Class of 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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nOchemallday said:
Pchem is notoriously difficult at my UG. It's because they teach at a level way above the students. There's just an absurd amount of notation and math. It's technically a Thermo and Kinetics class, but we did maybe 2 weeks (the last 2 weeks) of reaction kinetics and the other 8 weeks + thanksgiving week on thermo/state functions/colligative properties/phase equilibria. We did a lot of derivations.
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Wait... I got confused...

nOchemallday said:
It's the introductory class to pchem. For our first test the curve was A = 87+, B = 65-87, C = 45-65, D = 45-. And the final was harder than that one, so I imagine final grades will be curved on a similar scale.

And analytical is basically not chemistry. It's statistics meets EE meets a high school chem teacher.
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Agent B said:
Wait... I got confused...
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From wikipedia:

"Physical chemistry
Some of the relationships that physical chemistry strives to resolve include the effects of:


  1. Intermolecular forces that act upon the physical properties of materials (plasticity, tensile strength, surface tension in liquids).
  2. Reaction kinetics on the rate of a reaction.
  3. The identity of ions and the electrical conductivity of materials.
  4. Surface chemistry and electrochemistry of membranes.
  5. Interaction of one body with another in terms of quantities of heat and work called thermodynamics.
  6. Transfer of heat between a chemical system and its surroundings during change of phase or chemical reaction taking place called thermochemistry
  7. Study of colligative properties of number of species present in solution.
  8. Number of phases, number of components and degree of freedom (or variance) can be correlated with one another with help of phase rule.
  9. Reactions of electrochemical cells."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_chemistry

We covered all the things in bold in Thermodynamics and Kinetics (=what I have been calling 'Thermo'), the intro to the Pchem sequence. The entire Pchem sequence (including thermo) is very difficult at my UG; they all have a pretty substantial curve.

Hopefully that makes sense?😕
 
nOchemallday said:
From wikipedia:

"Physical chemistry
Some of the relationships that physical chemistry strives to resolve include the effects of:




    • Intermolecular forces that act upon the physical properties of materials (plasticity, tensile strength, surface tension in liquids).
    • Reaction kinetics on the rate of a reaction.
    • The identity of ions and the electrical conductivity of materials.
    • Surface chemistry and electrochemistry of membranes.
    • Interaction of one body with another in terms of quantities of heat and work called thermodynamics.
    • Transfer of heat between a chemical system and its surroundings during change of phase or chemical reaction taking place called thermochemistry
    • Study of colligative properties of number of species present in solution.
    • Number of phases, number of components and degree of freedom (or variance) can be correlated with one another with help of phase rule.
    • Reactions of electrochemical cells."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_chemistry

We covered all the things in bold in Thermodynamics and Kinetics (=what I have been calling 'Thermo'), the intro to the Pchem sequence. The entire Pchem sequence (including thermo) is very difficult at my UG; they all have a pretty substantial curve.

Hopefully that makes sense?😕
Click to expand...
I like chemistry but this sounds dreadful... Pchem is killer at my institution too
 
nOchemallday said:
From wikipedia:

"Physical chemistry
Some of the relationships that physical chemistry strives to resolve include the effects of:



    • Intermolecular forces that act upon the physical properties of materials (plasticity, tensile strength, surface tension in liquids).
    • Reaction kinetics on the rate of a reaction.
    • The identity of ions and the electrical conductivity of materials.
    • Surface chemistry and electrochemistry of membranes.
    • Interaction of one body with another in terms of quantities of heat and work called thermodynamics.
    • Transfer of heat between a chemical system and its surroundings during change of phase or chemical reaction taking place called thermochemistry
    • Study of colligative properties of number of species present in solution.
    • Number of phases, number of components and degree of freedom (or variance) can be correlated with one another with help of phase rule.
    • Reactions of electrochemical cells."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_chemistry

We covered all the things in bold in Thermodynamics and Kinetics (=what I have been calling 'Thermo'), the intro to the Pchem sequence. The entire Pchem sequence (including thermo) is very difficult at my UG; they all have a pretty substantial curve.

