Chemistry?????

TLC RN · Mar 9, 2004

Memorize the symbols and names...ie, Ca = calcium, O= calcium etc...that is pretty much what I have had to memorize on the table.

Good luck :)

elkpark · Mar 9, 2004

NO ONE memorizes the periodic table (except maybe a few "Good Will Hunting" type genius savants who can't help it ...). You will need to become familiar with the abbreviations of the most common elements and compounds as you go, but there will always be a copy of the table handy if you need it for class or homework (there is a copy right there in your textbook, right??? Probably inside the front or back cover, right?) Only a relatively small number of the elements on the table are involved in human chemistry, so you never even think about the rest of them.

Good luck with your studies! :)

kfry · Mar 9, 2004

Hello...I have a question for you all. I'm going to be taking chemistry (pre-req. for biology) the end of this month. I'm trying to prepare for it (reading the first three champters, etc.) and was wondering if any of you had to memorize the periodic table. If I have to, I want to memorize it before class starts, but if I don't I want to study other things.
Thanks for your help!!!:)

Hi there,

I'm heading into the nursing program in the Fall, and I also have a B.S. in Biology, and I never had to memorize the periodic table. You just need to know how to read it, i.e. Metals from non-metals, you may need to know the halogens, H+, N+, etc.

Once you learn how to read it, you'll be fine. There are tricks of the trade that you will understand once your teacher explains it to you, and if you have a good book, it should tell you too. For instance, the colums are set up the way they are for a reason. You'll see Roman numerals at the top of each column, ie. I-VIII, and then back down to I. This tells you how many electrons are in the outer shell of that element.

Anyway, it's a good idea to be familiar with it because you should be doing electron shell mapping in your class.

Hope this helps!

marcieg · Mar 9, 2004

I am at the midpoint of my chem class right now. My best advice is brush up on your math skills- that is all we did the first 3 or 4 weeks- exponents, conversions, metric systems, and decimals. I started this class before and had to drop the first time because I couldn't keep up with the math, (no math pre-req's for it either!)

The periodic table is easy, only had to memorize some of the symbols, we are allowed to use a periodic table on our exams, so I would just wait until your instructor tells you what you need to memorize. So far Chem is my favorite class, and I wouldn't have believed it 2 months ago.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2004

this will sound silly, but when I took chemistry I had not been exposed to it in YEARS, so I went to the public library and looked at children's books pertaining to the subject. I learned a lot in a small amount of time, enough to make me believe I could pass the course, which I did.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 9, 2004

wow great idea, purple!

lady_jezebel · Mar 10, 2004

Know where the gases, solids, liquids and metals are located; the general categories for each column or row (ex. the "noble gases", "rare earth metals"); how many electrons the elements within the first and last few columns tend to donate or receive; the types of bonds the elements typically join in; what the abreviation means for each element; specific info about common elements like H, C, O, N; etc...

Just learn general stuff. Do NOT memorize anything beyond that. Even chemists rely on the periodic table for the more uncommon elements, atomic numbers, and atomic weights.