Kaplan MCAT Organic Chemistry Chapters 1–12 Full Review Notes 2026 – A+ Grade Study Resource

Kaplan MCAT Organic Chemistry Chapters 1–12 Full Review Notes
2026 (A+ Grade)




What do you call a carbon when it is a substituent? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Methyl - Attached to 3 Hs
Primary - Attached to 1 R
Secondary - Attached to 2 R
Tertiary - Attached to 3 R


What does alkyl mean? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔It refers to an alkane.


What are some physical properties of alkanes? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔The more
Cs, the higher the MP and BP


What does branching to do an alkane? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔INCReases
the MP
DECReases the BP
Branched alkanes are more compact which weaken Van Der Waals forces and
raise the MP.


Are alkanes heavier or lighter than water? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Lighter.
SG ~ 0.7


What organic compound has the lowest density? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Alkanes

,Float on water


Are alkanes soluble or insoluble in water? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Insoluble


How many sigma bonds are formed by each carbon in an alkane? What is that
hybridization? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔4 sigma bonds
sp3


What is the predicted angle of sp3 hybridized carbons? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔109.5


What is ring strain? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Strain created by increased or
decreased bond angle from the expected angle of 109.5 for sp3 hybd Cs.


What is the ring strain for cyclohexane? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔0


How can you determine the effects of ring strain experimentally? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Bomb calorimeter
Higher heat of combustion for every CH2 group under strain
T/F higher E in CH2


What are the conformers of cyclohexane? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Chair
Half-Chair
Twist
Boat

,Rank E from lowest to highest of cyclohexane conformations. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Chair, Half-Chair, Twist, Boat


Why is the boat conformation of cyclohexane at a higher E than the chair
conformation? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔The sides of the ring are bent toward the
same side of the ring. In the chair, the sides are bent towards the opposite side of
the ring. Since the sides repel each other, they create a higher E for the boat
conformation.


What are axial and equatorial bonds? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Axial: Point up or
down
Equatorial: Point to midline


Which is favored for a hydrogen, axial or equatorial? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Neither.


For larger functional groups than hydrogen, which bond is favored: axial or
equatorial? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Equatorial
Less steric hindrance


Are alkanes very reactive? How do they undergo reactions? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔No.
To undergo a reaction they'll need E input, from heat, light, etc. Like a match
added to gasoline.

, What is a combustion reaction? Describe the E of activation for the combustion of
an alkane. - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Alkane + O2 --> CO2 + H2O
Eact very high
One the reaction begins, it is exothermic enough to be self-perpetuating.


What are the products of the combustion of an alkane? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔CO2 + H2O


What kind of reaction is the combustion of an alkane? - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔Exothermic radical reaction
High E act
Produces CO2 and H2O


Describe the main steps of the halogenation of an alkane. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔1) Initiation
2) Propagation
3) Termination


Describe the initiation step of the halogenation of an alkane. - CORRECT
ANSWER✔✔In the presence of heat or light, the halogen is homolytically cleaved
to generate 2 radicals.


What is a radical? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔An atom with an unpaired electron.
Neutral charge!
Highly reactive intermediate
Very unstable, so never exists in high concentration