How to teach kids organic chemistry
Organic chemistry has a well-deserved reputation among students as being a challenging subject. There are many other explanations for this, including the fact that success necessitates having self-assurance in all of its facets, that it has an entirely new language, and that there are no fast algorithmic cuts to achievement. A mismatch between the viewpoint of an expert and that of a beginner is another cause of difficulties.
The professors may have the impression that organic chemistry is simple. The phrase “the pupils simply have to learn it,” which is something I have often seen instructors say, is dismissive of the learner’s perspective and oversimplifies the situation. If you want your students to feel more comfortable addressing organic chemistry subjects like alcohols, carboxylic acids, and esters, you may try some of these tactics with them.
The study of organic chemistry
The study of the characteristics, structures, reactions, and compositions of organic compounds is the focus of the field of chemistry known as organic chemistry. Organic compounds are those that include both carbon and hydrogen. There are a variety of additional elements that may be present in organic molecules; examples include nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. On Earth, all forms of life may be broken down into their component organic molecules. There are millions of organic molecules, and we come into contact with them on a daily basis in the form of things like plastics, petroleum, textiles, clothes, food, and pharmaceuticals.
Presentations and organic chemistry
The field of organic chemistry has developed its own vocabulary. Which includes not only the names of the molecules and the processes that involve them but also novel concepts. It is such as the functional group. Because missing the point of a question is such a significant obstacle to achieving success in this area. It is important to dedicate some time to acquire a basic level of fluency in this new language.
Alcohols, carboxylic acids, and esters must be able to be recognized by students in a variety of ways. Such as by their names, structural formulae, diagrams, and even models. Activities such as matching or multiple choice questions that encourage students to think about alternative ways information. It might be represented are great ways to begin a session. They work in the recognition domain of memory, which means they have a low danger level, and they have the potential to be motivational for children.
Concept building
When students finally get to this area, they already have a substantial background in chemistry, particularly with acids. Integrate the new information with the established knowledge they already possess. Because the reactions that carboxylic acids cause is identical to those that are caused by the acids that students are more aware of. It is important to stress the fact that this is simply a limited expansion of their prior knowledge. Carboxylic acids follow the same patterns of acid reactions that they are already familiar with. Such as acid plus alkali, leading to salt and water in the reaction between acid and alkali.
Equation making
In organic chemistry, the use of molecular formulae in equation writing is strictly prohibited. Calculating the equations for the reactions of carboxylic acids may also be challenging. Students need to be aware of which of the two Hs is the acidic one so that they may use this knowledge in acid equations. Help them along with this by using color coding, bolding, or underlining. Also, take into consideration the equations that you put up for the creation of salt in order to make sure that the learning curve isn’t too steep.
Students will be aware of writing the formula of salt with the metal component first; nevertheless, when writing the formula for organic salts, this might make the meaning unclear.
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