The major focus of the Third Edition of Techniques in Organic Chemistry is the same
as the focus of the earlier editions: the fundamental techniques that students encounter in the organic chemistry laboratory. However, we have also expanded our
emphasis on the areas that students need to develop their skills in the critical interpretation of their experimental data and to successfully carry out guided-inquiry
experiments.
Organic chemistry is an experimental science, and students learn its process in
the laboratory. Our primary goal should be to teach students how to carry out welldesigned experiments and draw reasonable conclusions from their results—a
process at the heart of science. We should work to find opportunities that engage
students in addressing questions whose answers come from their experiments, in an
environment where they can succeed. These opportunities should be designed to
catch students’ interest, transporting them from passive spectators to active participants. A well-written and comprehensive textbook on the techniques of experimental organic chemistry is an important asset in reaching these goals.