Jumping right into chem 1?

[iqe2010]

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I haven't taken chemistry since my junior year in high school. I'll be starting my second year of college in the fall and I'm enrolled in Chem 1. My professor just sent out an email saying that if we didn't take chem 1301 ( a 'remedial chemistry if you will) then we have to take a pre-req tests and score at least a 5/10 on it or else we'll forced to drop it. Am I doing myself a disservice by jumping right into chem without taking the fundamentals class? Initially I thought that chem 1301 was just a waste of money because it couldn't go towards my major, but now I'm kind of hating myself for not taking it. Now I really have no choice because I'll be entering my second year with only 31 credits, which is about 6 less than what should have and I can't delay taking chemistry any longer. I'm a biochem major, which is the largest major in my college. I really don't want to take more than four years to complete my degree.

So basically what I'm asking: Am I screwed for chem 1?

 

[flatearth22]

Ask people who took the class before.

If you are a biochem major there should be nothing daunting about genchem. Inorganic Chem 1 and 2 tend to be pretty basic and straightforward although some institutions do use them as a weed out course.

 

[Astarael]

You should be able to jump straight into chem 1. The remedial classes are more for people who struggle with the material but need the credit as part of a requirement for something else.

 

[911 Turbo]

Ask people who took the class before.

If you are a biochem major there should be nothing daunting about genchem. Inorganic Chem 1 and 2 tend to be pretty basic and straightforward although some institutions do use them as a weed out course.

Dude, you quoted yourself in your siggy? That's almost as bad as clapping for yourself after an introduction.

 

[iqe2010]

Ask people who took the class before.

If you are a biochem major there should be nothing daunting about genchem. Inorganic Chem 1 and 2 tend to be pretty basic and straightforward although some institutions do use them as a weed out course.

I think this may be a course you take after Organic. But I understand what you're saying though.

 

[flatearth22]

Dude, you quoted yourself in your siggy? That's almost as bad as clapping for yourself after an introduction.

The 12th man is a joke. I'm surprised aTm students are even able to count that high.

 

[DinoSaysRawr]

What would be a remedial course in Gen Chem? Would that be the equivalent of a Survey of Chemistry class? Please excuse my ignorance, I'm just a little confused on how there's such a thing as a remedial General Chemistry class.

 

[ThirdEye]

The 12th man is a joke. I'm surprised aTm students are even able to count that high.

I cannot disagree with this

 

[Astarael]

What would be a remedial course in Gen Chem? Would that be the equivalent of a Survey of Chemistry class? Please excuse my ignorance, I'm just a little confused on how there's such a thing as a remedial General Chemistry class.

Some universities have courses below the 1000 level for people who have never been exposed to the subject matter before. It would be somewhat analogous to taking pre-calc at a university. Generally speaking, the classes are meant for those who are taking the class outside their major to fulfill some requirement (for instance, an institutional science requirement for an English major). If you're majoring in the sciences, you should be trying to start with gen chem 1 at the 1000 level (or whatever numbering system your university uses).

 

[911 Turbo]

The 12th man is a joke. I'm surprised aTm students are even able to count that high.

TAMU is known for its rigorous engineering programs, which is why its grads are some of the highest paid in the country. IDK where you get off calling a well recognized school with 50000+ students and hundreds of years of rich history a joke. Don't kid yourself, OK?

But this still doesn't explain why you quoted yourself. lol.

 

[Cruzerthebruzer]

I envision that test being incredibly easy. And 5/10 isn't much at all.

I'd go for it what's the worst that happens? You don't pass, and have to drop and take that other class? Sounds like your only other option is not taking it and going straight to a useless class.

Take the test.

 

[Charles Darwin]

Ask people who took the class before.

If you are a biochem major there should be nothing daunting about genchem. Inorganic Chem 1 and 2 tend to be pretty basic and straightforward although some institutions do use them as a weed out course.

General chemistry is not inorganic chemistry.

 

[DinoSaysRawr]

Some universities have courses below the 1000 level for people who have never been exposed to the subject matter before. It would be somewhat analogous to taking pre-calc at a university. Generally speaking, the classes are meant for those who are taking the class outside their major to fulfill some requirement (for instance, an institutional science requirement for an English major). If you're majoring in the sciences, you should be trying to start with gen chem 1 at the 1000 level (or whatever numbering system your university uses).