Hopefully that makes sense?😕
Click to expand...

A typical pchem course most universities (quarter or semester) covers all the bolded stuff you mentioned (plus ion conductivity stuff) (i.e. pchem 1). Pchem 2 = quantum mechanics applied to chemistry.

And isn't 9 just basically 6 but you have to use that G=nFE from gen chem?
 
Agent B said:
A typical pchem course most universities (quarter or semester) covers all the bolded stuff you mentioned (plus ion conductivity stuff) (i.e. pchem 1). Pchem 2 = quantum mechanics applied to chemistry.

And isn't 9 just basically 6 but you have to use that G=nFE from gen chem?
Click to expand...
Our sequence must be run differently then. Ours is 2 lectures, 2 labs. We take Thermo fall quarter, then take Pchem Lab 1 the following quarter (which has a 1 hour lecture that covers the topics used in the experiments). Then senior year we take Pchem Lecture (covers quantum mechanics) and Pchem Lab 2 in fall quarter. So I guess it sounds like our Thermo is the same as your Pchem 1, and our Pchem is the same as your Pchem2, but we have added labs (I'm a chem major).

As for 9 and 6, probably. I just used wikipedia to source cause it was quick and easy.
 
Pchem makes me cry -___-; it's calculus disguised as chemistry word problems!
 
nOchemallday said:
Our sequence must be run differently then. Ours is 2 lectures, 2 labs. We take Thermo fall quarter, then take Pchem Lab 1 the following quarter (which has a 1 hour lecture that covers the topics used in the experiments). Then senior year we take Pchem Lecture (covers quantum mechanics) and Pchem Lab 2 in fall quarter. So I guess it sounds like our Thermo is the same as your Pchem 1, and our Pchem is the same as your Pchem2, but we have added labs (I'm a chem major).

As for 9 and 6, probably. I just used wikipedia to source cause it was quick and easy.
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Oh man... If there's one thing I completely DESPISE, it's the labs... I can't stand chem labs.

And I'm a physics major. I just took this pchem/thermo course to compensate my AP chem credit.
 
silverturtle said:
I'm so burnt out 🙁
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Aren't you like an animal bio major or something? I can sympathize... because I hate useless bio lol.

turayza said:
Pchem makes me cry -___-; it's calculus disguised as chemistry word problems!
Click to expand...

Pchem is basically the least evil upper-level chem course you can see (strictly thermo here, quantum is a different story). You just need patience, determination... and a good professor/book.
 
Agent B said:
Aren't you like an animal bio major or something? I can sympathize... because I hate useless bio lol.
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Most of the courses I take are not in my concentration, since it's pretty multidisciplinary.
 
Agent B said:
Pchem is basically the least evil upper-level chem course you can see (strictly thermo here, quantum is a different story). You just need patience, determination... and a good professor/book.
Click to expand...

Hahah good thing it's the only math-y upper level chem I'm taking.. but you're a physics major ... --> enjoys math??


Silverturtle: on the bright side, winter break?! 😀
 
turayza said:
Hahah good thing it's the only math-y upper level chem I'm taking.. but you're a physics major ... --> enjoys math??
Click to expand...

Pretty much. Truth be told, I learn way more math in my physics courses than in my math courses (like the physical meaning behind polar coordinates). I was initially planning in majoring in math but I refused because I absolutely despise proofs and all those abstract crap courses. The only math courses I enjoyed are calc, linear algebra and diff eq.
 
Agent B said:
Pchem isn't all so terrible (that trophy goes to stat mech). It's just gen chem on steroids... and a lot of calculus and diff eqs.
Click to expand...
turayza said:
Pchem makes me cry -___-; it's calculus disguised as chemistry word problems!
Click to expand...

