How should I prepare for the math in Gen Chem 2?

[boburnham]

Hello,

At my CC, Gen Chem 1 does not require pre calc as a prerequisite. Because of this, I assumed pre calc wouldn't be a prerequisite for Gen Chem 2, but it is.

I had to get special permission to be able to register without having pre calc taken.

I am taking Gen Chem 2 over the summer, so I will have about 2 weeks after the semester's over to work on the math.

Where would be the best place to review for Gen Chem 2's math?

Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Lucca]

That depends on what your general chemistry class requires of you. It would be useful to contact the professor and ask them exactly what are the math expectations for the course.

Khan academy would be the best place to learn pre calculus and calculus concepts. They also have ways to practice online.

 

[Dr.Kat]

Hello,

At my CC, Gen Chem 1 does not require pre calc as a prerequisite. Because of this, I assumed pre calc wouldn't be a prerequisite for Gen Chem 2, but it is.

I had to get special permission to be able to register without having pre calc taken.

I am taking Gen Chem 2 over the summer, so I will have about 2 weeks after the semester's over to work on the math.

Where would be the best place to review for Gen Chem 2's math?

Thanks!

From what I remember, G.Chem 2 it's not too math heavy. It's just like algebra like in G.Chem 1. Don't fret!

 

[BeddingfieldMD]

Maybe I'm forgetting something, but I don't recall Gen Chem 2 having much (if any) calculus involved. As mentioned above, I don't recall it being substantially more math-heavy than Gen Chem 1. A lot of stoichiometry, balancing equations, etc. Algebra stuff for the most part. Best way to prepare for it is to practice your assigned problems, as well as other practice tests and problems you can get your hands on. Shouldn't be much in the way of actual "pre-calc" material that you won't have at least some familiarity with.

 

[longhaul3]

You shouldn't need much beyond what you would have learned in Algebra II in high school. There is no trigonometry in chemistry as far as I can remember. You definitely want to be comfortable with logarithms.

Besides the more arcane trig stuff, pre-calc doesn't add much new content on top of a good Algebra II background. Khan Academy should be enough, and there are a zillion places on the internet to find practice problems. I wouldn't worry too much—plus, in all likelihood you'll never be without a calculator.

 

[Geo16]

Taking Gen Chem 2.
Seems like there is no Math after this midterm (as we prepare for Org Chem?) and there is no way pre-calc or calc is involved in the course. Just pure algebra and solving for x.

 

[Turkishking]

Just algebra. But very conceptual heavy.

 

[boburnham]

Maybe I'm forgetting something, but I don't recall Gen Chem 2 having much (if any) calculus involved. As mentioned above, I don't recall it being substantially more math-heavy than Gen Chem 1. A lot of stoichiometry, balancing equations, etc. Algebra stuff for the most part. Best way to prepare for it is to practice your assigned problems, as well as other practice tests and problems you can get your hands on. Shouldn't be much in the way of actual "pre-calc" material that you won't have at least some familiarity with.

Thanks!
The head of the Chemistry department was freaking out because I don't have precalc completed (I'm taking it over summer with Gen Chem 2)

I think the biggest thing that he was worried about was the use of logarithms in the first chapter of G Chem 2

 

[boburnham]

You shouldn't need much beyond what you would have learned in Algebra II in high school. There is no trigonometry in chemistry as far as I can remember. You definitely want to be comfortable with logarithms.

Besides the more arcane trig stuff, pre-calc doesn't add much new content on top of a good Algebra II background. Khan Academy should be enough, and there are a zillion places on the internet to find practice problems. I wouldn't worry too much—plus, in all likelihood you'll never be without a calculator.

Thanks for commenting!

I reviewed some of the math in G Chem 2 with my current G Chem 1 professor and the practice problems consisted of using ln, log, and logarithms. They were somewhat kind of confusing at first since I've never seen these problems before but I think they will be fairly easy once I spend some time practicing them with Khan Academy

 

[Turkishking]

Thanks for commenting!

