Life's like this...

Me and Organic Chem

Well, well, well... Today is another boring day again. Nothing interesting to blog but I still want to blog. Hahaz...

My nasty sore throat morphed into hacking cough and runny nose. It's so difficult to study organic chem with the stuffed up feeling. Luckily, knowledge doesn't enter through the way of nostrils, if not I'll be doomed! LoL... Yeah.

I was reading the mcmurry textbook and I came across this section 'The Art of Organic Synthesis'. It's about how 2 chemistry professors together with more than 100 graduate students and postdoctorals worked for more than 10 years to synthesize vitamin B12, starting only from simple substances that can be bought in a chemical catalog. The compound is damn complex and huge. It must be a feat! Actually, this compound can be synthesized by bacteria and it's much more effective. So why did they put so much effort into the laboratory synthesis of a molecule so easily obtained from natural sources? Let me quote the reasons from the text book.

"On a basic human level, a chemist might be motivated primarily by the challenge, much as a climber might be challenged by the ascent of a difficult peak. Beyond the pure challenge, the completion of a difficult synthesis is also valuable for the way in which it establishes new standards and brings the field to a new level of complexity... But perhaps the most important reason for undertaking a complex synthesis is that, in so doing, new reactions and new chemistry are discovered. It invariably happens in synthesis that a point is reached at which the planned route fails. At such a time, the only alternatives are to quit or to devise a way around the unexpected difficulty. New reactions and new principles come from such situations, and it is in this way that the science of organic chemistry grows richer."

Hahaz... It's a very long quote. But I find it very meaningful and renew my interest in chemistry. It also reminds me of why I wanted to study chemistry in the first place. It's the challenges and the opportunites to discover new things that are beneficial to mankind. And this in turn, motivates me to study hard for organic chem! =) Hahaz... So actually, textbooks ain't that boring at all.

I realised I had a bbq gathering with AJCO people right after my maths paper. Wanted to reject the appointment because of my terrible condition now. But Qi Ling had already paid for everyone, so I guess I have to go there and enjoy myself. Haven't seen the AJCO peeps for ages!! Eh, can I bring my er hu to burn for the bbq? LoL... Just kidding. I'm mad! =P

Okay, okay... I shall go study hard for my organic chemistry! A mad scientist in the making!! =P

**************Additional post***************

Oops... I posted the above part then I realised I forgot to thank some people. =S Thanks Jun Liang and Qin Long for showing care and concern, and make the white fungus soup!! I can't really taste the soup 'cause of the blocked nose but it is delicious! =) Thanks my neighbour Shi Min, for the apples too! An apple a day keeps the doctor away... Eh, not exactly for my case. =P Ya ya... Thanks to my twinnie too.. She is breathing down my neck to thank her. Hahaz... But she is a darling. Taking care of me for the past few days. So nice to have a twin sis as roomie... Jealous? =P

C'est tout!

Me and Organic Chem

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