And I hate calc... I didn't do bad in it or anything but I just never liked it or gen chem :shrug:... More power to you guys though. I started off double majoring in chem so I have taken a few chem classes. Gen chem was the most boring though
 
No Limits said:
And I hate calc... I didn't do bad in it or anything but I just never liked it or gen chem :shrug:... More power to you guys though. I started off double majoring in chem so I have taken a few chem classes. Gen chem was the most boring though
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+1 hahahah
What do you mean double majoring in chem? Are there two chem degrees in your school...?
 
turayza said:
+1 hahahah
What do you mean double majoring in chem? Are there two chem degrees in your school...?
Click to expand...
lol oops please excuse my typos i'm exhausted and sleep deprived.. No, I meant one of the degrees I was majoring in was chemistry then I dropped it for something else.

Btw I've never seen you in this thread before, welcome!
 
No Limits said:
lol oops please excuse my typos i'm exhausted and sleep deprived.. No, I meant one of the degrees I was majoring in was chemistry then I dropped it for something else.

Btw I've never seen you in this thread before, welcome!
Click to expand...

Ohh gotcha.
Thanks! I was looking up personal statement tips, stumbled upon SDN and discovered that I had made an account last year hahah.
 
Hey guys. I think the last thing I posted was about how I had the flu... Turns out it was pneumonia, so I've been super sick all week. Not awesome!! I'm sooo ready for this semester to be over.

Silverturtle, I sincerely hope you feel better soon!! How much longer do you have?

Everyone else, good conversation! I'm taking pchem next year.... Ugh I'm not excited.
 
sunflower18 said:
Hey guys. I think the last thing I posted was about how I had the flu... Turns out it was pneumonia, so I've been super sick all week. Not awesome!! I'm sooo ready for this semester to be over.

Silverturtle, I sincerely hope you feel better soon!! How much longer do you have?

Everyone else, good conversation! I'm taking pchem next year.... Ugh I'm not excited.
Click to expand...
Yikes! So you are probably on a z-pak right now? I was wondering how you were feeling, hopefully you are feeling a lot better now.
 
No Limits said:
Yikes! So you are probably on a z-pak right now? I was wondering how you were feeling, hopefully you are feeling a lot better now.
Click to expand...

I am indeed on a Z-pak!! It made me feel super nauseous at first but then it really helped. Cough is still there, but fever is gone. Antibiotics are awesome.
 
silverturtle said:
I've taken more chem and physics courses than bio courses. Sooo no.
Click to expand...

Yeah okay. Keep making stuff up lol. 😉

No Limits said:
lol oops please excuse my typos i'm exhausted and sleep deprived.. No, I meant one of the degrees I was majoring in was chemistry then I dropped it for something else.

Btw I've never seen you in this thread before, welcome!
Click to expand...

Smart move. Chemistry is a really terrible major in general.
 
Agent B said:
Smart move. Chemistry is a really terrible major in general.
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I agree... I just wasn't loving it the way I thought I would. Definitely respect those who do it though.

sunflower18 said:
I am indeed on a Z-pak!! It made me feel super nauseous at first but then it really helped. Cough is still there, but fever is gone. Antibiotics are awesome.
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coughing excessively drives me crazy! I had pneumonia before and it sucked but I hated the coughing more than anything. Luckily the fever is gone so you'll be back to regular self in no time.
 
No Limits said:
I agree... I just wasn't loving it the way I thought I would. Definitely respect those who do it though.


coughing excessively drives me crazy! I had pneumonia before and it sucked but I hated the coughing more than anything. Luckily the fever is gone so you'll be back to regular self in no time.
Click to expand...

Aww, I love chemistry!! It sucks sometimes but I really do love it. I'm happy that I'm majoring in it.

