1. The Essence of Hydrocarbons
Can you answer the question, "What is an organic compound?" What is the difference between organic and inorganic compounds? What is the basis of the special role that carbon plays in the chemistry of elements?

Follow the links at below to find answers to these questions and then consider how what you've learned about organic compounds is relevant to your own life.

Consider This Before Answering the Questions
Having gotten this far in your life (to a point where you're in college and taking this class in physical science, or even just living the number of years you have), you most certainly would have noticed by now that many things in our lives are highly complex. As noted in the text, this is also so with "the vast majority of chemicals."

• If you go to Purdue's organic chemistry web site, http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/index.html, you will find an excellent opportunity to explore the "Structure and Nomenclature of Hydrocarbons," beginning with the question, "What is an organic compound?"
• As you begin your sojourn through this site, you'll notice some everyday questions that may have occurred to you or you may have heard from someone you know-think of some questions you might have yourself.
• Before you proceed, see if you can answer some of the questions that are posed. What is the difference between organic and inorganic compounds? What is the basis of the special role that carbon plays in the chemistry of elements?
• Work through the practice problems (there are six of these), then check your answers. Make flash cards for yourself with the names of the different hydrocarbons, their structures, melting and boiling points, and state at 25ºC.

After You Answer the Questions
Do you now know how can Newman projections help you understand molecular structure? This site can also help you describe the systematic approach developed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) for naming alkanes and cycloalkanes.

2. Synthesizing What You've Learned about Synthetic Polymers
What is a polymer? How are polymers seen in nature? What is the impact of polymers on the environment? What effect do they have on your everyday life? Why should you care about polymers and why learn about them? In what ways are polymers being recycled? What are some major myths about polymers?

To further explore synthetic polymers and to answer these and other questions follow the recommended links at below.

Consider This Before Answering the Questions
How guilty do you feel about using and throwing out plastics? Do you try to protect the environment from products that are not biodegradable? What do you know about the synthetic items you use in your everyday life?

• A helpful site that can provide you with some insights beyond the text is at http://science.polter.net/lessons/polymers.html This one is somewhat different from the others we've journeyed through in that it directs you to go to various resources (it will tell you which ones) to find the answers to the nine questions that are posed.
• First, see if you can answer the questions before going to the links provided, then compare your answers and write down not only the correct responses, but also any differences between what you originally had and what you discovered.

After You Answer the Questions
Do take the online quiz and test yourself to see if you were correct on all the questions or if you need to go back and bone up a bit more.