Acing Chem I w/ Lab

[busupshot83]

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Next semester, I start my sciences (I'm an English major en route to dental school), and I need some studying tips from the pros.

The problem is, I am so use to writing papers (and timed essays), that I am very rusty in the "science" scene. Anyone know study tips for Chem I? I'm willing to put in the time, so just just drop me a line (like my rhymes? ).

pce,

bus.

 

[Mo007]

My advice is from experience:

Studying General Chem I has a lot of introductory terms and concepts. If you focus on doing the problems on the recommended text book, you should do fine. It's very important that you do take this course seriously, and do everything not to fall behind the class, because it damages your grade a lot.

I would say it's like studying Math, a lot of calculations, but most calculations are in the General Chem II and III.

Its a fun course, it's only Fun when you do the work.

One

 

[busupshot83]

It's like studying math... nice 😀. I like math, cause the more practice you get, the better you are at it. Is Chem I problem-based? Or more defintions?

 

[Mo007]

Both. A lot of Both.

 

[Turnpike]

Do as many practice problems, old exams, whatever you can as possible. Get a study guide. If your textbook is bad, get a supplement text. Prepare for lab before hand so you know what you are doing. And remember, I wish I did when I was in your shoes, just remember. As simple as that. Remember... because all of this material you are going to learn is going to come back and haunt you for the DAT exam. So try to really learn, understand, and remember the material. It will make your life easier two years from now.

 

[busupshot83]

is organic harder than general chem? or is general chem harder? or can you not compre the two?

 

[momowheels]

In a university I can probably universally say that Organic Chemistry is more difficult than General Chemistry due to Synthesis problems and Mechanism problems.

 

[busupshot83]

correct me if im misunderstood, but Gav said something about the Organic section of DAT being easier than the Inorganic seciton... I guess it's the individual, right?

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

Its hard to compare them without knowing what kind of person you are. If you're more mathematically inclined, Gen Chem will be easier, since a lot of it is plug and chug formulas, and basic concepts. Orgo is different, there are synthesis problems which are like puzzle solving. No real math, its just more conceptual and you follow reactions through, instead of looking at an overview. Orgo tends to be viewed as harder due to the increased workload over Gen Chem, but I have a really good Organic teacher, and that makes all the difference.

 

[momowheels]

organic on the dat is a piece of cake compared to the actual class bc typically the class tests are not multiple choice. atleast thats how it was at my uni

 

[Turnpike]

Ochem is mainly memorization realy. Just memorize all the reactions you need to know. You won't ever need a calculator or learn equations. If you take this, and add it to that... this is what you get. Blah blah blah blah blah.

 

[ecdoesit]

not all ochem questions are like reactants to products.
you still need to know various definitions such as isomers.
and other concepts.
Though I have to admit that taking dat is a lot more memorizing than taking an ochem class.

 

[ShawnOne]

As far as the DAT, the O-Chem section is probably easier than g-chem (especially on recent tests).

As far as the actual classes go, both subjects are challenging. I put 1 hour of effort after every class meeting (I NEVER missed classes by the way) and I got 95+% in all my chem classes.

In general, general chem is very math based. It is really about conversion of units and plugging into formulas. With some practice, it gets VERY easy.

O-chem is very conceptual. I completely disagree with people who say its memorization. Those people usually have a harder time. If you truely understand the underlying forces behind the reactions and understand how the mechanisms work, you will ace your class. The first 5 weeks of o-chem are crucial!! Make sure you understand Lewis Acids and Lewis Bases. Of course, like anything, you need to practice practice practice.

Spend 1 hour per day and you can pull all A's.

 

[ecdoesit]

memorization is required.
i dont mean that fixed memorization
like 1+1=2.
it is more like knowing how addition works and goes from there.
at first, i dont understand how u could work on problems without repetitive exercise to cast that in your memory.

also, with IR, I dont understand how u could study w/o any memorization of those peaks.

 

[ShawnOne]

of course you must "remember" information. My point was you should understand why (electronic reasons) things do what they do, instead of just memorizing blah plus blah gives blah blah.

In contrast, Anatomy is a class where you must "memorize" hundreds of names, locations, orientations, origins, insertions, articulations, etc etc.

 

[busupshot83]

sounds interesting... can't wait 😛; but first i must conquer Thoreau and Emerson.

 

[aphistis]

Originally posted by ShawnOne
As far as the DAT, the O-Chem section is probably easier than g-chem (especially on recent tests).

I don't know about that. This is obviously just my experience, but scored 6 points better on general than orgo. General was mostly concepts; orgo was all mechanisms and reaction products.

 

[ShawnOne]

Bill,

you must have taken the DAT over a year ago, considering you are a DS-1 now. Many of those who took the test this past summer thought the Ochem was relatively easy. A lot of people inlcuding myself scored 25's.

 

[aphistis]

Wow, I hadn't realized that. I didn't realize that by "recent," you meant <em>really</em> recent 😀 Congrats on the great score.