Chemistry Fall 2008

AtomicWoman · Sep 8, 2008

How big are yall's classes? Last semester my chem class was HUGE, but this semester, it's only about 2/3 as big as last semester's class was. I think I like the smaller chem class better (and this professor is GREAT!!!)

My school (a community college) keeps science classes small. I've never had more than 24 people in any science class, including Chem and A&P. My Organic Chem class this semester has 20 people. In the summer, my microbiology class only had 12 people. Now THAT rocked!

polka-dot, RN · Sep 9, 2008

Does anyone have any good study ideas for O-chem/Bio-chem? I feel like all I'm doing is drawing pictures....is that all there is to it? My teacher isn't the greatest, but he's so sweet that we're all pulling for him. He basically just lectures straight out of the book and we have NO IDEA what the test questions are going to be like. :banghead:

I feel like my notes are one holy heck of a mess (all these random stick-like drawings), and I guess I'm just feeling unorganized.

What is/was your experience with o-chem/bio-chem? It seems to be completely different from general chemistry...is this true or am I just soooo not getting it?

SFChef · Sep 9, 2008

O-chem and biochem are completely different than general chemistry! For o-chem, it might help you to use a 3D model set...that can help to understand the shapes.

Personally, I really liked both o-chem and biochem, but they are so different than general chemistry. Once you get used to it, they are both much more interesting than general. I think biochem is the most interesting and very relevant to nursing.

polka-dot, RN · Sep 9, 2008

Thanks SFChef...that eases my worries a bit to know that I'm not completely missing the boat! Today we had our first quiz. We had to draw and name all the isomers of C5-H10. I came up with 13, but now I think I may have been overly enthusiastic...others in the class thought there were about 9. I guess we'll see...maybe he'll give points for enthusiasm (or maybe it's just stubborness!)

SFChef · Sep 9, 2008

Polka Dot, you will do fine!

Just a warning, bio chem is also a little different than o-chem (but not as drastically different than general chem), so you will have to switch gears again when you start that. It sounds like you are off to a great start already! As long as you keep up with it and don't fall behind, you should have no worries.

PreRN Katie · Sep 10, 2008

I got my first two test grades back for Chem...a 99 and a 100!!!!!:monkeydance:

msdeannah · Sep 10, 2008

Chemistry was fun last night. We did our lab on specific heat. Once I understood the formulas it was a good time. The teacher told us we would be having a quiz on Thursday but I guess he changed his mind. So now he doesn't know when it will be. So far so good. I know it's early on but I really feel comfortable with all of the material.

Great job on your tests Katie!!!

Anne36, LPN · Sep 10, 2008

HI, anyone in michigan here?

I just did my first real lab today. It was okay, but the class is really tough for me, the teacher is not clear about what we need to know and is going thru the material very fast. To top it off, her accent is heavy.

So far, nothing personnal but the worst teacher I have ever had and others are complaining about her too.

My biggest obstacle is the amount of material to be memorized and how fast we are going thru it, pretty much 2 whole chapters a week. Thats just the class, and then labs on top of that. Very stressfull. :cry:

One student said that she was almost crying when trying to get the homework done that about sums up how I feel too.

polka-dot, RN · Sep 11, 2008

Does anyone know of a template for drawing the cyclic molecules? I'm thinking of one of those things you use in geometry to help you draw straight triangles and whatnot. Everything from pentanes on up is all crooked! It is really bugging the perfectionist in me!

penelopelp · Sep 11, 2008

My Chem class and lab was also moving very quickly. I was taking the class online, and I actually dropped it today. I wanted to drop it while I could still get my money back. My online teacher was very good, but I was frustrated by the fact that I had nobody to go over the homework with me, and I couldn't really ask questions. I made a 100 on the first quiz, and a 90 on the second, but I could feel myself slipping and getting behind. I feel bad about dropping out, but I guess I just took on too much this semester. I have a tendency to do that. I'll definitely re-take it in the Spring.

Good luck to everyone!!!

smellyacres, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2008

I just had my first big chem test yesterday. I think I aced it! I think the only thing that may have messed me up is if i miscalculated something from the converting problems, but i do not think i did. I really wanna see how i did!

How's everyone else doing?

iheartbabies · Sep 13, 2008

my first chem test is wednesday, and i'm a little nervous :uhoh21: i've attended all of the supplememtal instruction sessions except two, and i even went to the special 2-hour session yesterday and took a mock exam.

i did pretty good since i didn't study before i went and only missed a handful of problems, so hopefully i'll do well on the test!!! i HAVE to make an A this time. i've already passed the lab, so my load isn't as heavy as it was but in a way, i feel even more pressured because i have to get an A... oh well, wish me luck & good luck to all of you, too!!! :yeah: