Add to ORKGOrganic chemistry is the study of the carbon and the bonding patterns that make carbon the central element to life. A well-rounded science student must take courses in organic chemistry to understand its application to various other topics, such as the study of DNA, pharmaceuticals, and plastics. In the first semester of organic chemistry, the student will cover the basics. The student will explore different explanations of how molecules bond and learn about the simplest carbon structures (alkanes) before moving on to more complex carbon structures (alkenes and alkynes) and their reactions. The student will then transition into stereoechemistry (the spatial arrangement of atoms) and spectroscopy (methods of identifying molecules) and wi...