Study Shack

ChemSketch is a great free program that allows easy drawing of molecules. ChemSketch is only available for Windows, though it should run on OSX capable of running windows programs. I am aware of ChemDoodle and ChemDraw for OSX. If anyone knows of a free solution for OSX or Linux please post in the comments and I will be glad to edit this post.  These drawings can be dropped into the SRS to make effective cards using the Organic Chemistry models.

Let’s get started!

Download, install, and open ChemSketch.

First time opening ChemSketch

Go to Tools > Structure Properties

Select “ACS Style”

Click “Apply” and “Set Default”

That’s all! This only needs to be done once. It just makes the drawn molecules look better.

Sketching Molecules in ChemSketch

Let’s say we want to make a card for Oxymercuration reaction. However, instead of on Wikipedia the example is in the textbook. We’ll have to draw it on the computer! Easy in ChemSketch.

Select the two buttons shown. The top one allows us to draw carbon chains easily.

Click anywhere within the dashed lines, hold shift (keeps the carbon chain straight), and drag to create a chain.

Select the two buttons shown. Click the carbon that the new line originates from, hold shift, and drag to desired length.

To add a double bond, simply click the line to make it a double bond.

Reaction arrows are made by clicking the reaction arrow button on the toolbar, then the desired place for the arrow.

Reagents are added by clicking the Reaction-Arrow labeling button, then the reaction arrow to label. Chemical names are automatically super-script and sub-scripted.

The reaction so far will make up the “Front”, so we can save it and add it into the SRS. Go to File > Save As. Change the file type to .gif and keep the default name, or change to anything. Click Save (highlighted).

Drag the .gif file into the “Front” section of the card.

Draw the product. Note how the OH was made by using the single line option and the “O” selected on the left toolbar.

Same thing. File > Save As. Choose .gif. It is okay to overwrite the file. Anki automatically copies the image and puts it into its own directory.

Drag and drop the new image into the “Back”.

Add the card to the deck and enjoy!

With practice this becomes very quick. It is possible to draw cyclic molecules, aromatic molecules, etc. etc. in ChemSketch. All the options right there – these are the basics.

Table of Contents

Related posts:

1. DAT: Sample Deck
2. General Chemistry: Using LaTeX to Make Effective Cards
3. Organic Chemistry: General
4. Organic Chemistry: Helpful Tools
5. General Chemistry: General