My journey in organic chemistry began with a dot. Yes, you read that right, A DOT.
I had enrolled in learning Drug Chemistry, and the ongoing lecture was on Introductory Organic Chemistry. The professor drew a dot on the board and asked for its meaning. We were amused. But when he drew a chain over the dot, it meant carbon connections. The end of the chain was CH3, and the middle dots were -CH2, -CH and -C-. That lecture began my love story with organic chemistry. Of course, I found some chapters hard, but I also noticed how it could activate the mind in its own cryptic way. It was a transformative science, and I was intrigued.
Later, I joined research labs as a research scientist, where I got to use organic chemistry's transformative power to synthesize life-saving drugs. There is not one but several molecules we relentlessly synthesized to counter pain, infections, cancer, diabetes, and more. Few even reached clinical trials. I knew the theory and now understood its applications. I learned how organic molecules can bind to various important receptors in the body and unleash their potential. This journey continued for several years until I bid laboratory work goodbye to resettle and reestablish elsewhere.
During the transition to a new place, I taught chemistry to undergraduates. Those children were terrified of Organic chemistry. Memorizing properties and reactions didn't help. I saw the flaw—a big chunk of preliminary information needed to be included. The fundamentals were scattered in different places, and how they connected with organic reactions was missing. The scope wasn't well defined, and plenty of examples and illustrations could have made their learning easier.
I decided to begin CurlyArrows in 2015 to teach students and chemistry enthusiasts a new way to learn chemistry- simplified and without fear. With CurlyArrrows, I have attempted to remove jargon, connect and advance various concepts, use simple language, and be artistic. I wrote an online coursebook on "Organic Chemistry Fundamentals" as a precursor to Organic Chemistry Reactions. I have made an effort to compile content that is simple, affordable, and illustrative yet elaborate, covering 500+ concepts in basic organic chemistry. There are plenty of examples that reinforce each concept.
Curlyarrows.com has helped me address many learning gaps and has been received well globally. It has reached over 150 countries and has regular visitors from various world-renowned universities. I hope you find the content useful. Please subscribe to the Organic Chemistry Fundamentals Study Program to support my vision and efforts. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Remember- The best things in science are both beautiful and simple.
Best wishes,
Ms. Sibi Atul.
sibi@curlyarrows.com