How challenging is General Chem without having taken Intro/Basic Chem?

[eusungl]

Heres my situation:

I want to take a chem class to get a feel for it. I haven't taken a science course since 8 years ago, which was a basic(not general) chem class at a community college. I got an A in it(it was easy because the teacher gave us practice exams to take home which looked very similar to the real exams.

So now I have to decide...at my JC, the only prereq for general chem is a math class, which I've completed.

However, they also list an intro/basic chem class as a "recommended preparation" for this class.....so yes I have taken that class...but it was 8 years ago so I've totally forgotten what I learned.

Should I just retake this intro/basic chem class before taking on General Chem...?

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[omnione]

I would say no given the way chemistry classes are sequenced. However, this applies more to 4-year schools. Do you have a course description for both classes that you could post (like from a bulletin)? All you would have to do is decipher the descriptions of the courses. Sometimes, those intro courses aren't necessary because the first part of a gen chem classes covers it at a faster pace.

 

[njac]

I've never really heard of an "intro" to chem type class. At both of the universities I attended there was a 100 level general chemistry course requiring at least an algebra 2 background..

I don't think you would need prior classes but it will require more work. I took AP chem in high school so I already knew what a mole was and stoichiometry etc etc

 

[eusungl]

I would say no given the way chemistry classes are sequenced. However, this applies more to 4-year schools. Do you have a course description for both classes that you could post (like from a bulletin)?

Chem 1A General Chemistry 1: 5 units

prerequisite: math 253
recommended preparation: recent completion of chem 3 or high school chemistry.

This course is a study of the principles of general chemistry. Topics include atomic and molecular structure, bonding, nomenclature, chemical formulas, chemical equations, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, gases, solids, liquids, and solutions.


Chem 3: Fundamental Chemistry: 4 units

This course is a study of the basic principles of chemistry. It is designed especially for the student who intends to take chemistry 1A but needs more preparation. Topics include problem solving and calculation methods, nomenclature, chemical formulas, chemical equations, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, atomic and molecular structure, bonding, gases, solutions, acids, and bases.

 

[mrblah]

You don't need prior chemistry experience to excel in general chemistry.

The chem 3 course you described lets you learn some very basic chem fundamentals that will be covered again in way more depth during G-chem. This class is not a requirement for g-chem, and is more or less there for students who didn't have any high school chem experience.

The reason they require math as a pre-req is due to the complexity of some of the math equations involved in G-chem.

I say jump right into G-chem. I was in your shoes 2 years ago. I went back to school after 10 years of avoiding college. I didn't have any problems with going straight into G-chem, and had no problems recollecting what I learned 10 years prior.

I did have to retake pre-calc. though because I was completely lost when I tried to jump back into calculus after a 10 year haitus.

 

[seattle1013]

if you can handle simple algebra go to Gen Chem. without the introduction. I took the intro course, because I had been out of school for so long. When I went back I found myself board becuse intro had already taught me 80% of gen chemI.

 

[Scrubs Fan]

i'm not sure how your school structures it, but we had an Intro to chem and then we had the full year of General chemistry.

i would have to say, that the Intro to chem, can be summarized in the first two chapters of your general chem book. it's the basics ions stuff, stoichiometry, and i dunno what else

that's just my impression though. If you think you're a quick learner, and don't want to waste time on the simple stuff, then i say by all means skip it.

 

[RxWildcat]

If it were me, I'd skip the intro class as long as you have a solid math foundation.

 

[CycleCali]

I am TA for General Chemistry and can honestly tell you that the amount of study you put into the class will determine your grade, regardless of your previous prep (as long as you have the math prereq). Our University offers Chem 115, a general intro chem class before the 120A/120B General chem series(the one with the lab that counts for professional schools) - students who take 115 before starting the gen chem series do NOT do better than students who just jump into 120A. Only the students to commit to studing the material get good grades. Everything you need will be presented to you in the gen chem series, they will start from the beginning.

Hope this helps!

 

[OleMiss2012]

I took an intro chem class before Gen Chem. I'd never had any kind of Chemistry before. The same information was coverd, but the intro class really helped me understand it when we got into the topic in Gen Chem. It sure didn't hurt hearing the info twice. It definitely helped me. I made an "A" in both. How much do you remember from 8 years ago? Was it easy for you? Maybe get some Chem Cliff Notes and see if anything looks familiar.

CycleCali is correct. You do have to study in both to do well (duh). The intro class may just help with understanding a little bit better. You'll be ahead of the pack sort of. Wouldn't be a bad Summer II course before starting Gen Chem in the Fall.

 

[tncekm]

G. Chem isn't bad at all. Heck, I didn't even know intro classes existed until I met some friends in the nursing / dental hygiene programs. Definitely not worth it, IMHO.

 

[Mistysmoke]

It is a requirement at my school to take the intro class for both biology and chemistry before we can take the general classes.

I am in the intro classes for both this summer, and I am starting to wonder if I need to change my career choice. The hands on stuff makes sense to me, but, the chapters are boring and I am having trouble making sense of it all. Maybe it is because i am trying to get 16 weeks of info in my head in 8, or maybe I just don't do well with science. 🙁

So, next week I am going to two places to see if I can shadow or at least talk to a pharmacist. Either I will determine that this is REALLY what I want to do and will be more determined to get this info right, or I will learn that this is something that I need to walk away from.

 

[AbsoluteEthanol]

i disagree a bit with everyone here, I think general chemistry is a bit challenging, especially the laboratory component. General chemistry is very tedious and boring and for that reason i found it challenging. Organic chemistry on the other hand, is a lot more interesting and pertinent to real life, so although the subject itself may be more difficult, you will find yourself studying more for it. I've frequently encountered students with better marks in Ochem than in G-chem.

but to make a long story short, you should be able to dive right into gen chem, dont take any pre-reqs for it!

 

[tncekm]

I will say that there was a qualitative lab at my school that was particularly difficult, so I can see your point there, and it is definitely very boring, but despite all that I still don't know too many people who found g.chem more challenging than o.chem. 😛

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

Just go straight into General Chemistry, it is pretty much an intro series.

 

[sakigt]

I was forced into taking Intro to Chem.

What a great idea it was. I had a nice solid foundation that allowed me to not only do well, but to excel in Chem I and Chem II. If youre a bright person with time on your hands you could probably skip it, but for me it was helpful. I used to hate Chemistry and now I love it.