Organic chemistry questions:

1) When CH3 is bonded to Carbon, why is it electron donating? I thought CH3 was not polar and therefore would not contribute to the Electron density? Interested in why a tertiary alcohol is less stable due to the electron donating groups.
2) What is the meaning of an empty p orbital? What does it mean by BF3 having an empty p orbital?
3) Among the carboxylic acid derivatives, where does carboxylic acid fall in the list in terms of reactivity?
4) Because D is classified as +, and R is also classified as +, can we equate D and R as the same? If they give +/- which configuration is it referring to?
5) Question 64 in the chapter 3 practice questions: Why is NO2 a better electron withdrawing group than Cl? When NO2 and Cl both leave they have an overall negative charge and I understand that No2 can form resonance, but cl- would become a noble gas so isn't this more stable?
6) Question 64 in the chapter 3 practice questions: How can you identify the monomers? I thought every peptide bond signifies a monomer, I see three peptide bonds in total?
7) How can you tell if a compound will form a helical or b pleated sheets by looking at its structure?
8) Question 66 in the In class exam #3: I thought compound 1 was the more thermodynamic product because it contains more carbons on either side of the double bond, and therefore would be harder to break requiring a higher activation Energy? EK says compound 1 is the kinetic product and I do not understand why?