Problem Sets

It is very simple: If you do not develop and practice strategies to solve different types of problems, you will not pass the class. You need to

(1) understand the material
(2) be able to apply the material quickly
(3) develop a feedback system to catch common mistakes and to evaluate whether your answer is right or has flaws

Working and checking problems (without the answer key), is how you develop these skills. It takes time and effort. If you don't have the time or don't want to make the time, don't take the class.

Sports, theatre, art, music, organic - to be good at any of these requires that you spend at least an hour a day, every day, practicing. For organic, that means reviewing notes, working problems, developing strategies in small study groups, writing problems for members of your study group.

There are a number of problems in the text, both within the chapters and at the end of the chapters. The problems listed below (following the strategies) represent material you should master. We are recommending that you do a significant number of problems even though some of them may be repetitive. You can try the problems we don't suggest. Be aware that in some cases, the unassigned problems may cover topics that will not be emphasized in class.

Go To Selected Problems

STRATEGIES FOR WORKING PROBLEMS

(1) Always do the problems without looking at the solutions book. If you are unsure of the answer (or even if you think you know the answer) looking at the solutions while you do the problems will not test your understanding of the material. The answer will look right (it is the right answer, after all) but in an exam, without an answer to look at, you may suddenly be unsure of what to write.

(2) Solve five problems at a time. At that point, EVALUATE your answers WITHOUT using the solutions book. If necessary, go back through the text (or notes) to get information you need to check your answer or to generate the correct answer. Remember, the purpose of doing problems is (a) to identify subjects you have not mastered, (b) to develop a feedback system (intuition) that helps you catch your mistakes, (c) to become aware of the ways in which you will be expected to apply your knowledge. Once you are convinced you have nothing more to learn from thinking about a problem, feel free to check out the answer key.

(3) You may find that there are several conceivable answers to many questions, but, often only one is right. A strategy that is hard to implement, but leads to solid understanding, is to try and think of several possible answers for a given question, then analyze what is wrong with the incorrect answers, as well as why the right answer is right.

SELECTED PROBLEMS from Sorrell (2nd Ed. )

Exam Type Problems based on the content of Chapters 1 - 3

Chapter 1
1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13-18, 20 (carvone and pinene), 21, 22a,b,e, 25 (prozac), 26-28, 31, 34, 36. Table 1.1 is important.

Chapter 2
1a,d,e, 2a,b, 3a,c, 4b, 7-12, 14, 15a,b, 16, 18a,c, 20 (novocain), 21, 22, 24, 26, 30, 31.

Chapter 3
1-4, 6-9, 13-15, 17-20, 24, 28, 29.

Chapter 4
1-5, 7-9, 11, 12, 15-22, 25-29, 33, 35.

Chapter 5
2-7, 9-12, 17, 21-24, 26-28, 30, 31, 33.

Chapter 6
1-4, 6, 7, 9-15, 17, 20, 22, 23.

Chapter 7
1-12, 14, 15, 19-21, 23-25, 27, 29.

Chapter 8
1, 2, 5-9, 11, 13-16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25 (part 2), 26-28.

Chapter 9
1-4, 6-10, 12, 16-24.

Chapter 10
3-15, 16, 18-21, 23

Chapter 11
1-6, 8-15, 18-20, 23, 27.

Chapter 12
1, 6-8, 10-12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 25, 27, 29, 30, 34, 35

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