Chemistry Fall 2010

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Is there already a thread for those of us taking Chemistry this fall? I know I could definitely use one!

My class starts the 31st.

anyone taking anatomy phisology with chem as well?

i am and so far so good (a+p touches on chem at first) but im scared that it will get tougher as it goes on.

im also taking eng101 online (starts oct 7 though) and Intro to Nutriotion!

my chem teacher seems cool. im joining my schools chem workshop for practice, my nursing program (That i HOPE to get in) wants at least B's in ALL Science classes!!

I'm taking A&P 201 at the same time as Chem. Like you said so far it doesn't seem to bad. I think it's a little easier because one of the A&P chapters we're working on is really Chemistry. I need to make as high as possible in Chem to boost my GPA, I need to make an A in A&P because we are awarded a lot more points for entry into the nursing program. So far so good, I just hope it doesn't get overwhelming in the middle of the semester. Next semester I have to take A&P 202 and Microbiology at the same time and it's basically the same situation. Maybe worse, I keep hearing horror stories about micro at my school.

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is your chem 3 Biochem or organic? and im taking ap1 right not. i have so many anatomy coloring books flashcards and everything else!

Its a mixture of both organic and biochemistry.

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Specializes in LTC.

Ok I started chem already for fall and so far I like it but there is one concept that I cannot grasp which is SIG FIGS ! I hate, hate, hate dealing with significant figures and converting them from and to decimals. I don't know... I'm definitely going to need a tutor. Even after using google and my book I'm still having a very hard time. Hopefully, once we are done with them we are done done.

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Ok I started chem already for fall and so far I like it but there is one concept that I cannot grasp which is SIG FIGS ! I hate, hate, hate dealing with significant figures and converting them from and to decimals. I don't know... I'm definitely going to need a tutor. Even after using google and my book I'm still having a very hard time. Hopefully, once we are done with them we are done done.

You will most likely need to be able to determine the proper amount of significant figures for future calculations in class. My instructor has explained to my class that we need to know everything on previous tests for future tests. When you talk about converting the sig figs to and from decimals, are you talking about converting between decimal and scientific notation? I think I have a pretty good handle on sig figs at this point (our first test is tomorrow), so if you would like to ask me any specific questions, please feel free to do so.

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Hopefully, once we are done with them we are done done.

Unfortunately, that won't be the case at all. Sig figs will be a part of all the labs, and any calculations you do on all the future tests; at least, in my class that's how it is. Once we learned sig figs, the prof said that every single answer we give for the remainder of the course will have to have the proper sig figs, or it'll be marked wrong (even if the actual calculations are correct and the final number is correct; if it's got too few or too many sig figs, it'll be wrong)

What are you having difficulty with? I wrote up a little index card with these rules, and kept reviewing it until i memorized it:

  • counting starts with the leftmost (non-zero) number, and works to the right end
  • zeros are significant only after the first non-zero # (so 0.000008 has only one sig fig, but 0.800000 has 6)
  • trailing zeros with no decimal point are not significant (so, 2000 has 1 sig fig, while 2000. has 4)
  • A multiplication or division calculation has the same # of sig figs as the smallest sig fig of the initial numbers
  • an addition or subtraction calculation has the final digit rounded to the same place as the smallest decimal of the initial numbers

Hope that helps!!

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I'm also trying to get a handle on significan figures.Ugh... For me it's just a matter of memorizing all the rules and keeping them straight in my head. I plan to review the rules everyday until I know them. My Chem teacher said we would be using them for our calculations all semester.

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Pearsons Online homework called " Mastering Chemistry" is a nightmare !!! Chemistry is difficult enough, but I feel like I am PAYING to learn a certain companies computer program, rather than the subject material. Just trying to " draw" sodium formate on their system took me an hour. I don't think it's at all appropriate for INTRO to chem, where we barely know what were TALKING about, let alone spending endless hours learning how to input the info via a set of complicated buttons and subscripts.

I wrote the instructor and she's young, uptight, DOCTOR so and so, and she basically wrote back saying too bad.

I otherwise have a 4.0, so I am thinking of dropping this and trying with a different instructor next semester lest it torpedo my GPA !!!!

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I didn't think that the Mastering Chemistry was too bad; and I like that there's the possibility of bonus points! (I've done the first two homeworks and gotten the bonus pts on both - hey, every little bit helps that GPA, right?!) It definitely takes some getting used to, but after doing the first practice homework I thought it was not too bad.

Is the mastering chem teach-to-teacher at your school? At ours, it's department-wide (and mandatory, even if the teacher doesn't want to use it, they have to) so even if you dropped and transferred, you'd be stuck with the pearson's program next year.

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Hey DahliaDaisy, I hear you girl. That stupid introduction to the homework was making me want to tear my hair out.

LovelyMama, did you say bonus points? I didn't get any stinking bonus points:confused:.

Repeat after me...Pearson is evil...Pearson is evil:mad:.

I just took my first test Monday, will inform the thread only if I got a good grade:clown:. I put in at least 5 hours studying just for the test, so we shall see.

Best, L.

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That sounds awful! We're not using Mastering Chemistry in my class (unless you got it free with your new book, then the teacher will give you bonus points). I was actually considering buying it just for the few points (every bit helps right) so thanks for the warning. I'm also taking A&P this semester. We are using mastering A&P and it's pretty cool so far. We got it free because we're testing it out for the school/A&P teacher. It has some cool resources included and the questions we've had were easy and followed right along with the book. Is anyone else using Mastering A&P?

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I hate sig.figs my teacher takes off a point if the sig. figs. are not correct and those points add up quickly. I have been getting B's and a C so far on lab reports/worksheets which sucks. I dont see why we have to be graded on PRACTICE problems. Its just what it is practice. My first test is next monday on sig.figs, factor label method, chemical formulas, moles, atoms/elements, and compounds and its all fill in the blank. I will be studying all weekend. I will be glad just to get a B on the test.

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If we get the significant figures wrong, then we lose credit for the entire problem. So far we've only had a lab that included them, and I think (hope?) we got full credit even though he had us redo it a couple of times. Our first test is in a week and they'll be on it, along with all the other stuff included in the first four chapters. I'm trying to review the rules and do a couple of practice problems each day so maybe I'll be ready.

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