eng Science and Education Publishing World Journal of Chemical Education 2375-1657 2015-04-29 3 2 51 58 10.12691/wjce-3-2-5 WJCE2015325 article Jef Struyf jef.struyf@khleuven.be, jef.struyf@ucll.be 1 A retired instructor of the Health and Technology Department, Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven (KHLeuven), Belgium A teaching approach is proposed inspired by the hierarchical structure of the neon electron configuration. The course material is organized into analogous hierarchical 1s (molecular structure and physical properties), 2s (oxidation level based reaction schemes and acid-base) and 2p (three pairs of reaction mechanisms) course modules. The connection between acid-base and oxidation-reduction in organic chemistry is made clearer. General options, instructor's knowledge structure, building on prior knowledge, educational success, the value of the approach and the support from the educational research are discussed. http://pubs.sciepub.com/wjce/3/2/5/wjce-3-2-5.pdf organic chemistry second-year undergraduate course structure analogies acid-base functional groups neon electron configuration oxidation-reduction oxidation level reactions mechanisms of reactions mnemonics physical properties