At first glance, “organic chemistry” may seem a little scary… But what if we told you that by learning this subject you will know, for example, where the color of your clothes or the soap you use every morning comes from? Exactly, organic chemistry is in almost all facets of our daily lives Molecule Database. And many times the name and the way of learning are more important than the content itself. Although be careful, we are not saying that it is a piece of cake.
Organic chemistry is that which studies compounds that have carbon in their molecules, or in other words, “it is the science that studies the structure, physical properties, reactivity and transformation of organic compounds” , which have as their main component carbon, as you might have imagined.
Although it is studied in both primary and secondary education, and also in some modalities of Baccalaureate, there is no subject as such that is called that: it is a part of the branch or subject of Chemistry, or Physics and Chemistry, depending on the course. Below, we give you all the details.
Chemistry: “Science that studies the structure, properties and transformations of bodies based on their composition”, Royal Academy of the Spanish Language.
When do you start learning organic chemistry?
Do you want to know in which course you are going to learn this subject, and at what degree of difficulty? As we said, there is no organic chemistry subject in the Spanish educational system, but it is learned within the Chemistry subject. In all courses? No, we will have to wait a little to get fully into carbon chemistry, although that does not mean that it is not studied. Let’s go in parts.
Early childhood and primary education
In preschool and primary school, Chemistry subjects are not taught, although that does not necessarily mean that it is not learned. In the environment of other subjects, with games or “experiments”, chemistry concepts, including organic chemistry, can be introduced; although boys and girls will not identify that it is this science, logically. We will have to wait a few courses for them to begin to internalize these concepts.
Learn organic chemistry in Compulsory Secondary Education
Chemistry makes its great appearance in secondary education, ESO, within the subject of Physics and Chemistry during the first years. What is learned in this period?
In the latest educational reform, this subject is contemplated in all grades, from first to fourth, but, until its implementation (in the 2022/2023 school year), we will have to wait for the second year of ESO to start studying it. This first contact occurs within the subject of Physics and Chemistry, and general concepts of the two subjects are studied.
Already in the third year, we begin to differentiate more clearly between physics and chemistry, and in the latter, although organic and inorganic are not taught separately, higher concepts are introduced such as:
The atomic structure.
Atomic models.
Chemical bonds.
The periodic table.
Formulation of compounds.
Simple chemical reactions.
After learning these concepts, we reach the fourth year of ESO, which is where organic chemistry makes its appearance. In the same subject of Physics and Chemistry there is already a section of the syllabus for organic chemistry, specifically “introduction to organic chemistry”. This is when organic compounds, their properties and formulas are studied.
Organic Chemistry in Baccalaureate
Upon arrival at Baccalaureate, this subject is no longer mandatory and will depend on the type of Baccalaureate chosen by the student who takes the Chemistry subject or not.
First, it will be one of the optional subjects:
Biology and Geology and Environmental Sciences
Technology and Engineering
Technical drawing
Physics and chemistry
Of these four subjects, two can be chosen in the Baccalaureate of Sciences and Technology.
In the subject syllabus of this course, organic and inorganic chemistry will be studied separately, clarifying their differences; and will delve into the carbon atom, its bonds and compounds, as well as the formulas of organic molecules. Speaking of organic, are you looking for online organic chemistry classes ?
It is in the second year of Baccalaureate when chemistry is separated from physics and each one already has its own subject. As in the previous course, it is a subject that can be chosen from a group of others. The students who choose it will study in detail the following concepts:
The organic formulation.
Organic reactions.
The replacement.
The addition.
The elimination.
Oxidation and reduction.
Polymers and their reactions.
The synthesis of medicines.