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Kinetics study method
- Thread starter badears
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badears said:
Are you talking about pharmacokinetics or physics (laws of motion)? They are completely different animals.
I am referring to Kinetics that is taught in 2nd semester chemistry.
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help us old folks out...give us an example please. Second semester chemistry - inorganic or organic? Hopefully, not pharmaceutical chemistry which would be beyond what you would know. Are you talking rates of reactions? Again...it helps to know what compounds you are using so we don't further confuse you.
I memorized all of the rate laws and their related graphs. Then I just practiced doing all of the problems in my text. What are you having problems with exactly? Is it the math or concepts?badears said:
And here, I thought we were playing 20 questions 😀
What I had meant to say:
General Chemistry, Freshman level
Hope that helps 😉
What I had meant to say:
General Chemistry, Freshman level
Hope that helps 😉
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ok badears - thanks for clarifying. My suggestion for what you are looking for in general chemistry kinetics is FIRST - understand what you are learning before you try to start remembering. Chemistry, particularly inorganic chemistry when you are studying emperical rate laws & reaction order, first & second order rate laws, temperature dependence, Boltzmann Model, etc... all involve equations, concepts & terms you are unfamiliar with. If you fall into the trap of memorizing the equation (thus, trying to manipulate the knowns to solve for an unknown) you can find yourself doing mathematical calculations, but aren't sure exactly why. So...I'd encourage you when presented with an equation - read, relisten to the lecture, seek out your TA to be sure you understand exactly what that equation is representing & why you would want to know each of the factors within the equation. Make sure you know firmly in your mind what each factor means (ie - is the constant k at time 0 or t=n, & does it matter?). Then do problems over and over and over until you can really manipulate that equation in all ways it can be turned around. You may have to do the same problems 10 or more times just to be comfortable. Finally, be able to write the equation - at all times of your day from memory. Then be able to graph the equation and be able to discern from a graph what the values used would be (again - just another way to use the equation - graphically). Then, when you get that one equation down, move on to the next, & the next, etc...Once you find yourself doing things that you're not sure why you are doing it, but just know it is the next step OR if you don't know what the next step is....that is your cue to go back to the last thing you knew completely and begin the tedious process again of learning exactly what & why you are doing this one particular equation. As you learn each equation, put them on flashcards or a similar easily carried text source - and look at them throughout your day - during lunch, while you wait for the shuttle, etc. You can use this later as a quick study guide before the exam. Practice writing the equations from memory multiple times in your day - while you watch 24, just before you go to bed, while you talk with your mom on the phone - if it can come to your mind without much probing, it will be easier to retrieve it when it comes to the exam. Finally, you really must know the math that goes along with being able to manipulate the equations - you have to be able to do log functions, exponents, etc...get a tutor if you have to. Hope this gives you a place to start - good luck & have fun!
Thank you for your suggestions, they are going to be helpful in the days, months, years to come!
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