***Chemistry - Fall 2005***

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Who else is taking Chemisrty this semester? I thought maybe we can check in with each other, and help each other out.

If there is enough of us maybe we can even get a sticky.

I am taking Health Science Chemistry 1.

Well week one of Chemistry is over. We have almost completed 2 chapters already. We are going over scientific notation, metric conversions, and all kinds of math stuff. In lab this week we went over all of the basics, safety rules/procedures. The teacher is a little hard to follow. I hope I make it through this. Thank goodness I had algebra this summer. I could not do this if I had not.

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Specializes in LTC.

Most teachers allow you to use a periodic table on the tests that doesn't have the names of the elements on the table, just the symbols. I've yet to run into a teacher that makes you memorize atomic numbers and weights. They also tend to give you some of the trickier numbers instead of making your memorize those.

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and man was it fast paced.

Each day we covered just about one chapter including 3 lab assignments a week. I thought I was crazy for taking chemistry in the summer, but it was my last chance since I am in the LVN program and want to transfer to the RN next fall when I finish the LVN program.

There is a lot of math in chemistry. I made sure I did really good on the early tests which were easier just in case I sucked on the harder tests. But since I got my math down, I did just fine. My teacher gave partial points for just getting part of the solution correct, SO ALWAYS WRITE SOMETHING - LEAVE NOTHING BLANK.

I got a B and still cannot believe I did a 16 week semester during a summer 6 week class.

Good luck everyone!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Well, my first day wasn't too bad. Something must be wrong...lol I'm sure it will hit before too long.

15 more classes to go. :)

Hope everyone is surviving!

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Add me to the Fall Chem. PRinciples of Gen. Chem.

I'm so lost on just exponential notation . UGHH. I have two calculators (TI36x and the TI83Plus and I can't get either one to do what it SHOULD do.

Any help would be MUCH appreciated!

Katie

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Specializes in Operating Room.
Add me to the Fall Chem. PRinciples of Gen. Chem.

I'm so lost on just exponential notation . UGHH. I have two calculators (TI36x and the TI83Plus and I can't get either one to do what it SHOULD do.

Any help would be MUCH appreciated! Katie

Hi and welcome. I'm feeling overwhelmed as well, and it's only the second class. Like i have said before, it is an accelerated class. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

We have covered 2 chapters & have a test Wednesday. I am going to tutoring tomorrow.

Please utilize your school's tutoring if they offer it!!!!

We can pass this class!!!!!!!!!!

7 weeks left for myself.

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Hi and welcome. I'm feeling overwhelmed as well, and it's only the second class. Like i have said before, it is an accelerated class. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

We have covered 2 chapters & have a test Wednesday. I am going to tutoring tomorrow.

Please utilize your school's tutoring if they offer it!!!!

We can pass this class!!!!!!!!!!

7 weeks left for myself.

Which Chem class are you taking? I start Biochem/Organic next week. I wonder how tough it will be. It only requires high school chem as a pre req, so I am hoping it won't be as hard as brain surgery or something from another planet as far as understanding it. I haven't been in high school for many moons either, so I am somewhat nervous.

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Add me to the Fall Chem. PRinciples of Gen. Chem.

I'm so lost on just exponential notation . UGHH. I have two calculators (TI36x and the TI83Plus and I can't get either one to do what it SHOULD do.

Any help would be MUCH appreciated!

Katie

Give me some of the examples from your work and I will post you some example solutions. As for how to get them to work on your calculator, well I really can't help you much there, but unless your instructor is giving you some majorly difficult problems, I can show you how to do them by hand. In the meantime, I will show you a few with an explanantion, please do tell me how it works out for you.

Example #1:

154,000,000 is the same as 1.54x10^8 (that's 10 to the 8th power)

Explanation on that solution: When you look at a number such as 154,000,000 you have to envision that it has a decimal at the end so 154,000,000. This is your starting point. Now, move the decimal to the left to the point you have only 1 significant digit to the left of the decimal (in this case that digit is 1). Make sure you count how many times you've moved that decimal! That will become your exponent (in this case it was moved 8 times)

Go ahead and work the problem backwards from 1.54x10^8 to see how to get it back to standard format. Also note, because the decimal was moved to the left, the exponent (8) is a positive number.

Example #2

.000000000231 is the same as 2.31x10^-10 (that's 10 to the negative 10th power)

Explanation on that solution: In this case, you were given an extremely small number rather than a large number. You still, however, isolate 1 significant digit to the left of the decimal, so as you can see, you will need to move the decimal to the right. Remember to count the number of places you moved the decimal as that is your exponent (this time we've moved the decimal 10 places)

Again, work the problem in reverse from 2.31x10^-10 to come up to the original number. Also note, because the decimal was moved to the right, the exponent (10) is a negative number.

So a general rule for exponents would be, positive exponents for extremely large numbers and negative exponents for extremely small numbers.

I do hope I have explained what you needed to know in a clear manner. If you would like further explanation please do not hesitate to post further examples that you would like worked out. Also, I do hope this is what you were stating a difficulty in this area and not some other topic in exponential notation lol If not, I'm sure someone can make use of it.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

We have 5 extra credit homework assignments that we have to get from the tutoring center, and have to stay at the tutoring center at least 30 minutes to get extra credit.

I got the homework assignment yesterday, then went home to see what I could do on my own. (I asked the instructor if this was ok...lol)

After doing what I could do w/o help, I went up for my "30 minutes".

I think I stayed 1 to 1 1/2 hours. lol I feel better, but after my daughter's game tonight (she's cheering), I will work some problems from the book to see what I can do w/o help after the tutoring session. :)

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Thanks so much:) I actually figured it out and really understood what the problem was! I was actually the first one in class that "got it:!

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For moving decimals remember this rule:

Registered Nurses (RN) Love Patients (LP)

RN = Right Negative

LP = Left Positive

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We have our first lab tomorrow. I hope its not to bad.

I'm still not sure that I REALLY understand what I am doing as far as the calculations go but its getting better, its starting to click a little now.

We started with the P. Table this week. I found a program for my palm that has all the elements and ALL the info about them. Its really helping. I don't remember which site I got it off of but I can find it again if anyone is interested. It is a free download.

Actually, I'll look for the site now and I will check back in a little while to see if anyone wants the link.

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