HELP!!!! Bombed ChemII Final - Retake in 2 Weeks

[mafunk]

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I bombed my my Chem II final, making my final grade a C.

BUT the prof is allowing me to retake the final to try to raise my grade. That said, I have to take the final within two weeks otherwise I'm stuck with a C.

The class I took was online and ALL self study. Clearly self study isn't my strength (though I did get an A in Chem I and Bio online via UNE).

Anyway..... PLEASE HELP
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can improve my grade? Techniques... resources.... etc....

Below is the final exam study guide she provided
.Chapter 13:
..Delta H of solutions
Entropy of solutions
Henry’s law
Molarity
Molality
Colligative properties
van’t Hoff factor.
.Chapter 14:
..Effective nuclear charge
Electronegativity
Ionization energy
Atomic radius
Metal and nonmetal oxides
Intermolecular force
Chemical reactions of group members with water, acid, etc
Ionic character
Characteristics of the different groups on the periodic table.
. Chapter 15:
Chemical reactions
Functional groups
Nomenclature
Polymers
Amino acid.
. Chapter 16:
Average rate
Rate laws
Method of initial rates
Reaction order
Units associated with reaction order
Factors that affect reaction rates (such as concentration, temperature, etc)
Half lives
Molecularity
Activation energy
Catalyst.
. Chapter 17:
Reaction quotient, Q
Equilibrium constant expression
Kc and Kp
Le Châtelier’s principle.
.Chapter 18:
..Acid/base strength
pH
Calculations for the concentration of the hydroxide ion and the hydronium ion
Conjugate Acid-base pairs
Ka and Kb.
.Chapter 19:
..Buffers
Factors that affect buffers
Calculating the pH of buffers
Hydronium ion concentration of a buffer
Acid-base titration curve
Titration/stoichiometry calculations
Solubility.
. Chapter 20:
Delta H and Delta S and Delta G
Factors that result in a decrease or increase in entropy
Spontaneous processes.
.Calculations for delta S°
Conditions for spontaneous reactions
Delta G calculations.
. Chapter 21:
Oxidant
Reductant
Balancing redox equations
Voltaic cells
E°cell
Strong oxidizing and reducing agents
Calculation of equilibrium constants for redox equations
Calculation of delta G°.
. Chapter 22:
Naturally occurring elements
Fixation
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Phosphorus cycle
Metallurgy
Hall-Heroult process
Contact process.
.Chapter 23:
..Oxidation states
Electron configuration
Atomic radius
Other properties of transition elements
Highlights of selected transition elements
Coordination compounds.
.Chapter 24:
..Types of emission
Writing equations for nuclear reactions
Nuclear stability
The kinetics of radioactive decay
Nuclear transmutation
The effects of nuclear radiation.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

Work lots of problems? That along with re-writing notes from class (I suppose the book, in your case) has always been most effective for the way I learn anyway. All those end-of-section and end-of-chapter problems should drill everything; a lot of that info relies on formulas or relationships.

There are also lots of free online lectures you can google if you're having trouble understanding from the book.

Good luck!

 

[ShoTyme]

The key to success in chemistry is doing problems. Lots of them. And when you are done with that, do some more. Before going to bed do problems. When you wake up, do problems. You get a do-over. Most don't. Don't waste your opportunity. Now go. Sign off here and do problems.

 

[ShoTyme]

Btw, there is no other magic formula that I found, if someone has one, please share. And if you run out of problems, let us know. I'm sure there are lots of people who wouldn't mind giving you more. 😀 Good luck!

Sho-

 

[mafunk]

Yes, I'm very thankful that she is giving me the opportunity to retake the exam.

Now that I've absorbed the initial shock of my poor grade I think I know what to do.

Thus far I have NOT used her study guide as it appeared (at a glance) that the guide too general. I figured I should just work end of chapter problems, chapter summaries, and of course the text in general.

Now I'm realizing that the study guide is actually an excellent tool for narrowing in on specific topics that appear on the exam. I think ShoTyme is right ---- I get a 'do over'. I will let you know how the retake goes

 

[OBK]

good luck - i agree, just do problems and good luck

 

[FrkyBgStok]

utilize khan academy youtube videos (or any other teaching supplement) if needed to really understand the material.

 

[Nate9862]

Hey this is quite the hard subject, nevermind online. I took chem I and II in 5 week sessions this summer; it was brutal. Chem II was SIGNIFICANTLY harder than Chem I because the concepts were much less intuitive, I thought. But, from a studying perspective, I'd say really spend some time UNDERSTANDING what each concept is about.

The hardest part I had with Chem II was definitely acid/base chemistry. I'm not sure how liberal your professor is with giving out the equations, either. I had to memorize all of the equations, which made it significantly more difficult.

If you get an equation sheet, make sure you understand exactly what each equation is used for, and what it's not used for. There's so many delta whatevers flying around, it gets hard to keep them straight.

I was successful because I read each chapter several times until I got a REALLY good grasp at what the concept behind the chapter was, it allowed me to utilize the problem solving strategies much easier. Also, do this before you start every problem:

1. Draw a picture or diagram to help conceptualize the problem
2. List everything you know
3. List the things you don't know, but need to know
4. List relevant equations.
5. Draw a diagram of how you get from things you know to the things you don't know.

This may sound a little simplistic, but if you do these things, you say organized. Sometimes when actually working the problem, you forget you need to do something like change celsius into kelvin, but if you were going through the process and drawing it out on a piece of paper, you're much more likely to remember it then, put it on paper, and not leave it out.

 

[mafunk]

utilize khan academy youtube videos (or any other teaching supplement) if needed to really understand the material.

Good suggestion. I'm using Khan for Physics.

Since starting this thread I started using all the Chemsitry videos from thinkwell (cost me $35). They are EXCELLENT!. I am now able to understand everything very clearly and doing the calculations is much more intuitive.

Once I actually do the retake of my exam I'll let you all know just how helpful the Thinkwell videos prove themselves to be. One thing... it sure makes learning alot more enjoyable.

 

[Pilates Doc]

Very admirable that you took Chem I online! How is that? I need to retake inorganic chem for 2 reasons : 1) I got horrible grades in chemistry and 2) By the time I finally apply to med school they will be expired.

Was it all that horrible? There have been great suggestions thus far...Khan academy I already utilize for math and even finances!

Have you ever considered a tutor?

 

[nickmx50]

Very admirable that you took Chem I online! How is that? I need to retake inorganic chem for 2 reasons : 1) I got horrible grades in chemistry and 2) By the time I finally apply to med school they will be expired.

Was it all that horrible? There have been great suggestions thus far...Khan academy I already utilize for math and even finances!

Have you ever considered a tutor?

Keep in mind, many med school won't accept online coursework for prereq's. Make sure the schools you have in mind allow it.

 

[mafunk]

Very admirable that you took Chem I online! How is that? I need to retake inorganic chem for 2 reasons : 1) I got horrible grades in chemistry and 2) By the time I finally apply to med school they will be expired.

Was it all that horrible? There have been great suggestions thus far...Khan academy I already utilize for math and even finances!

Have you ever considered a tutor?

Now that I've discovered Thinkwell I don't need a tutor for gen chem.

For Organic I am using Khan and also a phd student/tutor for added insurance.

 

[mafunk]

Keep in mind, many med school won't accept online coursework for prereq's. Make sure the schools you have in mind allow it.

True - it's important to call the schools you are applying to. I found that many will accept online courses, but VERY few will accept online labs