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Learning the Functional Groups: Keys to Success

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Shannon Byrd

Francis Marion University, Florence, SC 29536

David P. Hildreth

Department of Education Studies, Guilford College, Greensboro, NC 27410

J. Chem. Educ., 2001, 78 (10), p 1355

DOI: 10.1021/ed078p1355

Publication Date (Web): October 1, 2001

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Teaching functional groups to high school and college chemistry students is often accomplished by having students memorize the functional groups from a table. Using this approach, students typically forget what they have memorized shortly after the examination and fail to transfer the memorized material to other topics in chemistry such as nomenclature, VSEPR theory, and chemical reactions. This method is frustrating for both the teacher and the students. To facilitate the learning of functional groups and to avoid a strictly memorization approach, we developed a classification key based on discernible characteristics that students can identify and consequently key out. This key can be used by the teacher in a variety of ways: as an introduction, a review, or a homework assignment. The functional group classification key is well received by students and provides an engaging alternative for teachers to use when introducing functional groups to their classes.

Keywords (Audience):

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords (Domain):

Organic Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

Nomenclature / Units / Symbols

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

Relating Functional Groups to the Periodic Table
Jef Struyf
Journal of Chemical Education2009 86 (2), 190
- Relating Functional Groups to the Periodic Table
  Jef Struyf
  Journal of Chemical Education2009 86 (2), 190
  An introduction to organic chemistry functional groups and their ionic variants is presented. Functional groups are ordered by the position of their specific (hetero) atom in the periodic table. Lewis structures are compared with their corresponding ...
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