful if one needs a quick review of Org Chem. I have not taken any Org Chem courses since 1971 so at first I was totally lost. But when I used this text as a supplement to a Org Chem textbook like Morrison & Boyd’s (my old 1971 copy!) the stuff made sense.
I suspect that this is a “test oriented” book for med students but I found it as an excellent supplemental text. If you are currently taking a Org Chem course then this book will definitely help. If you have been out of the loop for a while don’t expect this book alone to get you up to speed.