GAMSAT Chemistry - How to Score Well in the Organic Chemistry Section

The "Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences"have to be thorough with this chapter and have a
section contains questions on Biology, Chemistryclear understanding of the concepts involved in
and Physics. Equal weightage is given to Biologythis chapter. You should be able to name all the
and Chemistry as each of them comprise ofsimple organic compounds like the hydrocarbons,
40% of GAMSAT Section III. Questions onhalogen derivatives, compounds containing
Physical Sciences comprise of only 20% of thisoxygen, nitrogen and sulphur and the aromatic
section. Thus, to get the qualifying marks incompounds. You just need to know the basic and
GAMSAT, aspirants not only have to answer thethe simple organic compounds. For example, you
chemistry questions, but also have to answershould know the structure of ethyl amine,
them correctly.butanone or p-chloroaniline. You must be
Organic chemistry, contrary to belief, is nothing tocomfortable with nomenclature because it is an
be scared of. If an aspirant studies the conceptsimportant component of all the GAMSAT
carefully and applies them analytically to answerchemistry questions based on Organic Chemistry.
the questions, then nothing can prevent him fromThis chapter should be on your must-do list.
getting a good score in GAMSAT Chemistry2. Basic Concepts of Organic Chemistry and
section. The GAMSAT chemistry section consistsReaction Mechanism - You need to know all about
of about 50% organic chemistry questions. Sothe basic concepts. You should have a detailed
scoring well in this section will ensure qualifyingknowledge on the topics like electrophiles and
marks in GAMSAT Section III.nucleophiles, inductive effect, mesomeric effect
But how much do you need to study to crossand resonance effect. You should also lay stress
the GAMSAT hurdle? Well, as per theon the different types of reactions and get a
requirements of GAMSAT chemistry questions,good grasp on the basics. This chapter is integral
you will need to have first year university levelto your understanding of all the other topics under
knowledge. The trick to score well in GAMSAT isOrganic Chemistry.
that you may not study each and everything, but3. Isomerism of Organic Compounds - Get a hang
you should study intelligently. Now, what isof the different the types of isomerism.
intelligent studying? Intelligent study includesUnderstand the spatial relationship well. The D-L
selection of most probable topics and practisingand R-S nomenclature are also important.
them rigorously. Any kind of mugging of topics4. Hydrocarbons - Learn about alkane, alkenes,
and books is useless in the case of GAMSAT, soalkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons. All the
simply avoid it.information about their general properties and
A thorough knowledge of the following chapters isimportant chemical reactions must be at your
required to attempt the GAMSAT chemistryfinger tips. Give stress on the important physical
questions:properties of the hydrocarbons and the reactions
1. Nomenclature of Organic Compounds - You willof alkenes.