Ah ok. Thank you for the information.

 

[flatearth22]

General chemistry is not inorganic chemistry.

Strong first post. 👍

But weak username to post content ratio. 👎

 

[iqe2010]

What would be a remedial course in Gen Chem? Would that be the equivalent of a Survey of Chemistry class? Please excuse my ignorance, I'm just a little confused on how there's such a thing as a remedial General Chemistry class.

Remedial isn't the proper word. I believe the course title is 'Fundamentals of Chemistry to Engineers.' But people also take it to prepare for regular chemistry.

 

[Charles Darwin]

Strong first post. 👍

But weak username to post content ratio. 👎

Hypocrite.

OP, if you're weak in chemistry, I'd recommend taking the remedial class first. If not, screw it.

 

[Astarael]

General chemistry is not inorganic chemistry.

The terms 'general chemistry' and 'inorganic chemistry' are used interchangeably in reference to first year chemistry, as gen chem doesn't really contain anything outside the realm of inorganic. If you wanted to talk about the upper level inorganic classes that are way different from gen chem, you would probably call that class 'advanced inorganic chem.'

But as far as pre-reqs go, gen chem and inorganic chem refer to the freshman level class.

 

[flatearth22]

Remedial isn't the proper word. I believe the course title is 'Fundamentals of Chemistry to Engineers.' But people also take it to prepare for regular chemistry.

Can you just take that sequence instead for your major or not? I'd just go with the easier chem class TBH. Save your energy on harder classes and EC's.

 

[Charles Darwin]

The terms 'general chemistry' and 'inorganic chemistry' are used interchangeably in reference to first year chemistry, as gen chem doesn't really contain anything outside the realm of inorganic. If you wanted to talk about the upper level inorganic classes that are way different from gen chem, you would probably call that class 'advanced inorganic chem.'

But as far as pre-reqs go, gen chem and inorganic chem refer to the freshman level class.

As a chemistry major, I can't help but cringe when someone tries to equate general chemistry with inorganic chemistry. The two are completely separate entities.

 

[flatearth22]

Hypocrite.

OP, if you're weak in chemistry, I'd recommend taking the remedial class first. If not, screw it.

😕

We both have strong username to avatar content ratios so let's just call it even.

 

[NickNaylor]

As a chemistry major, I can't help but cringe when someone tries to equate general chemistry with inorganic chemistry. The two are completely separate entities.

Don't worry. Those heathens outside of the chemistry/biochemistry departments don't understand the difference.

 

[Astarael]

As a chemistry major, I can't help but cringe when someone tries to equate general chemistry with inorganic chemistry. The two are completely separate entities.

I was a chemistry major too. I understand the difference, but general chemistry is a subset of inorganic chemistry. The two are not entirely different. I also understand the intention to use the right nomenclature for the class you are taking, but to pretty much everyone except for chemistry majors, inorganic and gen chem refer to the same thing.

Idk, it's just one of those things.

 

[Telekinesis]

The 12th man is a joke. I'm surprised aTm students are even able to count that high.

You mock what you don't understand. Don't bash someone's school A&M is a top notch school with alumni in some pretty influential places.

 

[Charles Darwin]

I was a chemistry major too. I understand the difference, but general chemistry is a subset of inorganic chemistry. The two are not entirely different.

???

I also understand the intention to use the right nomenclature for the class you are taking, but to pretty much everyone except for chemistry majors, inorganic and gen chem refer to the same thing.

Idk, it's just one of those things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

 

[Astarael]

???


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum

Please don't throw logical fallacies at me. You can either speak in a language that the majority of people understand, or you can speak your own language that is correct. I understand that inorganic chemistry and general chemistry are technically different in their scope, but most people do not. If you want to converse with those people, you can either speak their language or you can stand on your soap box and lecture to them. It's not a big deal to take into account the fact that for most people, inorganic chemistry and general chemistry are the same thing.

And for reference, general chemistry is a subset of inorganic chemistry. They aren't two completely distinct bodies of knowledge.

