Brush up on some undergrad basics

[osli]

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No - I'm not looking to relearn physics or plant biology.

But I took general chemistry 1 in high school back in 1993. Chem II the following fall. Neither were relevant at all to my major back then, so I crammed well enough before tests to get my A and wiped them from memory.

After a career U-turn I reviewed general chemistry as best as I could for a couple of weeks before the MCAT using a big-ass Kaplan review book. Not much sank in there.

I understand organic very well. Most of biochem is also pretty approachable. But sometimes a general chemistry concept bites me in the ass, and I'm worried that some of them might show up on the USMLE.

The ones that come to mind at the moment all have to do with acids/bases. Titrations, Henderson-Hasselbach, etc. I can memorize a couple of equations for an exam, but none of it ever seems to sink in for some reason, and the next time I see a few pKa's and am asked to figure out something I just think "well... damn."

Any suggestions on what to take a look at to help me actually understand these types of things? I'm not sure I was ever taught well to begin with, and if the professor tried I probably wasn't paying attention. I'm the kind of person that remembers something for life if I actually understand what it means... and can cram a whole lot of "facts" into my head to ace an exam that will just leak back out the next day. For the boards, I think I'd like to take a couple of days, now, well in advance, and shore up my dismal general chemistry background.

I don't want (or need) to read a whole text book, but I haven't had a lot of luck finding very focused resources like "Rapid EKG Interpretation" or whatever that can help me put these equations and stuff into a contextual and conceptual framework. Every chemistry "review" book I picked up has been very dry - aimed at refreshing the memory of someone who has previously learned and understood chemistry. I'm looking for something with a bit more of a conversational read, targeted at idiots like me. 🙂

Any ideas?

 

[Law2Doc]

No - I'm not looking to relearn physics or plant biology.

But I took general chemistry 1 in high school back in 1993. Chem II the following fall. Neither were relevant at all to my major back then, so I crammed well enough before tests to get my A and wiped them from memory.

After a career U-turn I reviewed general chemistry as best as I could for a couple of weeks before the MCAT using a big-ass Kaplan review book. Not much sank in there.

I understand organic very well. Most of biochem is also pretty approachable. But sometimes a general chemistry concept bites me in the ass, and I'm worried that some of them might show up on the USMLE.

The ones that come to mind at the moment all have to do with acids/bases. Titrations, Henderson-Hasselbach, etc. I can memorize a couple of equations for an exam, but none of it ever seems to sink in for some reason, and the next time I see a few pKa's and am asked to figure out something I just think "well... damn."

Any suggestions on what to take a look at to help me actually understand these types of things? I'm not sure I was ever taught well to begin with, and if the professor tried I probably wasn't paying attention. I'm the kind of person that remembers something for life if I actually understand what it means... and can cram a whole lot of "facts" into my head to ace an exam that will just leak back out the next day. For the boards, I think I'd like to take a couple of days, now, well in advance, and shore up my dismal general chemistry background.

I don't want (or need) to read a whole text book, but I haven't had a lot of luck finding very focused resources like "Rapid EKG Interpretation" or whatever that can help me put these equations and stuff into a contextual and conceptual framework. Every chemistry "review" book I picked up has been very dry - aimed at refreshing the memory of someone who has previously learned and understood chemistry. I'm looking for something with a bit more of a conversational read, targeted at idiots like me. 🙂

Any ideas?

The key to the boards is to know the high yield stuff. You are unlikely to get more than one "undergrad chemistry" type question, except to the extent that it is also something important in biochem or physiology. So focus on those latter subjects and not on anything undergrad.

 

[osli]

Well, that's been my prevailing philosophy in gathering board review insight, materials, etc. But I'm a little tired of seeing this same stuff continuously pop up on tests, our clinical scenarios, and in board review books and having my eyes just gloss over until I'm through that section.

I don't think the stuff is difficult. I know most of the equations right now off the top of my head, so I know there is nothing to memorizing them. But they don't really mean anything to me, conceptually. I can plug and chug and probably get a number, maybe even the correct one, but I don't really understand what is going up, or down, or whatever, and why. I have this feeling that a solid understanding of a couple of areas like this that have been lacking for more than a decade might make a better basis for board prep.

