How to Succeed in General Chemistry 2

[deleted577188]

---

Members don't see this ad.

.

 

[justAstudent]

I would change up your study style since it didn't work tge first time around. I found that study groups were only good after I had studied the material on my own. Study groups then became review sessions where if anyone had a question I was usually the one answering/teaching. That allowed me to make sure I knew the material while reinforcing what I learned.

 

[knv2u]

My professor was a naturally gifted lecturer and made the concepts easy to understand and click. Although I don't think his Thinkwell video lectures are as good as his class lectures, I think Thinkwell is a pretty good product. My professor required it, and I used it to provide an overview before I read each chapter in the textbook. Once I had an overview, I found it easy to focus on the concepts more in depth by reading the book. Some of my fellow students used it as a substitute to the textbook.

http://www.thinkwell.com/student/product/chemistry

Edited to add: I used an older version of the program; I'm not sure how it may have changed since the first release. They have since added a third professor/lecturer. Harman/Yee were the authors when I had the software; both are excellent.

 

[DoctorWhoo]

khanacademy and practice problems

 

[EvenStevens]

1.do endless practice problems.
2. ???????///
3. A

 

[deleted577188]

I would change up your study style since it didn't work tge first time around. I found that study groups were only good after I had studied the material on my own. Study groups then became review sessions where if anyone had a question I was usually the one answering/teaching. That allowed me to make sure I knew the material while reinforcing what I learned.

I only studied with 2 people from my dorm though. And I forgot to add that I think those 2 individuals helped me more than they hurt me. I found that we put the few concepts we understood in easier terms to understand. We all helped each other and had fun while learning.

 

[deleted577188]

My professor was a naturally gifted lecturer and made the concepts easy to understand and click. Although I don't think his Thinkwell video lectures are as good as his class lectures, I think Thinkwell is a pretty good product. My professor required it, and I used it to provide an overview before I read each chapter in the textbook. Once I had an overview, I found it easy to focus on the concepts more in depth by reading the book. Some of my fellow students used it as a substitute to the textbook.

http://www.thinkwell.com/student/product/chemistry

Edited to add: I used an older version of the program; I'm not sure how it may have changed since the first release. They have since added a third professor/lecturer. Harman/Yee were the authors when I had the software; both are excellent.

Save it. I ain't buying a darn thing.

 

[deleted577188]

khanacademy and practice problems

I do think I should do more practice problems. I just always underestimated how much of the exam would be math based instead of conceptual knowledge.

 

[deleted577188]

I only studied with 2 people from my dorm though. And I forgot to add that I think those 2 individuals helped me more than they hurt me. I found that we put the few concepts we understood in easier terms to understand. We all helped each other and had fun while learning.

And also those two people have become two of my coolest friends thus far so in addition to helping each other out with understanding the material, we had fun outside of chemistry.

 

[knv2u]

I do think I should do more practice problems. I just always underestimated how much of the exam would be math based instead of conceptual knowledge.

If you truly understand the concepts and can apply them, then you shouldn't have any problems setting up the math problems at all. It becomes mostly an exercise of plugging in numbers once you understand how those equations are derived and can think critically about them.

 

[solitarius]

You need to seriously up your game.

Buy a review book. Do tons of problems 'til you know it cold. Know the concepts and the minutiae. Unfortunately, there's lots of exceptions to the rule in gen chem (e.g,, anion solubility rules, etc.).

Chem 2 topics are much more advanced than Chem 1. Kinetics, equilibrium equations, buffers, redox, etc.

 

[LFC85]

First, try and find the source of your problems in Gen Chem I:

How is your math? Were you confident with the mathematics involved? Are you comfortable with logarithms and with the dimensional analysis that you did? If so, then you should have the foundation for Chem II. But be honest with yourself, if you need another semester to master the math before you advance, then definitely put the semester on hold. A bad foundation can ruin even the best intentions.

If your math is solid, then what else can you identify as a source of the problem? Did you work as many problems as you would in a math course? Or did you do the bare minimum required? I see you did the HW which is good, but did you go beyond that as far as working problems? Simply reading in any chemistry course is not sufficient - you have to invest time in practicing the material.

If that is the source of your problem, then you can easily correct that for Chem II. I see you have identified that as an area which you can improve in, which is excellent. If your problem was with the concepts, then continue the group work in Chem II with students who are as serious as you are.

I'm sure you can do well in Chem II, if your mathematical foundation is strong, and you devote yourself to working the problems routinely. Continue to read the book and go to class, and work as hard as your time constraints will allow. A C in Gen Chem I is easily forgivable, especially if you show that you've corrected your mistakes going forward.

