Chemistry woes

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I work full-time and decided to take organic chem at a local community college. I had to drop after the first day, had a panic attack, etc, b/c the prof had already expected us, on the first day, to know chapters 1-3 with notes, guides, flashcards, etc. Seemed like most of the kids (I'm an older student) had already studied for it via the college's website. I've got the book now and I'm studying it on my own, but I don't know how to teach it to myself, like what to focus on and what to skip...Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I can prepare to take the class next semester? Any advice would be greatly appreciated...Thanks for reading.

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I work full time too and I am taking my classes online, so I am basically teaching myself! The best advice I can offer you is to look in your textbook for a resource section. It's usually in the front of the book, but sometimes in the back. There are probably a list of websites you can check out to get study tips, practice tests, chapter outlines, etc. for your book. I always print off the chapter outline, then quickly read through each chapter completely. After I'm done reading I will go back through the chapter and focus on the things I didn't quite understand the first time. I also make notes on my printed outline, answer questions at the end of each chapter, and take the online pre-tests at my textbook's website.

I do know what you mean about what to study and what not. If I read a chapter that is 50 pages long, then my instructor gives a test with only 10 questions, I feel like I wasted too much time on that chapter. I just have to remind myself that there will me more questions on exams, and I will need to really know this stuff anyway when I get to nursing school, so I need to learn it now, even if my instructor doesn't test me on all of it.

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I work full-time and decided to take organic chem at a local community college. I had to drop after the first day, had a panic attack, etc, b/c the prof had already expected us, on the first day, to know chapters 1-3 with notes, guides, flashcards, etc. Seemed like most of the kids (I'm an older student) had already studied for it via the college's website. I've got the book now and I'm studying it on my own, but I don't know how to teach it to myself, like what to focus on and what to skip...Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I can prepare to take the class next semester? Any advice would be greatly appreciated...Thanks for reading.

Get yourself a copy of:

The Nuts and Bolts of Organic Chemistry, by Joel Karty

http://www.amazon.com/Nuts-Bolts-Organic-Chemistry-Students/dp/0805331174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221836375&sr=1-1

and

Organic Chemistry I for Dummies, by Arthur Winter (plus the workbook).

http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Dummies-Arthur-Winter/dp/0764569023/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Before your class next semester (I am ASSUMING you've had at least Chem I before), skim through the Dummies books and make notes of where certain topics are located. Go through Karty's book thoroughly. It goes into a lot of detail about what you should have reviewed before taking Organic I. Karty teaches a summer course called, "Prep for Organic Chem" (I think at Duke), so that's what the book is based on. It's really, really good. It's on my kitchen table right now. :) I highly recommend reading it cover to cover before the class starts.

The Dummies book has some review, but it will also be very helpful during the semester, because it has a lot of little hints, tips and "we do this because..." kind of stuff.

Another good book is "Organic Chemistry I as a Second Language" by Klein. It also has some of the review material, and a better section on bond-line drawings than Karty's book.

http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Second-Language-Translating/dp/0470129298/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Before you start the class, make sure you review (the list is in no particular order):

Atomic structure and electron configuration

VSEPR Theory (very important)

Molecular Orbital theory (very important)

Hybrid orbitals (very important)

The Octet Rule and its exceptions

Lewis Structures and how to draw them (that will help you transition to bond-line structures)

Bond Polarity and Electronegativity

Resonance structures (very important)

Formal Charge

Covalent bonding

Intermolecular forces, esp. hydrogen bonding, London Dispersion Forces, dipole moments, etc.

As someone whose brain is exploding because of bond-line structures, I can tell you that if you can get a jump on getting comfortable drawing and interpreting them, you will be way ahead of the game. Also, familiarity with condensed Lewis structures (CH3CH2CH2CH3, etc.) will help you a lot.

If anyone else has any suggestions for review material, just jump right in. :)

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Forgot to add that you should review acid-base reactions, too.

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