How did you Ace General Chemistry 2

[GoodEarth]

I can't seem to get past a B on exam and quizzes it's becoming quite frustrating knowing the hours i put in. What kind of study tactics or any other special things you did for this class? I have my last test and final in the coming weeks and I want to end the semester on a good note 😀

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[dArroway]

You see, it all started when my mother took my bike away....

 

[dArroway]

Seriously, just practice the review problems. There isn't a perfect strategy. You have to just figure out your niche.

 

[Isoprop]

there's like 3 or 4 general principles in general chemistry 2. the whole semester is applying those principles to different situations. one of them is l'chatlier. i can't remember the rest... but you need to figure this out.

 

[sully677]

Go to class. Take good notes. Do problems a LOT. And get good sleep.

 

[Quadratic]

Double post.

 

[Quadratic]

there's like 3 or 4 general principles in general chemistry 2. the whole semester is applying those principles to different situations. one of them is l'chatlier. i can't remember the rest... but you need to figure this out.

Eh...lechatlier's is more like G. Chem 1. G. Chem 2 is about mainly about 3 things: thermodynamics, spontaneity, and electron orbitals.

 

[Isoprop]

i guess this is school specific. i learned orbitals and thermodynamics in gchem 1. equilibrium, acid-base, Ksps in gchem 2.

 

[Ahmed786]

do all of the practice tests you are given (thats what i did just took it) i literally devoted 1 hour a day for an entire month to my final exam that was what it took for me to ace the class.

You need to actually understand the concepts of the class (like acid-base,ksp, bronsted lowry, lchatlier, thermodynamics, gibbs free energy etc) and not just kind of know them and hope ur prof puts easy questions on the test. There should not be a problem when you are practicing which you should not know how to do (actually do them do not just glance them over) i guarentee you wont go wrong

 

[lisasimpson87]

Yea, exactly, in my experience the people who spent hours and hours memorizing the book didn't do as well as the people who spent a few hours before the exam doing practice problems...if you know all the facts but can't do the problems, you're not going to do well, but if you know how to do the problems, even if you don't know all the facts, you'll do fine. And all professors have their "favorites" of the concepts they like to drill home, and doing the practice problems s/he gives you from past exams and homeworks will give you a sense of what he likes to test and how he designs his questions

 

[Insulinshock]

As someone said before there are like three basic concepts throughout the entire course. If you learn these basic concepts, and then learn to alter them depending on what your trying to find, then the course becomes really easy.

Practice problems are the best way to go. 👍

 

[Wylde]

Once you've got all the material down from studying, execute!

This may sound dumb, but in genchem 1 (just have the final left, this semester) I studied a lot and really mastered the material. On the exams, however, I'm ending up in the 5-10% (possibly A-) range because I am making a few stupid mistakes on my exams. These really add up and are very frustrating if you are putting in the hours and learning the material.

Go over your exams, find out why you are losing the points (for me, it was getting problems wrong that I knew every other day), and eliminate that issue.

 

[Insulinshock]

Once you've got all the material down from studying, execute!

This may sound dumb, but in genchem 1 (just have the final left, this semester) I studied a lot and really mastered the material. On the exams, however, I'm ending up in the 5-10% (possibly A-) range because I am making a few stupid mistakes on my exams. These really add up and are very frustrating if you are putting in the hours and learning the material.

Go over your exams, find out why you are losing the points (for me, it was getting problems wrong that I knew every other day), and eliminate that issue.

excellent point. i had the same problem in gen chem 1.

 

[pakbabydoll]

Lots and lots of practice problems.

Eh...lechatlier's is more like G. Chem 1. G. Chem 2 is about mainly about 3 things: thermodynamics, spontaneity, and electron orbitals.

We did thermodynamics and orbitals in G. Chem 1. I have not taken G chem 2 yet. I am taking it summer B.

 

[Insulinshock]

Lots and lots of practice problems.



We did thermodynamics and orbitals in G. Chem 1. I have not taken G chem 2 yet. I am taking it summer B.

G chem 2 I thought was actually easier. It might have been the prof, but just work your butt off and it should be an easy A for ya.

 

[Quadratic]

I guess it varies. Newer books I've seen structure orbitals and thermo to build on older stuff like ksp, solubility, and acid-base stuff. I guess it can go either way. Oh well.

 

[pakbabydoll]

G chem 2 I thought was actually easier. It might have been the prof, but just work your butt off and it should be an easy A for ya.

Hopefully! Our Chem 1 professor also teaches Chem 2 in summer so I know how to study for her exams and what to expect. Everyone says the class is easy but the labs get harder. Apparently in lab we get an unknown with 12 cations and 12 anions and we have to find all of them (75% of final lab grade).

 

[anomalous738232]

gen chem III over here (we are on qtrly systems) focuses on electron orbitals, geometry structures of molecules-atoms-compounds, chemical rxns and hydrogen. every professor does have their own style-- ours liked the periodic table. if you understand the periodic table, and why certain elements behave the way they do, you should be golden. this helps some what with thermo when it comes to cell potentials. other wise, just ask your prof

 

[Innokus]

Lab and class does get a little harder but I remember doing that experiment. It was tedious but it wasn't that difficult to determine the identity of the unknown. You do a series of tests to see how the cations react and whether or not there is a color change or a precipitate. You then add your unknown to the cations and see which one has the same reaction. Repeat with anions. Kinda crazy it would be worth 75% though. It shouldn't be that difficult.

 

[redlight]

go to office hours..

lol, he grilled me once he found out i dont go to class, but im sure it helps most people because most proffs bump grades up for people they think are trying their best or w/e (or some do at least).

oh, a strategy ive used is to study with people who get good grades (so you don't waste too much time explaining easy stuff to ppl too lazy to catch up and so we can all work on tough problems and actually be productive)

if you can do this weekly, you can have each person fully explain a week of classes and then all work on practice problems.. alternate who teaches so everyone participates. ive found that it helps to be able to explain complex stuff to peers because you really have to know your stuff or they'll pick you apart with questions. also, its good to hear someone else's interpretation of the stuff so you can learn to approach problems from different angles.

 

[PainKiller69]

Do one hundred practice problems until you reach a point where you know exactly how to solve the problems and which equation to plug which numbers into the second you read through it.

 

[loganhayes]

Chem 2 is more math-oriented and like any math problems, practice makes perfect. Compared to other sci courses, Chem 2 has less memorization. If you are good at math, it is a boon. You just need to figure out how to memorize some facts (understanding them, however, is a better way to go).

 

[uscmk]

I JUST took my final for Gen Chem B!

I had a pretty difficult time with Gen Chem A (had just switched majors from Print Journalism, of all things) and had to completely change the way in which I studied. It wasn't until the end of the semester that I realized what it took to ace the class, but I definitely applied it this semester.

Devote the VAST majority of your study time to doing problems and practice tests, I cannot stress this enough! Make sure you do understand the concepts though. This will greatly enhance your performance on difficult questions on the test that involve a rounded knowledge of the masterial as well as prepare you for the MCAT, which is heavily conceptual concerning Chemistry.

Also, be creative in where you find your resources. Scour the internet for practice tests. Three separate teachers teach Gen Chem at USC and all offer practice tests on our website so I made sure to take full advantage of all of them. In addition, I made sure to master the practice tests offered by Advanced Gen Chem. They post the key from the actual exams that were taken during the course of the semester, and those are usually more important to practice with since they are generally more difficult.

Anyway, I hope this helps! If you need any practice tests let me know, I have plenty 🙂 Good luck studying!