Chemistry and I are not friends.....

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi everyone! My name is Tasha and I am a pre-nursing student at San Joaquin Delta College. I am currently taking chemistry as it is a pre-req to get into some of my science classes and I have to say that even though I am slowly understanding it, I by no means love it. I have been searching for websites that will give me extra practice with the Dimensional analysis part since that is what we are currently working on. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I really want to get at a least a B in this class. I have been getting all A's in my classes, except for one B which was in Nurtrition. Any ideas to help me master Chemistry would be appreciated. Have a great Fall Semester and good luck!

Thank you Halcyonn, I did check out the online tutoring and I am going to see what route I can take with that. I just really want to understand and know what I am doing and it's all very frustrating and confusing for me. I am not a math person at all, but have gotten better since I started going back to school. I will just do the best I can : )

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I have checked out the Khanacademy.com but I do not see any videos on dimensional analysis, which is what we are working on right now.

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I must be alone here, as I really enjoyed chemistry. I got an A in the lab and a B in the lecture without really putting as much time as I should have.

For the problem(s) you are having, have you tried setting up the equation in a line? It's hard to explain, but I found this website when searching and it shows how you'd set the equation up.

Math Skills - Dimensional Analysis

That's how I learned it, and it really stuck with me.

My biggest advice for chemistry is to learn the nomenclature as soon as possible. Once you have that down, it'll make things a lot easier.

Good luck!

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chemistry is a pre-req for me to get on the nursing list. like a dummy i tried to take it over the summer as a 5 week class. i ended up dropping it the 3rd week, and plan to retake it next semester.

but am afraid because i have AP1 this semester, and if i should take AP2 next semester, with chemistry or just chemistry and wait longer for AP2. aghh!

i dont want to wait any longer to get on nursing waiting list though.

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I have been following this thread, but must admit I had never heard of "dimensional analysis". When I followed the posted link, I realized that is a fancy name for "the factor label method" of solving scientific math word problems. I still use it almost daily for weight conversions and other miscellaneous problems I have to solve. It is especially good for dosage and flow rate calculations in nursing.

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Just wanted to update everyone. I passed chem 1a with a C. I worked my bit off for that C. My teacher was tough and I hated him till the very end, but when it was all said and done, I passed and now I can take my other 3 sciences. I just proved to myself that I can do it with a lot of hard work and effort. Some may look at this and say a C????? But he told us we would have to work hard to even get that and he was right. So yes I am proud of myself : )

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Congratulations!

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Oh man, going through this thread is making me extremely nervous for chem in the SUMMER! I always hated chem in high school, but I wanted to take it in the summer so I can just focus all my time on it, instead taking it during the regular semester alongside 4-5 other classes.

Has anyone ever taken Generally Chem I in the summer? How was it like? Is it a good idea? lol

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Im taking it in a shorter 8 weeks..right now..not over the summer. And it is A LOT of work! But I'm hanging on strong with an A. Really chem is just a lot of math formulas. We are halfway through :)

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Congratulations!! I hated Chemistry in High School and I was terrified to take it. I ended up taking it as an online class on top of that! I am surprised how well I am doing. I think you can do it over the summer. Especially if you are doing it alone.

I spend usually 2 days solid on my chemistry per week. It isnt overwhelming...but i can spend 5-6 hours some days just going through one chapter. I use college videos on you tube when I really dont get it. I go through a bunch and I can usually find one or two that have awesome professors explaining in full detail!

I sit with 2 books when I do a chapter. One is my notes. I rewrite everything in each chapter for my notes that is relevant. I redo all the formulas and key words. Then I have another book I do all the odd problems and study questions. I had 2 sets one before mid term and one after. It is very helpful. I can usually get through one chapter in a day or two and then I go through the study guide and do the questions there plus the practice test. So far I have an A. I think the lab is very simple...it is just a matter of learning those first steps in setting up conversions. Everything goes from there. If you dont get that part of it...the rest will fall apart. If you have that...you will do fine. It all builds on top of each other. Now the second half is all slight additions of pieces of chemicals added...little changes make changes in names...it is all the same stuff...with small changes. Just like the first half. If you dont get the basic part down...you would be stuck...but as long as you get those first steps you will do fine.

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^ Wow, thanks! That's really helpful! Glad to hear that you're getting an A so far! :)

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Congratulations!! I hated Chemistry in High School and I was terrified to take it. I ended up taking it as an online class on top of that! I am surprised how well I am doing. I think you can do it over the summer. Especially if you are doing it alone.

I spend usually 2 days solid on my chemistry per week. It isnt overwhelming...but i can spend 5-6 hours some days just going through one chapter. I use college videos on you tube when I really dont get it. I go through a bunch and I can usually find one or two that have awesome professors explaining in full detail!

I sit with 2 books when I do a chapter. One is my notes. I rewrite everything in each chapter for my notes that is relevant. I redo all the formulas and key words. Then I have another book I do all the odd problems and study questions. I had 2 sets one before mid term and one after. It is very helpful. I can usually get through one chapter in a day or two and then I go through the study guide and do the questions there plus the practice test. So far I have an A. I think the lab is very simple...it is just a matter of learning those first steps in setting up conversions. Everything goes from there. If you dont get that part of it...the rest will fall apart. If you have that...you will do fine. It all builds on top of each other. Now the second half is all slight additions of pieces of chemicals added...little changes make changes in names...it is all the same stuff...with small changes. Just like the first half. If you dont get the basic part down...you would be stuck...but as long as you get those first steps you will do fine.

I was the same way! Terrified. Turns out it is not so bad! Mine is online as well :) te book we use put things in really plain english so it is really easy to follow along and learn.

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