Retrosynthetic Rummy: A Synthetic Organic Chemistry Card Game

A deck of cards and a card game have been developed in an effort to make practicing organic chemistry and synthesis more fun for students. The game is played as a variation of rummy, in which players collect sets of similar cards and runs of cards in a synthetic sequence. This card game reviews knowledge of functional groups and reaction types and requires an ability to place many organic transformations in an appropriate order to synthesize target molecules. The game was used as a method to review second-year organic reactions for third- and fourth-year students at the beginning of a course in advanced organic chemistry. Students enjoyed the game and even gathered to play it outside of class. Additionally, the deck of cards was constructed so it can function to give a variety of classic card games a chemistry theme.