Ugh yes. But the combination of chills and coughing multiple times every minute made for a really crappy illness. Couldn't sleep at all. I don't love the persisting cough, but it's sooo much better than having a cough and a fever. Or even a fever. I was so weak and achy and delirious. I hadn't had a fever in like 10 years. I've got much more sympathy and empathy for the febrile patients I see now!!!
 
sunflower18 said:
Aww, I love chemistry!! It sucks sometimes but I really do love it. I'm happy that I'm majoring in it.

Ugh yes. But the combination of chills and coughing multiple times every minute made for a really crappy illness. Couldn't sleep at all. I don't love the persisting cough, but it's sooo much better than having a cough and a fever. Or even a fever. I was so weak and achy and delirious. I hadn't had a fever in like 10 years. I've got much more sympathy and empathy for the febrile patients I see now!!!
Click to expand...

I forgot you were a chem major lol. I like orgo, biochem, and could even tolerate environmental chem 🙂 ...gen chem, analytical, and pchem :uhno:


you're right about the chills and body aches, it feels awful. But the cough... especially in public places was so frustrating. Ugghh it almost seems like the cough gets worst when you have to be in places that are typically quiet like during an exam or during the very few times your professor is actually teaching something important
 
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I'm done with finals! 🙂🙂🙂

For all you chemistry majors, what classes would you suggest I take after Organic 1&2? I used my AP credit to skip Gen Chem so I still need a year of inorganic chemistry and sort of want to avoid classes that are too difficult so I can focus on my physics classes.
 
dechristine said:
I'm done with finals! 🙂🙂🙂

For all you chemistry majors, what classes would you suggest I take after Organic 1&2? I used my AP credit to skip Gen Chem so I still need a year of inorganic chemistry and sort of want to avoid classes that are too difficult so I can focus on my physics classes.
Click to expand...

If biochem qualifies, take it! I don't think there are any "not too difficult" upper level chemistry courses. Bioc was hands down my favorite series out of all the physical/biological science classes.
If you enjoy calculus a lot and/or are a masochist, take pchem.
 
dechristine said:
I'm done with finals! 🙂🙂🙂

For all you chemistry majors, what classes would you suggest I take after Organic 1&2? I used my AP credit to skip Gen Chem so I still need a year of inorganic chemistry and sort of want to avoid classes that are too difficult so I can focus on my physics classes.
Click to expand...

Advanced inorganic chemistry is a really interesting class. We learned all about metals and coordination complexes and such. Very theoretical.

I haven't taken biochem yet but I'm so excited about it. I'm not sure that biochem would count if you're looking for inorganic though.
 
I have a genetics final on Sunday and haven't started studying noooooo

At least it's at 2pm.
 
dechristine said:
I'm done with finals! 🙂🙂🙂

For all you chemistry majors, what classes would you suggest I take after Organic 1&2? I used my AP credit to skip Gen Chem so I still need a year of inorganic chemistry and sort of want to avoid classes that are too difficult so I can focus on my physics classes.
Click to expand...

Go for pchem. It's honestly not terrible. It's physics applied to chemistry.
 
Gonna skip over all of that PChem conversation....

Cheers to the end of finals, guys! 🙂
 
Agent B said:
ikr. I wouldn't want to go to neurotroph's school
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lol you'd be surprised

I don't really mind since we haven't had class since the 6th and I can barely tell what day of the week it is anyway.
 
dechristine said:
I'm done with finals! 🙂🙂🙂

For all you chemistry majors, what classes would you suggest I take after Organic 1&2? I used my AP credit to skip Gen Chem so I still need a year of inorganic chemistry and sort of want to avoid classes that are too difficult so I can focus on my physics classes.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I don't know how strictly the gen-chem replacement requirement is. What I mean is I don't know if you have to replace gen chem with inorganic.
You're options are probably Inorganic chem, Pchem, or Analytical chem.

@sunflower18 can probably give a second opinion but my break-down would be this:
Inorganic is typically junior/senior level (semi- to fully-) intensive chem that has a lot of theoretical work with metals/molecular symmetry(point group) theory. There's minimal math, but a lot of memorizing facts and recognizing patterns.

