Arrow-Pushing in Organic Chemistry
An Easy Approach to Understanding Reaction Mechanisms
Chapter One
Introduction
The study of organic chemistry focuses on the chemistry of materials essential for life.
Specifically, organic chemistry defines the science surrounding the chemistry of elements
essential for life to exist. In addition to carbon, the most common elements present
in organic molecules are hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and various halogens.
Through the study of organic chemistry, our understanding of the forces binding these
elements to one another and how these bonds can be manipulated are explored. In
general, our ability to manipulate organic molecules is influenced by several factors that
include the nature of functional groups near sites of reaction, the nature of reagents utilized
in reactions, and the nature of potential leaving groups. Additionally, these three factors
impart further variables that influence the course of organic reactions. For example, the
nature of the reagents used ... read full excerpt from Arrow-Pushing in Organic Chemistry: An Easy Approach to Understanding Reaction Mechanisms ebook
