Chemistry Tips

PhoenixGirl · Jan 5, 2005

I just finished up chem this past semester... plan ahead for tutoring! Either use your schools tutors or use smarthinking.com

My book came with a free smarthinking.com membership. I used it a lot. There was a point in the semester where I thought I would fail because of balancing chemical equations. Now I can balance intro chem equations with the best of em. :chuckle The tutoring really helps!

Just stay ahead! Read ahead! Don't ever fall behind, and you will be okay!

Rebecca

blue eyes · Jan 5, 2005

I just finished up chem this past semester... plan ahead for tutoring! Either use your schools tutors or use smarthinking.com
My book came with a free smarthinking.com membership. I used it a lot. There was a point in the semester where I thought I would fail because of balancing chemical equations. Now I can balance intro chem equations with the best of em. :chuckle The tutoring really helps!
Just stay ahead! Read ahead! Don't ever fall behind, and you will be okay!
Rebecca

I had the same problem - could never balance chemical equations. When I finally managed to understand it my tutorial group was told balancing chemical equations wasn't examinable!

RNJoAnn · Jan 5, 2005

I just started Chemistry last night and according to the syllabus, my instructor added "Suggestions for Success":

1. Keep up. Keep up with the material on a weekly basis. Spend 8 hours outside of class reading the textbook and doing the problems. The best approach is to read the material before it is covered in class.

2. Have good notes: Be sure to come to lecture and take as good notes as possible. If necessary, rewrite your notes after the lecture. Many students benefit from rewriting notes onto flash cards.

3. Join a study group.

4. Get help. If you find yourself getting lost, get help right away. Find out if there's Science Learning Lab at your college and ask for a tutor. If you have problems with the math, go the Math Lab. He said that most students fail chemistry because they don't know the math. The prerequisite for General Chemistry I at our college is Introductory Algebra.

z's playa · Jan 5, 2005

I had the same problem - could never balance chemical equations. When I finally managed to understand it my tutorial group was told balancing chemical equations wasn't examinable!

What do you mean it wasn't examinable?

Fiona59 · Jan 5, 2005

RU saying there were no equations on ur exams???!!! The worst exam I ever wrote was four pages of chemical equations, 1 page of match column a to definition in col. B and 1 final horrific page on Organic Chemistry (we spent all of three hours on it in the introductory course). Marks ranged from 25% to 82% with the class average being 56%!! That chem class started with 31 people and 14 wrote the final. What can I say but I passed. Never needed another chem course and was in no hurry to volunteer. Photon, speed of light, I don't care....

Doug85 · Jan 6, 2005

I would suggest the AP chemistry book printed by the Princeton Review, it is made for the test, but has tons of info, and breaks it down to manegeable steps without overdoing the explanation, it is very straightforward. It also has practice questions and shows you how to do each and every question. Also you can go to your local bookstore (like Borders and Barnes and Nobles) and buy a sheet, more like a folder type of thing called SparkCharts, (they might be another brand). They are all on this rack that turns, they have them in Chemistry, Physiology, Nursing, Stats, English, etc. It has tons of facts on it, that you can go to quickly for help or too get a fact that you need to complete a problem. I also think you can go to SparkCharts.com to get them. They are about 5 dollars each.

Thanks! That's perfect. Does anyone know of any other books I can use that would also be helpful?

CritterLover, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2005

the only thing i can really add is to be sure you are comfortable with algebra. several of the rns where i work are going back to get their bsn, and i often help them with chemistry. i've noticed that they frequently get hung up in the math, and then they can't concentrate on the chemistry concepts. good luck!

blue eyes · Jan 6, 2005

what do you mean it wasn't examinable?

just means a question on balancing chemical equations wouldn't be on the exam. however, there was a question on one of the mcq quizzes (we have the quizzes after completing each topic) on balancing chemical equations, so it wasn't left out entirely.

Fox · Jan 8, 2005

Check-out this Chemistry website.

http://groups.msn.com/ChemistryCorner

oregonrene · Jan 8, 2005

Math, math, math! I'm taking two different chemistry classes this term, and I have been doing TONS of math all week in my homework assignments. Get really familiar with your calculator! :chuckle

Another thing, like somebody else said, whatever you do - do not get behind. Chemistry isn't a cram-it-all-into-one-weekend kind of class. You have to do the readings and the work as you go, because the concepts all build on each other and you have to be proficient at one thing before you can understand the next.

Plan on allowing lots of time outside of class. I'm taking two 5-credit hour classes with labs, for a total of 14 hours in-class time. I probably spent 18 hours outside of class this week, working on assignments, and it's just the first week of the term! Be prepared to spend a lot of time on this class in order to do well.

collegemamma · Jan 9, 2005

I had Into to Chem last semester and did well. I think you need to be dedicated in order to do well in this class. You need to read, study and take good notes in lecture. I was lucky and had a great instructor for this class. She was very knowledgeable and taught the subject in way that made it easy to learn. She also gave us a load of hand outs which were very helpful. Good Luck and do not panic-you can do it!

saltydad · Jan 11, 2005

I too had seen chem as a horror in my past. This time I was, like you, determined to ace it. The suggestions so far are all great. I would stress the admonition to practice, practice, and to be in a study group. I actually started tutoring and that was the biggest help, since I had to know it to tutor it:rotfl: I was also lucky because I took it in the summer, 4 days a week for 4 hrs a day of lecture and lab. The intensity was great for me since every concept was fresh when the professor went on to the next! (And I did end up with an A!)