Don't get discouraged, but take it as a lesson that these courses are not ones that you can cruise through, and that they will only get harder from here on out.

I'm sure you'll do well if you commit yourself. Best of luck!

 

[bambam92]

Alright OP I have some suggestions for you--first is do all the practice problems in the back of the book for each respective chapter--and know them cold! Next, Freelance Teacher is an amazing resource! He has videos on all the topics for gen chem, physics, and orgo on youtube. This guy is unbelievable at turning complex material into simple! I would watch all his videos for each respective topic you are on (he usually has several on each topic) and take notes on them! Maybe invest in my speed slider which accelerates the videos allowing you to watch them at 2x the speed. I have and it saves me a ton of time since I watch so many youtube vids for my pre-reqs. And not to scare you but gen chem II is no joke! At my school it blew away gen chem I, we never saw an average go above a 55. Typically class averages for gen chem II were in the high 40's, for gen chem I they were in the 60's. So realize that your C in gen chem I is a sign that you need to change your study style! So watch all of Freelance's videos for each topic--take close notes on them, solve all problems in the book, and profit!! BTW if you're trying to go to med school just "passing" the general chem series as you say you want to isn't going to get it done. So shoot for an A, y0u can do it if you follow my advice. Also pm me if you want any more advice. I got A's in both gen chem's if that matters, highest in the class for gen chem II🙂 Good luck! Cant emphasize Freelance enough though.

 

[Thoroughbred_Med]

Definitely get your arithmetic under control, it is even more heavy in gen chem 2.
Knock down and completely understand acid-base chemistry.

 

[deleted577188]

Not to ignore anyone's responses or anything, but general chemistry at Ohio State is worlds harder than chemistry at a lot of other schools, even Ivy's. The department is constantly under review for failing more students than they pass. There are students out there making A's, but it is only 25 or so kids that took AP out of maybe 500 in a lecture. It's crazy. I'll do what I have to do to see to it that I get a better grade. I understand every single concept from Gen Chem I, so I'll do more problems from Gen Chem II and see how this semester goes for me. Thanks for all of your responses.

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

all the suggestions were on point. i personally hated group study in college as how well you learn is limited by the motivation of your group. Read lecture notes and textbooks before class. do questions. see if you can get access to prior exams.

also hate to burst your bubble, but the sciences at the ivies arent harder. even if only 25/400 gets As, you got a C. You'll probably do better though.

 

[kaprincess247]

Practice problems!! And develop a method for solving the problems. What info/numbers do you have, what is the problem asking you to find, and what have you been taught that will get you from point A to point B. Once you start doing problems, you realize that each problem type typically has general steps that you can apply to arrive at the answer.

Make use of the gen chem tutors. As a tutor, the people I worked with did truly enjoy teaching others how to break down and work through the problems and we're usually familiar w/ teachers and what the tests are going to generally look like, and what concepts seem to be focused on.

 

[deleted577188]

all the suggestions were on point. i personally hated group study in college as how well you learn is limited by the motivation of your group. Read lecture notes and textbooks before class. do questions. see if you can get access to prior exams.

also hate to burst your bubble, but the sciences at the ivies arent harder. even if only 25/400 gets As, you got a C. You'll probably do better though.

Reread what I said. I said my colleges gen chem class is harder. I'm at tOSU, not an Ivy. Ohio State has a reputation for harder gen chem than many, many schools.

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

Not to ignore anyone's responses or anything, but general chemistry at Ohio State is worlds harder than chemistry at a lot of other schools, even Ivy's. The department is constantly under review for failing more students than they pass. There are students out there making A's, but it is only 25 or so kids that took AP out of maybe 500 in a lecture. It's crazy. I'll do what I have to do to see to it that I get a better grade. I understand every single concept from Gen Chem I, so I'll do more problems from Gen Chem II and see how this semester goes for me. Thanks for all of your responses.

 

[lobo.solo]

Practice problems!! And develop a method for solving the problems. What info/numbers do you have, what is the problem asking you to find, and what have you been taught that will get you from point A to point B. Once you start doing problems, you realize that each problem type typically has general steps that you can apply to arrive at the answer.

Make use of the gen chem tutors. As a tutor, the people I worked with did truly enjoy teaching others how to break down and work through the problems and we're usually familiar w/ teachers and what the tests are going to generally look like, and what concepts seem to be focused on.

This^. I would add understanding the concepts was crucial for me.