Conclusion

The ability of carbon to form single, double, and triple bonds (or to form σ and multiple π bonds)
and to form hybrid orbitals gives rise to an entire branch of chemistry—as well as life on Earth. You
may have thought this chapter was a bit brief; that’s because the specifics of bonding fall mostly
under the domain of general chemistry. However, without a solid grasp of orbitals and bonding, it
would be difficult to explain the organic reactions that are tested on the MCAT, which will be the
focus of the next seven chapters. Avoid compartmentalizing the information you learn throughout
the course of your studies, as bonding plays a role in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and
biochemistry, and can therefore be tested in either the Chemical and Physical Foundations of
Biological Systems section or the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section.
All of the subjects within science blend together into a seemingly complicated, yet beautifully
simple, picture of the universe. The sooner you integrate the knowledge you’re accumulating, the
more manageable and rewarding your studying will become.