Pchem is also usually a junior/senior level course. Typically it's more math-heavy (specifically calc), but also contains some (minimal of the 3) theoretical topics. I really want to harp on the math part though, because this is what makes or breaks people in Pchem.

Analytical will usually have an introductory course in the 200-level. However it can be a hodgepodge of different things. Typically it involves a lot of data analysis (i.e. Statistics) and a broad (gen-chem-esque) knowledge of chemistry. The classes can also require a good standing in math, but it's mostly algebra, almost no calc.

My personal opinion would be to look for an intro class that's roughly 200-level. For instance an intro to analytical class may be disguised as "Quantitative analysis" or "instrumental analysis." Pchem might be "Thermodynamics." I also don't know if you can mix-and-match these classes. I think it would be easier (although maybe not better) to take an intro to inorganic + intro to analytical than taking a full sequence of any individual type.

Take the following with a grain of salt:
Typically Pchem is the most difficult (this is probably because people aren't prepared for the amount of math involved).
Inorganic is relatively hard, but it's typically a "you get out what you put in" sort of class. You'll probably have to work hard for an A, but you can expect that when you know you're stuff they aren't gonna sideswipe you.
Analytical is enirely hit-or-miss. It could be easy, it could be difficult; frankly, a lot of it depends on where the professor wants to take the class.

In my case: Pchem has been the toughest so far. Analytical has been middle of the playing field. and Inorganic has been substantially easier. The content was managable in each of the classes, but the difficulty was entirely dependent on the professors I had for each of the courses. Maybe ask around to see which professors are better?
 
nOchemallday said:
To be honest, I don't know how strictly the gen-chem replacement requirement is. What I mean is I don't know if you have to replace gen chem with inorganic.
You're options are probably Inorganic chem, Pchem, or Analytical chem.

@sunflower18 can probably give a second opinion but my break-down would be this:
Inorganic is typically junior/senior level (semi- to fully-) intensive chem that has a lot of theoretical work with metals/molecular symmetry(point group) theory. There's minimal math, but a lot of memorizing facts and recognizing patterns.

Pchem is also usually a junior/senior level course. Typically it's more math-heavy (specifically calc), but also contains some (minimal of the 3) theoretical topics. I really want to harp on the math part though, because this is what makes or breaks people in Pchem.

Analytical will usually have an introductory course in the 200-level. However it can be a hodgepodge of different things. Typically it involves a lot of data analysis (i.e. Statistics) and a broad (gen-chem-esque) knowledge of chemistry. The classes can also require a good standing in math, but it's mostly algebra, almost no calc.

My personal opinion would be to look for an intro class that's roughly 200-level. For instance an intro to analytical class may be disguised as "Quantitative analysis" or "instrumental analysis." Pchem might be "Thermodynamics." I also don't know if you can mix-and-match these classes. I think it would be easier (although maybe not better) to take an intro to inorganic + intro to analytical than taking a full sequence of any individual type.

Take the following with a grain of salt:
Typically Pchem is the most difficult (this is probably because people aren't prepared for the amount of math involved).
Inorganic is relatively hard, but it's typically a "you get out what you put in" sort of class. You'll probably have to work hard for an A, but you can expect that when you know you're stuff they aren't gonna sideswipe you.
Analytical is enirely hit-or-miss. It could be easy, it could be difficult; frankly, a lot of it depends on where the professor wants to take the class.

In my case: Pchem has been the toughest so far. Analytical has been middle of the playing field. and Inorganic has been substantially easier. The content was managable in each of the classes, but the difficulty was entirely dependent on the professors I had for each of the courses. Maybe ask around to see which professors are better?
Click to expand...

