Chemistry class question

[jemc2000]

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As I have stated before, it has been a long time (20 years) since I have been in college. So perhaps I just do not remember.

Is it unusual to look at the chapter for the first time and have absolutely no idea what it is saying? It could practically be written in a different language and not be any more uncipherable to me. Once the teacher explains it, I tend to get it, but it still worries me. Is this unusual? Should I be concerned?

Thanks for your time.

Michele

 

[SteveL]

depends on what type of chem. Is this just chem I, organo, phys, med? I'm assuming chem I since you're on this board so I'm gonna say that it must be a pretty bad book if you don't understand any of it! Even if it's been a while and you still have some science backround you should have an inkling of what it's saying to you. If you need to, just start back from chapter one, beginning with the the basics of the periodic table, protons, neutrons, and electrons...Just read through each paragraph and ask yourself, what was it that the paragraph was trying to explain, what don't I understand about it specifically, etc...

 

[dgroulx]

I think that this is normal. I had high school chemistry, which I remembered nothing about. So, I took a class at a community college called Introductory Chemistry to brush up. When I looked at a Chem I book, it meant nothing to me. I couldn't comprehend any of it. I ended up getting all A's in general chemistry. Not all textbooks are easy to read. I wouldn't worry about it, if I were you.

 

[MALA]

Does anyone have any hints about how to do Unit conversion problems easily? I read the problem in the book, and see how it's done and it makes sense. I try to do one on my own and I either get it completely wrong, or I get a small part of it right. And sometimes when I see the problem worked out in the text, I look at it and there is no way my brain could figure it out on my own. I know I need to practice, but there has to be something that I'm missing. Any hints, suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[jemc2000]

Write everything out, even the conversion info, such as 2.54 cm/1.0 in. Write everything and make sure you put units with it.

But yes, the only way to really "get it", is to do a ton of problems and do them over and over until you could do them in your sleep.

Conversion is just simple algebra, but you have to have it all written out to make sure you don't miss a step. Some teachers give more credit for it all written out, but with the wrong answer, than for the correct answer, but no steps.

Good luck!

 

[pharmel]

Be sure when setting up unit conversions that your writing is clear, and squared (never use "sec/min" on one line, always use two lines on the page). What I mean is that you should have something like:

1 hour x 60 min 60 sec =3600 sec
1 hour 1 min

This way you can easily see what cancels. I also begin by putting an equals sign with the desired units on the right side of my page. I hope the equation looks the way I intended... If not, it should have the 1 hour under the 60 min and the 1 min under the 60 sec.