Do you need a good base in Gen chem to do really good in Ochem

[Qarmonist]

Hey guys, my gen chem is really weak and so is my base in it. I have forgotten a lot of things and haven't had chem for a year and half now. I'm going to start Ochem next quarter. My question is in order to do well in Ochem do I need to recall a lot of gen chem stuff. Or am I good starting a clean slate of Ochem? Can I do well in it without refering to gen chem, meaning can I do good like get A's by just studying hard for ochem by reading book etc, Or am i screwed?
What do you guys think. Thanks alot.

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[eddiescott]

Hey guys, my gen chem is really weak and so is my base in it. I have forgotten a lot of things and haven't had chem for a year and half now. I'm going to start Ochem next quarter. My question is in order to do well in Ochem do I need to recall a lot of gen chem stuff. Or am I good starting a clean slate of Ochem? Can I do well in it without refering to gen chem, meaning can I do good like get A's by just studying hard for ochem by reading book etc, Or am i screwed?
What do you guys think. Thanks alot.

Well I got all A's in Chem and I would say if you had a hard time in gen chem then your screwed bad. Sorry. 😱 😱

 

[Generallee]

Hey guys, my gen chem is really weak and so is my base in it. I have forgotten a lot of things and haven't had chem for a year and half now. I'm going to start Ochem next quarter. My question is in order to do well in Ochem do I need to recall a lot of gen chem stuff. Or am I good starting a clean slate of Ochem? Can I do well in it without refering to gen chem, meaning can I do good like get A's by just studying hard for ochem by reading book etc, Or am i screwed?
What do you guys think. Thanks alot.

Well, I tend to disagree with Eddiescott. I think they are pretty different. You should be able to fine in Ochem without being real good in Gen Chem. There are just too many differences with the two subjects. In fact, now that I think about it more, they are completely different. Though it would be good to know Gen Chem it is not absolutely necessary for success in Ochem....

 

[eddiescott]

Well, I tend to disagree with Eddiescott. I think they are pretty different. You should be able to fine in Ochem without being real good in Gen Chem. There are just too many differences with the two subjects. In fact, now that I think about it more, they are completely different. Though it would be good to know Gen Chem it is not absolutely necessary for success in Ochem....

Hey now COME ON.....

Seriously, ORGANIC is like the hardest science class in college and if a person cant do well in general chem then how are they going to magically and suddenly develop the study habits to do well in ORGANIC?

I had lots of late nights studying for ORG to get A's but didnt have to stay up late once for gen chem (inorganic)

As far as the comparisons, our very first Org chem exam was 99% from general chemistry.

So thats one whole test in the first class thats directly related.

You gotta admit that a person doesnt just change that quick!

 

[divertete]

Hey now COME ON.....

Seriously, ORGANIC is like the hardest science class in college and if a person cant do well in general chem then how are they going to magically and suddenly develop the study habits to do well in ORGANIC?

I agree that o chem is difficult, but for me it just makes more sense. It is logical, and by learning a few fundamental concepts you can deduce a lot of the answers. Sure, you have to memorize tons of reactions and mechanisms, but once you know them, you know them. For me, gen chem was much more difficult because it involved lots of unrelated topics that weren't intuitive. If study skills aren't the problem, I definitely think it's possible to be more successful in o chem.

 

[BUBBLICIOUS]

Hey guys, my gen chem is really weak and so is my base in it. I have forgotten a lot of things and haven't had chem for a year and half now. I'm going to start Ochem next quarter. My question is in order to do well in Ochem do I need to recall a lot of gen chem stuff. Or am I good starting a clean slate of Ochem? Can I do well in it without refering to gen chem, meaning can I do good like get A's by just studying hard for ochem by reading book etc, Or am i screwed?
What do you guys think. Thanks alot.

Don't need G-Chem to do well in O-Chem. G-chem involves rate of rxns, acid-base rxn, thermodynamics.....O-chem is very different. You are now dealing with carbon containing compounds like alcohols, ketones,aldehydes, and Carboxylic acids. You pretty much name compounds, memorize there physical/chemical properties which will make sense when you look at their characteristic structures(H-bonding, nonpolor, dipole) and then memorize rxns. While o-chem looks more complex it really boils down to what I just said. You will be fine. I completely disagree with anyone who believes you need G-Chem for O-Chem. It's like saying you need Geometry to take Algebra if you know what I mean 🙂

 

[dWiz]

Well I got all A's in Chem and I would say if you had a hard time in gen chem then your screwed bad. Sorry. 😱 😱

absolutely false, o.chem is totally different. U'll encounter a few things from gen. chem which u can review using ur old text book. I got all A's in gen. chem because a lot of math in it and i'm good at it, O.chem different story, don't ask and i'll be more than happy not telling 😡

 

[DDS2BE]

Hey guys, my gen chem is really weak and so is my base in it. I have forgotten a lot of things and haven't had chem for a year and half now. I'm going to start Ochem next quarter. My question is in order to do well in Ochem do I need to recall a lot of gen chem stuff. Or am I good starting a clean slate of Ochem? Can I do well in it without refering to gen chem, meaning can I do good like get A's by just studying hard for ochem by reading book etc, Or am i screwed?
What do you guys think.
Thanks alot.