Thanks for all of your advice, guys! I still have a semester of Organic so I have time to think about it — I might ask my Organic professor about her thoughts as well. From your post it sounds like inorganic chem is about the same as organic chem (in my organic class at least, it's a lot of getting familiar with mechanisms and having an intuition of what will happen in a reaction) which sounds like a good class for me to take. It took me a while to get used to saying "this will probably happen" vs. "this will happen because I have the numbers to support it" but I do like the theory. I'm sure I would be able to do the math in pchem, but I'm not sure if I would want to for an elective class. I have already taken thermodynamics (for physics) and I didn't like it very much because it was boring.
 
nOchemallday said:
To be honest, I don't know how strictly the gen-chem replacement requirement is. What I mean is I don't know if you have to replace gen chem with inorganic.
You're options are probably Inorganic chem, Pchem, or Analytical chem.

@sunflower18 can probably give a second opinion but my break-down would be this:
Inorganic is typically junior/senior level (semi- to fully-) intensive chem that has a lot of theoretical work with metals/molecular symmetry(point group) theory. There's minimal math, but a lot of memorizing facts and recognizing patterns.

Pchem is also usually a junior/senior level course. Typically it's more math-heavy (specifically calc), but also contains some (minimal of the 3) theoretical topics. I really want to harp on the math part though, because this is what makes or breaks people in Pchem.

Analytical will usually have an introductory course in the 200-level. However it can be a hodgepodge of different things. Typically it involves a lot of data analysis (i.e. Statistics) and a broad (gen-chem-esque) knowledge of chemistry. The classes can also require a good standing in math, but it's mostly algebra, almost no calc.

My personal opinion would be to look for an intro class that's roughly 200-level. For instance an intro to analytical class may be disguised as "Quantitative analysis" or "instrumental analysis." Pchem might be "Thermodynamics." I also don't know if you can mix-and-match these classes. I think it would be easier (although maybe not better) to take an intro to inorganic + intro to analytical than taking a full sequence of any individual type.

Take the following with a grain of salt:
Typically Pchem is the most difficult (this is probably because people aren't prepared for the amount of math involved).
Inorganic is relatively hard, but it's typically a "you get out what you put in" sort of class. You'll probably have to work hard for an A, but you can expect that when you know you're stuff they aren't gonna sideswipe you.
Analytical is enirely hit-or-miss. It could be easy, it could be difficult; frankly, a lot of it depends on where the professor wants to take the class.

In my case: Pchem has been the toughest so far. Analytical has been middle of the playing field. and Inorganic has been substantially easier. The content was managable in each of the classes, but the difficulty was entirely dependent on the professors I had for each of the courses. Maybe ask around to see which professors are better?
Click to expand...

I agree almost 100% with your perspective. Except my school's analytical class is 400 level and almost entirely instrumental... I think that's just because of our faculty interests and departmental resources.
 
Woah looks like a lot of you are chem majors

Haha sorry to all of you who aren't done with finals 🙁 You'll be sleeping for 10 hrs each night in about a week 😉
 
missdr10 said:
Woah looks like a lot of you are chem majors

Haha sorry to all of you who aren't done with finals 🙁 You'll be sleeping for 10 hrs each night in about a week 😉
Click to expand...

I have one more. Ugh so exited to be done!!! But I work all break so that isn't super relaxing. Still, no school is good. I'm looking forward to writing my PS and activity descriptions!
 
neurotroph said:
I don't really mind since we haven't had class since the 6th and I can barely tell what day of the week it is anyway.
Click to expand...

Do you have a gap between the last day of instruction and finals week?
At my school, finals begin as soon as the day after last day of instruction (Saturday after the last Friday of class) but...we don't have finals on Sunday hahah.
 
turayza said:
Do you have a gap between the last day of instruction and finals week?
At my school, finals begin as soon as the day after last day of instruction (Saturday after the last Friday of class) but...we don't have finals on Sunday hahah.
Click to expand...

yeah we have a 3-day gap (5 including the weekend). It used to be a full week until they added fall break.

Also, my genetics final was a total fail womp womp. But gotta buckle down for physiology now since I know I can pull a good grade in that one.
 
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