It isn't so much about "high yield" this far out as it is a true comprehension. My ability to reason out something that seemed unfamiliar to get a correct answer has served me really well in the past, and it sounds like that kind of ability might come in handy for the USMLE. I'd rather a couple of glaring weaknesses didn't get in the way of a few otherwise straightforward questions.

 

[osli]

...except to the extent that it is also something important in biochem or physiology. So focus on those latter subjects and not on anything undergrad.

Oh, I kind of glanced over this part of your post. This is precisely what I'm talking about... it is when something simple like an acid base problem pops up in GI or cardio or in a biochem review book that is frustrating. I understand everything up to that point, and go on after that feeling like a chunk of understanding is just missing. Like I said, getting the right number out of the equation is within my grasp, but it doesn't mean anything.

 

[Law2Doc]

Oh, I kind of glanced over this part of your post. This is precisely what I'm talking about... it is when something simple like an acid base problem pops up in GI or cardio or in a biochem review book that is frustrating. I understand everything up to that point, and go on after that feeling like a chunk of understanding is just missing. Like I said, getting the right number out of the equation is within my grasp, but it doesn't mean anything.

I sure wouldn't pull any undergrad chem review books out of the closet for the USMLE. I would get something for physio and/or biochem and go through it.

 

[osli]

I sure wouldn't pull any undergrad chem review books out of the closet for the USMLE. I would get something for physio and/or biochem and go through it.

I've got the RR biochem, but of course it just slaps the H-H equation up there or goes into to titration discussions as if you already understand the basics. I do... on a very superficial level, which means that the results of a titration or questions about what such and such means in an acid/base situation don't really register with me.

I'm looking for something like "Acids and Bases Made Ridiculously Simple" but haven't had much luck so far. Everything I've found is either dry undergrad level that assumes you know nothing and gets into way too much detail, or review level that assumes you already know and starts talking about applications and interpretations. I need the former written like the latter.

I went back to an undergrad text in preparation for the MCAT, and obviously whatever I read there didn't stick. Too dry, just a bunch of mumbo jumbo, no permanent memory. I'm hoping there is a well written clever witty whatever that might cover some of this. "General chemistry for idiots" might work, who knows.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I'm looking for something like "Acids and Bases Made Ridiculously Simple" but haven't had much luck so far.

Have you actually looked at this book and not found it helpful?
ISBN-10: 0940780313

http://www.amazon.com/Acid-Base-Flu...8416608?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192018408&sr=8-1

 

[SeventhSon]

fortunately, as is the case for many concepts in med school, you can substitute memorization for understanding and get away with it if you desire. Getting a real intuitive sense of some chemistry concepts is impossible, because it requires physical chemistry to fill in the hand-waving.

There are some epiphanes I had that only came from staring and playing with the concepts for hours and hours. What I did to really get a feel for any conceptual class was ask lots of hypothetical questions and try to answer them, and then check your logic with a private tutor, professor, or TA who knows how to teach. Only then can you pinpoint the precise nuances that you are having trouble with.

 

[osli]

Have you actually looked at this book and not found it helpful?
ISBN-10: 0940780313

http://www.amazon.com/Acid-Base-Flu...8416608?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192018408&sr=8-1

Hey, that might help. Covers the particular areas that I feel I need to strengthen before starting focused board studying. I actually asked our bookstore manager if there was such a book and was told, quite decisively "no, sorry, they don't have one for that area... don't think we have on in any series that covers what you are looking for..."

That's what I get for not going to amazon et al myself.

 

[osli]

fortunately, as is the case for many concepts in med school, you can substitute memorization for understanding and get away with it if you desire. Getting a real intuitive sense of some chemistry concepts is impossible, because it requires physical chemistry to fill in the hand-waving.

There are some epiphanes I had that only came from staring and playing with the concepts for hours and hours. What I did to really get a feel for any conceptual class was ask lots of hypothetical questions and try to answer them, and then check your logic with a private tutor, professor, or TA who knows how to teach. Only then can you pinpoint the precise nuances that you are having trouble with.

You might be right. I tend to want to have that intuitive grasp of physics, math, biology, genetics, whatever before I start memorizing any details. A lot of organic seemed to fall right into line. A lot of general chem never seemed to, and I just figured it was because I never paid attention properly the first time around back in the day.

I'll try the ridiculously simple book mentioned above... if it doesn't help me get an intuitive grasp on the material, perhaps it will at least present it in a way that finally sticks as far as memorization.