CHEMISTRY! (your experience/expertise/suggestions pls)

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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No knowledge of chemistry and I'm finding it very difficult. My eyes water when there's too much text on a plain backround, my mind daudles when they explain long, abstract concepts to make a simple point, simply because I have to learn so much stuff just to make sense of it, and I have no way of compounding what I do learn from chemistry to keep it embedded knowledge. Any suggestions....? P.S. don't say aderol and reading glasses, lmao.

I'm also an advocate of YouTube and online videos! I swear this is how I got an A in chemistry. I would look up videos explaining the specific thing I was having trouble with, and then just watch it over and over til it clicked.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab.

^^^ IA with going on Youtube. The tutors/teachers on there really break down chem topics in much easier way. If you google "mr guch" you'll this really nice chem website by this high school chem teacher. He's really funny and makes chemistry fun and easy, giving you shortcuts and tricks to understand the concepts. I wasnt able to use his website for long though because I moved further in concepts than he tought.

I loved chemistry. Best wishes.

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I just checked this out and WOW! I have to have one of these! :yeah: I think the price is very reasonable, all things considered. Do you think there is any reason you wouldn't be allowed to use it in a class? Did any of the other students ever have a problem with you having it/did they notice? I would love to buy one, but I would be extremely upset if a professor told me I couldn't use it for some reason!

I've never had a professor give me a problem about it...actually a lot of them find the pen very interesting and it shows them that I really am there to listen to them and learn =). I love it b/c it presents the information to you visually as well as verbally at the same time. Also the search feature makes it really easy to find the info you need that is lumped in with a big long lecture... =) Other student's never mind it some even went out and bought it for themselves =) I hope my nursing instructors are ok with it I start those classes in Fall if everything goes according to plan so we will see...

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I hated Chemistry. One of my least favorite prerequisites thus far. I did okay in General Chem and better in Organic Chemistry.

My suggestion to you is to NOT procrastinate and make out lines of the material in the book. Do the practice problems multiple times until you understand how to do them. Don't skip lecture either. I've found that those who skipped lecture were far less likely to do well in the class than those who, like myself, attended lecture every time.

Also, while studying for a test, I suggest that you study in a tutor room so when you have questions, you have readily available resources to you. And don't miss lab!

If I can walk out with a B in Chem101 and an A- in Chem102, I KNOW anyone can get a good grade in Chemistry as well.

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Chemistry isn't easy... I came in thinking I might fail this course and now my final is Tuesday and my class avg is an 88 and I'm trying to kill this final so I can get an A in the class. STUDY STUDY STUDY... and stay positive throughout, by me not giving up and staying up with each chapter def. helped me pass this class, but it wasn't easy you have to practice those formulas and understand the concept once you keep on doing them again and getting the concept you'll do good :)

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That was the ONE science class I hated with a passion!!! I got an A in A&P I, a B in A&P II and an A in Micro but got a C+ in Chem and was grateful for it!!!!My advise to you is to do your HW and practice the equations! Ugh thank gawd I don't have to deal with that again! Good luck!!

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It Kahn website is challenging to find what you need in order. IMO .. But I was able to find them on iTunesU .. easy to find by subject, they were in order, and free.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.

I love chemistry!

I took gen chem in 6 weeks and got an A, took physical chem at a university (i was an engineering major) and got an A (talk about a lot of calculus!) now I have to take a organic chem/biochem hybrid this fall.

well all I can tell you is that:

1) pay attention, don't slack off, and don't get lazy, and DO NOT loose confidence. I thought chemistry wasn't for me and turns out I love it!

2) get on top of your math. gen chem is ALL ABOUT MATH, how many moles of this when you have this many grams of this diluted in this amount of liters of water etc...

Sounds daunting, I know, but you wont start out with problems like that and your teacher should show you what to do.

3)You will be learning about how things bonds. Easy way to remember it (when you take the class this will actually make sense) metal with non metal = ionic; non metal with non metal = covalent

4) You will be balancing equations! You need to pay attention to how many moles of blah are combining with moles of blah.

5) Lastly, this word is highly important especially when it comes to #3 up there. ALWAYS KNOW WHO IS MORE ELECTRONEGATIVE!!! That will be key when it comes to bonds, where the electrons are going or being shared...especially when its unequal sharing.

The more you go from left to right on the period table as well as from down to up is how much more electronegative they are.

Ex. hydrogen and oxygen make water. Ok, easy enough. Well who wants to hog the electrons more? Hydrogen? or Oxygen?

Just by knowing that COMPARED to Hydrogen, Oxygen is more electronegative and therefore wants the electrons all for themselves!

BTW, break down electronegative (electro- electrons; negative....negative lol) electrons are negative and like to be with a more negative group (darn pessimistic things! lol)

Good Luck, anymore help, PM me

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Math Math MATH!!!! The best thing you can do is just to work through every problem and practice!

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