Don't Fear Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry has a reputation for being hard, but that's mostly because students try to memorize without understanding. Once you see the logic and patterns, it clicks.
Key Functional Groups
- Alkanes (-ane): Only C-C single bonds. Relatively unreactive. Example: Methane (CH₄)
- Alkenes (-ene): C=C double bond. More reactive than alkanes. Example: Ethene (C₂H₄)
- Alkynes (-yne): C≡C triple bond. Very reactive. Example: Ethyne (C₂H₂)
- Alcohols (-ol): -OH group. Example: Ethanol (C₂H₅OH)
- Carboxylic acids (-oic acid): -COOH group. Example: Ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH)
Naming Compounds
The IUPAC naming system follows a clear pattern:
- Find the longest carbon chain — this gives the root name (meth-, eth-, prop-, but-, pent-...)
- Identify the functional group — this gives the suffix
- Number the chain to give the functional group the lowest possible number
- Name substituents as prefixes
Key Reactions to Know
- Combustion: Organic compound + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
- Addition reactions: Adding across a double bond (typical of alkenes)
- Substitution: Replacing one atom with another (typical of alkanes with halogens)
- Esterification: Alcohol + Carboxylic acid → Ester + Water
- Fermentation: Glucose → Ethanol + CO₂
WAEC Exam Tips
- Draw structures — don't just write molecular formulas
- Know the test for alkenes (bromine water decolorization)
- Esterification and fermentation appear every few years — know the conditions
- Learn the uses of common organic compounds (ethanol, ethanoic acid, plastics)