I reviewed some of the math in G Chem 2 with my current G Chem 1 professor and the practice problems consisted of using ln, log, and logarithms. They were somewhat kind of confusing at first since I've never seen these problems before but I think they will be fairly easy once I spend some time practicing them with Khan Academy

The logs are easy. Solving for m and n was fun at the time

 

[bioboy23]

Im in it currently and we are going through kinetics. There is a lot of calculus that went into the formulas we use in this chapter, but my prof doesn't expect us to learn it all. She derives all of the equations just so we can see where they come from, then we just memorize the final equation for the test. I have friends who have taken calc in the class with me and its much easier for them to understand it. For me its just memorizing random formulas and not really knowing why were doing what we are. But before this chapter, the class has been an absolute breeze. If you're good with concepts, you'll be alright.

 

[boburnham]

Im in it currently and we are going through kinetics. There is a lot of calculus that went into the formulas we use in this chapter, but my prof doesn't expect us to learn it all. She derives all of the equations just so we can see where they come from, then we just memorize the final equation for the test. I have friends who have taken calc in the class with me and its much easier for them to understand it. For me its just memorizing random formulas and not really knowing why were doing what we are. But before this chapter, the class has been an absolute breeze. If you're good with concepts, you'll be alright.

Yeah what you've doing with memorizing random formulas and not truly understanding them is what I just did last chapter with the ideal gas law problems PV = NRT (although I did understand it after I memorized the formulas), and it worked fine for me. It's nice to see you've had success with that method in G Chem 2 as that's probably what I'll end up doing.

Thanks for the post!

 

[bioboy23]

Yeah what you've doing with memorizing random formulas and not truly understanding them is what I just did last chapter with the ideal gas law problems PV = NRT (although I did understand it after I memorized the formulas), and it worked fine for me. It's nice to see you've had success with that method in G Chem 2 as that's probably what I'll end up doing.

Thanks for the post!

You'll be just fine then. Personally, I hate math but I loved the chem 1 math. Chem 2 is a little different, but if you've had success in chem 1 doing this, you're golden!

 

[Saifa]

Your professor might mention concepts from calculus when discussing things like rate laws, which will distill down to simple algebra/arithmetic anyway. It's a very formulaic course.

 

[longhaul3]

Thanks for commenting!

I reviewed some of the math in G Chem 2 with my current G Chem 1 professor and the practice problems consisted of using ln, log, and logarithms. They were somewhat kind of confusing at first since I've never seen these problems before but I think they will be fairly easy once I spend some time practicing them with Khan Academy

You definitely need to be comfortable with logarithms. Aside from statistics, which I would say is a different discipline altogether, it's probably the only important mathematical concept you need all the way from college chemistry through medical school.

P.S. re: the terminology you used in the bolded phrase, ln and log are both logarithms with different bases. I'm sure you know that but in case you didn't, maybe it will save you some confusion. Good luck and don't get hung up on the math!

 

[boburnham]

You'll be just fine then. Personally, I hate math but I loved the chem 1 math. Chem 2 is a little different, but if you've had success in chem 1 doing this, you're golden!

Yeah so far I love using the equations in Chem 1. I'm more worried to take pre calc as opposed to chem 2 cause I find math less interesting so it'l harder for me to put in the effort whereas with Chem 1 I enjoy doing the problems so I'm sure Chem 2 will be no different

 

[Blanky]

Logs, dealing with ln and basic algebra...

 

[Turkishking]

Yeah so far I love using the equations in Chem 1. I'm more worried to take pre calc as opposed to chem 2 cause I find math less interesting so it'l harder for me to put in the effort whereas with Chem 1 I enjoy doing the problems so I'm sure Chem 2 will be no different

Doing the algebra is not that hard. The course is easy. Concepts, and basic algebra. Kinetics may be a little tricky at first, but you will get it. I enjoyed chemistry so much I read each chapter, and did all the problems in the back of the book. Even for Chem 1.

 

[RogueBanana]

It depends honestly, Gen Chem in general is all based on calculus. Most professors don't go deeply into it, but pretty much all of the equations you use (at least as far as rate and chemical kinetics) are derived using calculus.

That being said, most professors only require a pre-calc (aka basic algebra) level of mathematics knowledge. If you can read an equation and substitute values, then solve for the missing value, you should be fine for GChem. As others have said, it is very conceptually based.