 

[flatearth22]

[youtube]gnPsZg38WKw[/youtube]

 

[Charles Darwin]

Please don't throw logical fallacies at me.

You're the one spewing fallacies, not me.

You can either speak in a language that the majority of people understand, or you can speak your own language that is correct.

I prefer correctness.

I understand that inorganic chemistry and general chemistry are technically different in their scope, but most people do not. If you want to converse with those people, you can either speak their language or you can stand on your soap box and lecture to them. It's not a big deal to take into account the fact that for most people, inorganic chemistry and general chemistry are the same thing.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Astarael]

You're the one spewing fallacies, not me.

Lol, when you figure out the difference between a mode of communication and a logical fallacy, we'll talk. I'll be waiting, eagerly.

 

[JonnyL]

OP, as mentioned before, take an introductory chemistry course to refresh if you're worried about it. In my opinion, general chemistry I is basically introductory chemistry material--just a little more detail and few more concepts here and there.

 

[Frazier]

op, as mentioned before, take an introductory chemistry course to refresh if you're worried about it. in my opinion, general chemistry i is basically introductory chemistry material--just a little more detail and few more concepts here and there.

+1

 

[Etorphine]

OP, while I don't think it is important to take an introductory course beforehand, I think it is important to think to yourself that you NEED to do well.

These types of courses fill you in on 98% of everything you need to know to get an A. Anything you don't know, you can learn on your own on the internet until you do.

You can take the introductory course all you want, but I guarantee it is more important to go into the course thinking to yourself you have to get that A at any cost (other than through immoral, unethical routes).

 

[NightGod]

Seems weird that your teacher is requiring a pre-test. I went back to school after a ~20 year break and jumped right into Chem I and walked away with a (relatively) easy A. The "for Engineers" class was for people who needed a chem credit but had no intention of taking any upper level courses in it. My school had lots of nursing students and engineers in that class.

My guess for the reasoning is that the teacher has had a few more fails/low grades in the Chem 1 class than his bosses would like (many teachers get rated by their bosses on how many students pass their class) and so he is using this test to weed out the students who are less likely to pass the class and, therefore, less likely to bolster his performance review stats.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

You guys fight over the weirdest ****.

Just for the record though, the reason a lot of people refer to general chemistry as inorganic chemistry is because it's been beaten into them by the prereq list of many medical schools.

Here's one example: http://www.meded.uci.edu/Admissions/admissions_information.asp

Obviously they mean 1 year of general chemistry, but they refer to it as inorganic chemistry instead.

 

[MSU2009]

You guys fight over the weirdest ****.

Just for the record though, the reason a lot of people refer to general chemistry as inorganic chemistry is because it's been beaten into them by the prereq list of many medical schools.

Here's one example: http://www.meded.uci.edu/Admissions/admissions_information.asp

Obviously they mean 1 year of general chemistry, but they refer to it as inorganic chemistry instead.

I would hate to be a student who was misinformed about that. Trudging through a year of inorganic only to find out it wasn't actually what they demanded.

 

[Doctor246853]

General chemistry is not inorganic chemistry.

I like this guy CD. You will fit right in here.👍 But I thought gen chem was also inorganic chem. Atleast thats how my school treats it but Im no expert. Anywho welcome to sdn.🙂

 

[NewYorker9]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the reason inorganic chemistry has become synonymous with general chemistry is because it is meant to signify the class as being a "non"organic chemistry class. Therefore, when a med school requires two semesters of inorganic chem all it really means is to take two semester of gen chem.

 

[Doctor246853]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the reason inorganic chemistry has become synonymous with general chemistry is because it is meant to signify the class as being a "non"organic chemistry class. Therefore, when a med school requires two semesters of inorganic chem all it really means is to take two semester of gen chem.

This. Atleast thats what I thought.

 

[iqe2010]

..but gen chem covers some organic AND inorganic concepts.

Ok I'll stop lol.

 

[Charles Darwin]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the reason inorganic chemistry has become synonymous with general chemistry is because it is meant to signify the class as being a "non"organic chemistry class. Therefore, when a med school requires two semesters of inorganic chem all it really means is to take two semester of gen chem.

Correct. Non-organic chemistry isn't necessarily inorganic chemistry.