Balancing redox rxns

[JEV2007]

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I am wondering if anyone has anything to say about balancing redox reactions on the MCAT. When I took Chemistry 3 years ago, I can remember balancing those things took an entire page and about 3-5 minutes min. In the Kaplan High Yield book, they recommend being able to balance redox rxns. Any thoughts?

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

I am wondering if anyone has anything to say about balancing redox reactions on the MCAT. When I took Chemistry 3 years ago, I can remember balancing those things took an entire page and about 3-5 minutes min. In the Kaplan High Yield book, they recommend being able to balance redox rxns. Any thoughts?

I've never seen a question on an MCAT practice test that involved balancing redox reactions. MCAT tests simple science. There won't be a question involving balancing a reaction that takes a page...

J

 

[ChymeChancellor]

I am wondering if anyone has anything to say about balancing redox reactions on the MCAT. When I took Chemistry 3 years ago, I can remember balancing those things took an entire page and about 3-5 minutes min. In the Kaplan High Yield book, they recommend being able to balance redox rxns. Any thoughts?

I think you should know what is being oxidized/reduced. Also it is probably important to know that the electrons in the oxidation and reduction have to equal one another.

I think you're refering to balancing the reactions in an acidic or basic medium. This is a very tedious process and if it ever did show up on an mcat passage I would save it to the end as to not eat up all my time that could be used on more high yield questions.

 

[JEV2007]

Thanks J. Yeah, I keep trying to tell myself that the MCAT does not involve too many 2, 3, or 4 step calculations/mechanisms, but then i go back to the Kaplan material and start to get worried again because of the highly math based examples and sample questions they provide. Is it even worth it at this point to keep reviewing Kaplan material or would I be better off taking older MCAT practice tests and review the explanations that the AMCAS people have provided? Any wisdom as to how I can most effectivly utilize the 2 weeks I have left till the test without getting burned out... would be appreciated.

 

[clubescape]

Thanks J. Yeah, I keep trying to tell myself that the MCAT does not involve too many 2, 3, or 4 step calculations/mechanisms, but then i go back to the Kaplan material and start to get worried again because of the highly math based examples and sample questions they provide. Is it even worth it at this point to keep reviewing Kaplan material or would I be better off taking older MCAT practice tests and review the explanations that the AMCAS people have provided? Any wisdom as to how I can most effectivly utilize the 2 weeks I have left till the test without getting burned out... would be appreciated.

Yea, I think Kaplan PS tests are evil. I'm just doing AAMC problems now which definitely do not require as many calculations.

 

[PBandJ]

Thanks J. Yeah, I keep trying to tell myself that the MCAT does not involve too many 2, 3, or 4 step calculations/mechanisms, but then i go back to the Kaplan material and start to get worried again because of the highly math based examples and sample questions they provide. Is it even worth it at this point to keep reviewing Kaplan material or would I be better off taking older MCAT practice tests and review the explanations that the AMCAS people have provided? Any wisdom as to how I can most effectivly utilize the 2 weeks I have left till the test without getting burned out... would be appreciated.

the MCAT is not very calculation heavy. the most you are expected to do usually involves relatively easy numbers (look for things to cancel! and don't be afraid to be round). don't let the kaplan practice test material scare you off. kaplan's books and other items for review are good, but the AAMC provides the best examples of MCAT-like questions (since they were actually real MCATs once).