Major issues with Chemisry!!!

frogpirate · Feb 7, 2010

I took CHEM 050 over the summer (kind of pre-Chem for the medical fields) and struggled, although I did get an A. I took CHEM 121 last quarter (CHEM for Medical) and whizzed through - partially because I'd taken the pre-Chem course, and partially because of a different professor.

I'll never forget how many people my CHEM 050 professor 'lost' trying to explain "mol" in relation to a dozen eggs. My classmates and I still giggle anytime one of us mentions a dozen eggs.

Michaelxy · Feb 7, 2010

There are certain things that you will just have to commit to memory and no other way around some long study periods. Making 3x5 flash cards often helps for memorization. Below is a list of things I think you should have memorized early on in order to do well in chemistry.

Learn the metric system. This essential now, and in the future. If someone wakes you in the middle of the night and ask you how many milliliters are in a liter, you should know the answer.
Learn the names of the elements on the periodic chart, not all of them just the common ones, mostly on the top 4 rows. For example; you should know Na is sodium, Ca is calcium, Cl is chloride, C is carbon... and so on.
Compound Nomenclature, you will be asked to learn compound naming for ionic and covalently bonded compounds. Many problems later on will ask you questions like "write a balanced equation for sodium chloride and calcium carbonate. So you will need to know that sodium chloride is NaCl and calcium carbonate is CaCO3
Polyatomic Ions, This is another one to memorize. See this link.

http://www2.pvc.maricopa.edu/tutor/chem/chem130/nomenclature/polyatomicion.html

Lastly, learn dimensional analysis as it will help a lot. And you professor is right, working the problems in your textbook will benefit you greatly.

And remember, to ask for help when you need it, classmates, in school tutors or even here. I don't mind offering help for a fellow student:) I started as a bio major and have taken chem 200, 201, 230, and 255 so I should be able to offer a little help.

Good luck

Michaelxy · Feb 7, 2010

I'll never forget how many people my CHEM 050 professor 'lost' trying to explain "mol" in relation to a dozen eggs. My classmates and I still giggle anytime one of us mentions a dozen eggs.

I can see how teachers have trouble explaining the mole concept as it relates to Avogadro's number as this number represents a huge figure, 6.022 x 10^23 atoms. The dozen egg analogy is a way to express what a mole is. The term mole is a useful way to express a quantity of an element in simple terms our brains can relate to. 1/2 dozen eggs immediately tells us 6 eggs. Dozen is a container of 12 items, a mole is a container of 6.022 x 10^23 atoms, and can be any element.

So when dealing with elements and compounds, a dozen atoms is hardly convenient is it, so then we work in moles. Now counting a few million atoms is not so convenient either, is it? Hence the birth of the mole, but counting atoms being a pain as it is, we convert moles to mass, and in doing so we always know the quantity that we are dealing with.

In Chemistry, understanding moles is important.

collegets · Feb 7, 2010

I start bio and organic chemistry for health science majors in two weeks, i had take gen chemistry, and earned a B in large part to the great professor i had and lots of studying, and mostly all the exams were multiple choice

jngnurse, CNA · Feb 8, 2010

Chemistry is all about understanding concepts. Practice! Remember the conversion factors will be a NECESSITY for calculating medical dosages. It is imperative that you master conversion factors (dimensional analysis or unit analysis) to become successful in the math that nursing has.

The best tutor for chemistry would either be the professor or a upperclass men chemstry student. There are no such individual as a bad professor, only students who do not strive hard and not ask questions on the subject matter they have trouble on.

Good luck!

- Jasgop =D

Mommaof3 · Feb 9, 2010

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!! I have been out of school since 99 and never taken a Chem course even way back then....and now I'm in the middle of Gen Chem and it is kicking my butt...my prof is "not of American descent" and my class and I catch about every 3rd word he says. It completely stinks that this grade is so important and I can't even understand 25 words in a 2 1/2 hour lecture!! UGH...sorry took over your vent...but...if you figure out a sure fire way to learn this jazz then let me know!!! :) lol

Michaelxy · Feb 9, 2010

See my previous post. What are are you having trouble with? I have had 200 level gen chem and may be able to offer help. Once your halfway into the course it is hard to play catch up.

JustYouWait · Feb 9, 2010

I'm taking chemistry too. I actually find mine easier probably because I like Math, and chemistry requires a lot of calculation. And, also my professor is really good so I don't have any problem with it. In my class, I see one or two of my classmates using a recorder - even though I don't think it's a good idea since the professor is explaining all the stuff from the board (and you'll be lost once you listen to the recording. lol) Regardless, I would still suggest bringing a recorder if it's possible. Some people learn a lot if they hear the explanation from the professor over and over. Good luck.

closetoyou21, CNA · Feb 10, 2010

I am taking Chem now. The key to Chemistry is to take it in strides and study a little everyday!Don't cram, it will frustrate you.

Melanie19877 · Feb 11, 2010

See my previous post. What are are you having trouble with? I have had 200 level gen chem and may be able to offer help. Once your halfway into the course it is hard to play catch up.

I don't exactly know. I just cannot retain the information. I am hands on person and this class is just hard for me to understand without having anything hands on.

Michaelxy · Feb 11, 2010

I don't exactly know. I just cannot retain the information. I am hands on person and this class is just hard for me to understand without having anything hands on.

Well, you really don't make it easy to help you with a response like that. It sounds as though you may have already raised your hands in the air in surrender, and are giving up. Perhaps this is the result of feeling lost with the material. If this is the case, I suspect your grasp of the previous chapters and concepts were not understood well enough to accumulate a good fundamental foundation to grasp newer concepts. If it is not too late, you might want to consider taking a W for the course and try retaking the class again with a fresh start, determination, and a new plan of attack. This alternative may be better than putting a ding on your GPA.

For the hands on approach, the best advice I can give is put your hands on a pencil, work the problems at the end of the chapters to the point of nauseam. Join a study group, see campus chem dept. tutors.

The best tool of a chemist is the periodic table of the elements. http://www.chemicool.com/ so the better understanding you have of how this table works and all the information it gives about the elements, the better off you will be.

Well, good luck and hope you the best. Don't let this class discourage you.

sakura_k · Feb 11, 2010

What works for me is to talk it out - the old mantra "see one, do one, teach one". In this case, I see the problem, I do a problem like it, and I teach someone else how to do it.

The unfortunate part of that last one is that I usually teach my significant other...who's a chemist by trade. And is like "oh that's easy." How supportive of him.

I'll second the Chemistry for Dummies. Chemistry and I don't like each other. Not even a little bit...and mine's now "too old" to be used for some of the schools I'm applying to, which means I get to relive the joys and wonders all over again. Good luck!