Unsure on which chemistry class to take.

[masterMood]

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Alright i'll be taking chemistry next year (both semesters), and all i've taken so far was high school chemistry.

Now I don't know which chemistry i should be taking.

CHEM 116 Chemistry I
An introduction to some of the fundamental principles of chemistry. Topics include introduction to chemistry, stoichiometric principles, atomic structure and nature of the periodic table, chemical bonding, reactions in solutions, solution stoichiometry, thermochemistry, and trends in the physical and chemical properties of elements and their compounds. (Primarily designed for science majors and potential science majors who are not prepared to take CHEM 120.) CHEM 117 must accompany this course for natural science general education credit. Credits: 3(3-0) Offered every fall.

OR


CHEM 120 General Chemistry I
Fundamental principles of chemistry covering stoichiometry, types of chemical reactions, thermochemistry, properties of gases, atomic structure, periodicity, molecular structure and bonding, nature of liquids and solids, and physical properties of solutions. CHEM 121 must accompany this course for natural science general education credit.Credits: 3(3-0) Offered every fall.

Now the pre-med track has many students that go both ways, but I'm not sure which one is good for me, for grades, pre-med/adcom/mcat relevance.


Thanks.

 

[jamesrd]

advisor

 

[chintu]

This depends on your major as well as how much you like sciences and how well you usually do on them. Having not taken a college level chem in school can make this a bit challenging. As far as the mcat is concerned, the chemistry in it is not as detailed as intro chem in college; however, a tougher chem class will probably prepare more for it than the easier. Chem 120 sounds a little more challenging; however it seems as if the concepts taught in both courses are similar, so you probably wont' go wrong with either one. Take the one you feel comfortable with and know can do well in. Hope this helps.

MS II SLU MED

advisor

 

[ChuckRock]

Here is what I would want from a Chem class in preparing for the MCAT:

Acid/Base (not a big deal in chem cause you'll do acid/base stuff 'till you're blue in OChem)

Molecular Orbit Theory (same comment from above)

Periodic Trends

Reaction Rate laws/Reactions in solution (kicked my ass at first on the MCAT)

electrochem

oxidation/reduction reactions

There are other important "basics" such as stoichiometry but didn't list those since they are likely to be stressed in any first semester Chem course anyway. Also there are likely to be some topics in chem that will overlap with other classes such as Physics (thermodynamics) and Organic (as mentioned above)

That is just my personal experience...

 

[nimer1456]

determine which one is meant for chemistry majors and use that as your basis. the major class will be more difficult if only because of the other people in your class. I took major chem, but I am biochem major.

 

[72531]

Alright i'll be taking chemistry next year (both semesters), and all i've taken so far was high school chemistry.

Now I don't know which chemistry i should be taking.

CHEM 116 Chemistry I
An introduction to some of the fundamental principles of chemistry. Topics include introduction to chemistry, stoichiometric principles, atomic structure and nature of the periodic table, chemical bonding, reactions in solutions, solution stoichiometry, thermochemistry, and trends in the physical and chemical properties of elements and their compounds. (Primarily designed for science majors and potential science majors who are not prepared to take CHEM 120.) CHEM 117 must accompany this course for natural science general education credit. Credits: 3(3-0) Offered every fall.

OR


CHEM 120 General Chemistry I
Fundamental principles of chemistry covering stoichiometry, types of chemical reactions, thermochemistry, properties of gases, atomic structure, periodicity, molecular structure and bonding, nature of liquids and solids, and physical properties of solutions. CHEM 121 must accompany this course for natural science general education credit.Credits: 3(3-0) Offered every fall.

Now the pre-med track has many students that go both ways, but I'm not sure which one is good for me, for grades, pre-med/adcom/mcat relevance.


Thanks.

what does your advisor say? i took general chem but not majors chem. the bio majors chem usually satisfies the premed req too.

 

[Neurolemma]

Alright i'll be taking chemistry next year (both semesters), and all i've taken so far was high school chemistry.

Now I don't know which chemistry i should be taking.

CHEM 116 Chemistry I
An introduction to some of the fundamental principles of chemistry. Topics include introduction to chemistry, stoichiometric principles, atomic structure and nature of the periodic table, chemical bonding, reactions in solutions, solution stoichiometry, thermochemistry, and trends in the physical and chemical properties of elements and their compounds. (Primarily designed for science majors and potential science majors who are not prepared to take CHEM 120.) CHEM 117 must accompany this course for natural science general education credit. Credits: 3(3-0) Offered every fall.

OR


CHEM 120 General Chemistry I
Fundamental principles of chemistry covering stoichiometry, types of chemical reactions, thermochemistry, properties of gases, atomic structure, periodicity, molecular structure and bonding, nature of liquids and solids, and physical properties of solutions. CHEM 121 must accompany this course for natural science general education credit.Credits: 3(3-0) Offered every fall.

Now the pre-med track has many students that go both ways, but I'm not sure which one is good for me, for grades, pre-med/adcom/mcat relevance.


Thanks.

Take chem 120. Do you see the word "General" there? It means they're leaving out a load of details. Like you'll study "ideal gases", but they won't go into detail about deviations, e.g. high pressure/low temperature. There is a section about the PV work done by an enclosed gas against a piston... if you've had physics, its nothing. I suppose the first thing they teach you are the solubility rules; doesn't take a genius to figure that out. Balancing equations? Okay. Redox reactions are just 1 step above that; you can learn it at the same time, in fact. Electron dot diagrams are very easy to learn (there are a few exceptions). The best advice I can give you is to learn how to read a periodic table. Changing grams into moles, the mass of an element increasing as you go down a group, learning the names of the families (alkali, alkaline earth, transition, semi-metal, halogen, noble) and then how to name them by their valence orbitals: s,d,p,f...)... this ties into periodic properties (electronegativity, ionization energy, etc). About the last thing they teach you is molecular orbital theory, which is vital for o-chem and all other chem you may take. Thats just about all they teach you; its not a difficult class, the math is not at all extensive, you can go through a chapter a day if you want. You won't be running to the tutor either, especially if you've had physics before. Good luck.

 

[DrBowtie]

I have indeed noticed that if you have a good physics background gen chem is a joke.

 

[jojo14]

I think it depends on how confident you are in your chem skills. Did you do well in high school? Take the General Chem course then, most of the other people in the class will have had the same experience you have. I felt really shaky in my chem skills freshman year, even though I had gotten an A in it in high school. I ended up acing my chem I class and probably should have just skipped it and gone to chem II. I also ended up being a chem major, which was completely unexpected.