Topic 2: General - Resonance Contributors

2.1What are three key features of resonance contributors?
 
2.2Which sigma hybridization (sp, sp2, sp3) is never involved in resonance? Which is most common? Why?
 
2.3Why do we say resonance contributor? -- And not something like resonance “compound”?
 
2.4What is the difference between a set of resonance contributors and a set of isomers?
 
2.5Why do we refer to resonance contributors as being more or less representative rather than comparing them using “more stable” or “less stable”?
 
2.6Given two resonance contributors, what are three characteristics that can help us predict which is the most representative?
 
2.7Without using curved arrows, draw multiple resonance contributors for a compound or ion of your choice. Given one structure, what are the basic methods you can use to identify another contributor? “All” resonance contributors? (Can we even ref+H16er to “all” in the context of resonance contributors?)
 

Topic 3: General - Electronegativity and Electron Density

3.1What does electronegativity measure?
 
3.2What is the fundamental physical principle behind the idea of electronegativity?
 
3.3How does electronegativity trend across a row of the periodic table, from left to right?
 
3.4How does electronegativity trend going down a column of the table?
 
3.5How can these trends be rationalized? (Careful! Going down a column is the tricky one!)
 
3.6What is meant by the term electron density?
 
3.7How is electronegativity related to electron density?
 
3.8Why are organic chemists so interested in electronegativity and electron density?
 
15 questions
364 questions for Organic I

364 Questions for Organic I

Dearest Student. This web page is a set of questions I call Detailed Intended Learning Outcomes For Organic Chemistry (Part I). Some time ago I asked myself, "Bob, what do you think are the key questions that you hope students will be able to answer after taking Chemistry 247 at St. Olaf College?" So here you have them. Some are very simple; some require more thought. All are good questions to be thinking about as you read, discuss, and master the practical aspects of organic chemistry. They are discussion starters and review tips. There are no answers here (though there are some clues). The questions are here to help you focus on what's important (to me, at least!) and organize your learning process. The questions are grouped into topics. Bite-size chunks. Take them a few at a time. Don't feast on them all at one sitting!

(preliminary version 2021.01.15 feeback: Bob Hanson)