[Gorlash]

I'm a beginning chemistry/biotech student, and we are studying functional groups.
We need to memorize several basic groups, so I am seeking a basic chemical-drawing program that will let me draw molecules and functional groups.

I've looked at both MarvinSketch and ACD/ChemSketch, and both of them are almost incomprehensible to use!!
For example, I want to enter a hydroxyl group ( -OH ), can't get much simpler than that!
But when I click on O on the atoms bar of either program, then click in the workspace, they *both* insert H₂O, and don't appear to give me any way to edit the group that they've inserted.

Does anyone know how to make either of these programs actually work?
Otherwise, are there any other basic compound-editing programs available?

[AWK]

It is worth reading the program manual.

[Gorlash]

Okay, done.  It does not in any way describe how to simply draw a molecule.

It also does not, in any way, describe how, after clicking on O for Oxygen, to place *only* O (instead of H₂O) on the workspace.

For another example, one of the groups that we need to memorize is the carbonyl group, O double-bonded to C, two single bonds hanging off C ... But I can't insert C from the Atom bar, instead I get CH₃ ...

[AWK]

Molview online

[Borek]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpLLkK-L18o

[Gorlash]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpLLkK-L18o

Wow... that was superb!!
Actually, after this video, YouTube suggested another ChemSketch tutorial by tapestreamer, that was *really* simple and clear!!  and now I see the links to other ChemSketch tutorials...

Okay, thank y'all very much!!  I just didn't think to look to YouTube for documentation of this, I was trying to find help on the company website itself, but this is clearly the way to go.

Thank you all very much, for your patience, and for pointing me in the right direction!!
I'll do more practice today...

[JakubV]

Hello,

Is there ChemSketch user forum, please?

Best regards

[Borek]

Not here I am afraid.