MCAT Chemistry Notes

Topic-wise MCAT Chemistry notes covering every chapter, atomic structure, chemical bonding, organic chemistry, thermochemistry, electrochemistry and more.

Organized by the AAMC content outline: general and organic chemistry chapters are grouped by Chem/Phys content category (4B to 5E, plus the 4D spectroscopy topics), and each card shows its code. Off-outline material sits in a separate low-yield group at the bottom.

FC4: Atoms, Gases and Electrochemistry (4B, 4C, 4E)

General chemistry foundations from the Chem/Phys section.

Stoichiometry, Moles and Molarity

AAMC 4E, 5A · moles, formulas, molarity, limiting reactant

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Atomic Structure and Periodic Trends

AAMC 4E · quantum numbers, orbitals, configuration, periodic trends

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Gas Laws and Kinetic Molecular Theory

AAMC 4B · gas laws, ideal gas, KMT, partial pressure

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Electrochemistry and Redox

AAMC 4C · redox, galvanic cells, SHE, Nernst

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FC5: Water, Bonding and Molecular Structure (5A, 5B)

Solutions, intermolecular forces, molecular shape and isomerism.

Liquids, Vapor Pressure and Water

AAMC 5A, 5B, 4B · vapor pressure, boiling point, H-bonding, water

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Acids, Bases and Aqueous Solutions

AAMC 5A · pH, pKa, buffers, titrations, pI, Ksp, colligative properties

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Bonding, VSEPR and Intermolecular Forces

AAMC 5B · Lewis, VSEPR, hybridization, IMFs

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Functional Groups and Isomerism

AAMC 5B, 5D · functional groups, stereoisomers, chirality

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Solids, Lattice Energy and Phase Diagrams

AAMC 5B, 5E · crystal types, lattice energy, phase diagrams

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FC5: Separations and Spectroscopy (5C, 4D)

How mixtures are separated and purified, and how spectroscopy identifies what you isolated.

Separations, Purification and Spectroscopy

AAMC 5C, 4D · extraction, distillation, chromatography, electrophoresis, IR, NMR, mass spec

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FC5: Biologically Relevant Organic Molecules (5D)

The organic chemistry the MCAT tests: functional groups and their reactions, and the biomolecules built from them.

Organic Reactions and Intermediates

AAMC 5D, 5B · hybridization, naming, nucleophiles, intermediates

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Hydrocarbons and Aromaticity

AAMC 5D, 5B · naming, stability, resonance, aromaticity

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Substitution and Elimination (SN1, SN2, E1, E2)

AAMC 5D · SN1, SN2, E1, E2

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Alcohols and Phenols

AAMC 5D · naming, acidity, oxidation, substitution

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Aldehydes and Ketones

AAMC 5D · nucleophilic addition, enolates, aldol, redox

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Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives

AAMC 5D · acidity, derivatives, reactivity order

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Biochemistry of Macromolecules

AAMC 5D, 1A · proteins, enzymes, carbs, lipids, nucleic acids

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FC5: Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Equilibrium (5E)

Energy changes, reaction rates and equilibrium.

Thermochemistry: Enthalpy, Entropy and Gibbs Energy

AAMC 5E · enthalpy, Hess's law, entropy, Gibbs

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Reaction Kinetics and Rate Laws

AAMC 5E · rate laws, order, activation energy

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Equilibrium, Buffers and Solubility

AAMC 5E, 5A · Keq, Le Chatelier, buffers, Ksp

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Low-yield / outside the outline

Kept for reference. Each page opens with a note on the small part the MCAT does test and where to study it instead.

Polymers and Lab Separations

Low-yield · polymers, separation methods (industrial processes not tested)

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Main-Group Elements

Low-yield · group chemistry (periodic trends are the tested part)

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Transition Metals and Complex Ions

Low-yield · d-block, complex ions, metal cofactors

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How to use these notes

Read the chapter notes to build the concept layer.
Take a timed practice test on the chapter to validate recall under pressure.
Review wrong answers and re-read the relevant subtopic section in the notes.
Once comfortable, attempt full-length mocks on Practice Test.