Knowing general chemistry won’t give you enough points on O-chem. Of course there is a lot of background material that you should have learned prior entering o-chem class from general chemistry, but most of organic chemistry is based on synthesis reactions and a bunch of analytical stuff. If your question deals with organic section on DAT, then you definitely need brush up some o-chem before taking DAT.

 

[Sweeti8286]

orgo is very different than gen chem. All you really need to know from gen chem that's useful in orgo is really..what does C stand for..H and O....single, double, and triple bonds. Orgo is a lot of memorizing reactions really. So- you'll be fine.

However, I would like to add that if you don't remember much from gen chem....you ARE screwed for the DAT....

 

[USAF_Dentman]

Hey now COME ON.....

Seriously, ORGANIC is like the hardest science class in college and if a person cant do well in general chem then how are they going to magically and suddenly develop the study habits to do well in ORGANIC?

I had lots of late nights studying for ORG to get A's but didnt have to stay up late once for gen chem (inorganic)

As far as the comparisons, our very first Org chem exam was 99% from general chemistry.

So thats one whole test in the first class thats directly related.

You gotta admit that a person doesnt just change that quick!

Well, I barely got a 'B' in genchem but managed to get an 'A' in O-chem. I hated genchem, but really liked O-chem...so it all depends...

 

[IWuvTeef]

the 2 are really different. i hated gen chem but loved orgo...it just made more sense to me. for me, physics 1 and 2 were the hardest science classes i took mainly because the teachers and the books were horrible. i'm so glad there wasn't any physics on the dat.

 

[Biogirl361]

I want to concur with the people who said gen chem is completely different and not needed to do well in o-chem. I also barely managed to pull out a 3.5 in general chems while easily getting 4.0's in the orgo's. also, don't listen to people who tell you orgo is "the hardest science class in college." I'll be done with college in 3 months and I can tell you there are a lot harder classes. (genetics, biochem to name a few). It really is hyped up to be way way harder than it is. i know i was terrified going into it too and it was really not too bad at all once you get the hang of it, as long as you do all the homework.

 

[rocknightmare]

Organic chem is more understanding and less formulas. So def different beast and makes more sense in picture type of sense

 

[Qarmonist]

Thanks I feel much more at ease than I was before. I'm really much better of a memorizer than a formula person and math. I really suck at math. Gen chem just like someone said above its a bunch of formulas jumping from here to there no structure from one to the next, so I kept losing interest and therefore I barely got B's. Yet alone my instructors sucked too no interest in what they taught either, it was all talk and chalk. Hopefully I will have a better experience with O chem. One more question so is Ochem basically memorizing and then applying or how does it work? Thanks again guys big help 🙂

 

[beastly115]

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[dexadental]

Best way to tackle O-chem? Rewrite the book and seek to understand the material and why reactions happen the way they do rather than memorizing every detail. As far as gen chem being related to o-chem...NO WAY! They're two very different areas of chemistry, with general chemistry supplying the REASONS behind the reasons in organic chemistry as to why things happen...fortunately, these detailed areas of chemistry taught in gen chem are for the most part kept out of o-chem...I mean the hardest calc you may do in o-chem is simple adding and subtracting, with occasional EASY division, multiplication. Take the time to get an A in o-chem, because with a class that serves to weed out the weeds, and in such a large class that characterize o-chem class sizes, you really need an A to prove yourself and stand out.

 

[ToothMonkey]

I agree that o chem is difficult, but for me it just makes more sense. It is logical, and by learning a few fundamental concepts you can deduce a lot of the answers. Sure, you have to memorize tons of reactions and mechanisms, but once you know them, you know them. For me, gen chem was much more difficult because it involved lots of unrelated topics that weren't intuitive. If study skills aren't the problem, I definitely think it's possible to be more successful in o chem.

I agree with this 100%. The two subjects have less in common than you might think. I for one had C's in Gen Chem but A's in Orgo, so there's no reason why you can't do the same, Qarmonist.

 

[eddiescott]

I agree with this 100%. The two subjects have less in common than you might think. I for one had C's in Gen Chem but A's in Orgo, so there's no reason why you can't do the same, Qarmonist.

Well I guess these guys have me cornered on this topic.

I still dont agree however. I mean dont get me wrong. You can build a great lookin car without an engine.

Unfortunately, the car wont get you anywhere.

Understand? CAUSE I SURE DONT....hahahahah

Youll do fine ! Good luck.