What are your general chemistry classes like?

[SCDP]

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For me gen chem 1 wasn't that bad, the teacher who taught it was very math based and luckily I'm good at math and the concepts were pretty easy and I got an A.

I am currently in gen chem 2 and I got on A on my first exam but that was just easy stuff and just a few topics added onto some stuff from gen chem 1. Now this class is starting to kick my ass, the upcoming exam I have no clue on... equilibrium, acids/bases, and stuff like that is sooooo confusing and involves so much chemistry... but wait for it...

for gen chem 2 my final exam is a cumulative exam on a WHOLE YEAR of general chemistry. I just want to get out of this class with a B(if i'm lucky) and move on to organic chemistry please

 

[Tommyguns89]

lol exact opposite for me. Gen Chem 1 gave me problems(struggled for a B) but I am killing Gen Chem 2 right now. Weird thing is the professor I had last semester was supposed to be one of the best at my school(he was definitely nice but he confused me) and the guy I have now(who comes across as a nice old man to me) is pretty much universally hated by the students.

Equilibrium and acids/bases are confusing at first, but once it clicks for you it is easy to destroy the material.

 

[YoungProdigy]

Hate the Gen Chem 1 Labs. Prof basically just throws us in, and I've never used any of the equipment before. So, having somewhat of a difficult time there.
Content based, I really needed an A on my last test, in order to make it easier on myself to get an A in the class, but that didn't happen...low B. Need to kill this next test and the final. Final is based on all of the material taught so far.

Can't speak on Gen Chem 2...

 

[James1992]

O chem is much worse and the second semester final is cumulative for both semesters as well.

 

[SCDP]

O chem is much worse and the second semester final is cumulative for both semesters as well.

I've had people tell me both ways, some like organic better, some find general easier. I think I'm the kind of guy who would find general easier, not much of a visualizer or abstract thinker... but I plan on studying this summer to prepare myself for that course because I want an A in both semesters of organic.

 

[James1992]

That's a good mindset to have. Either way, it all has to get learned. It's all about putting in the time imo

 

[mrh125]

Labs were the hardest part for me (I was very weak at following the instructions and details when i started) and titrations were super tedious and never turned out right. As for the course the math wasn't that bad, especially with calculators, and if you do all the practice problems/midterms though in some parts of the courses you have to really focus on details you might want expect (pretty much all of the quantum mechanics stuff). Acid-base stuff and solubility feels like you are doing the same thing over and over again and Electrochemistry was confusing for me because of the blasted redox/tables. Gen chem was one of the first classes I got an A in. The curves were amazing too.

 

[Ezio]

lecture for chem 1 and 2 is cake for me. lab for chem 1 was cake. CHEM 2 LAB, I GOT ONE OF THE MOST DBAG TA's YOU WILL EVER FIND!! This guy, " if your experiment fails, you lose at least 5 points, and then you will know why you failed" and he lectures on how to do the lab for the first hour of lab so we have around an hour and a half to barely finish lab or risk losing 5 points for lateness.

.1 points off for every missed unit (understandable)
.5 points off for every bad sig fig (OK)
.5 points off for not putting name on top of 2nd page
5 (five) points off for stapling lab report

 

[chillaxbro]

btw MCAT general chemistry is like 30% acid base / equilibrium stuff

 

[deleted407021]

btw MCAT general chemistry is like 30% acid base / equilibrium stuff

For now, at least. I don't know what they're doing to gen chem, but they are reducing the Ochem (currently ≈5%, yes?).

 

[Gregor Wiesmann]

General Chemistry was awesome for me.......I really found the material to be interesting and honestly I miss that class. I actually got a 'B' the first quarter, and then the second two quarters I got an 'A' both times. I didn't really try as hard as a could the first quarter, so that explains the B.

 

[Served]

Enjoy your life while you can.

 

[GreenBlade]

Math-based, no curve, foreign accents. I ended up getting a top student award in gen chem I, and barely scraped an A in gen chem II.

 

[CollegeGirl94]

Gen Chem here was a huge weed-out.
It was unnecessarily hard for Gen Chem (exams).

 

[Lucca]

Its just Acid/Base. That's the worst exam here like every year and no one likes acid/base. Best way to learn acid/base is to apply it. I did it in my research lab and learned the unit in about a day instead of three boring lectures.

 

[medic86]

Its just Acid/Base. That's the worst exam here like every year and no one likes acid/base. Best way to learn acid/base is to apply it. I did it in my research lab and learned the unit in about a day instead of three boring lectures.

Out of gen chem I and II, the only concept I had a little trouble with was acid/base/buffer chemistry. Still learned it and got an A, though.

It's by far the most troublesome concept in all of gen chem, though.

 

[FluffyPolishUnicorn]

i am currently taking Chem 2 and Orgo 1...

Chem 1 - i thought it was a joke.... had terrible teacher who was convinced ionic bonds are the strongest.... and there was so much Extra credit that I was amazed some people didnt pass the class... got an A
Chem 2 - i am currently past the Ksp part - and first exam was easy... second was the hardest (acid base eq) but I managed 92% - highest in class with the average being 54%.... it def is not my fav class but its not as boring like my Mus 110 class 😉
Orgo 1 - super easy....although i might have messed up my exam last night 😉 didnt study.....

But in general from my experience, the opinion you get about your class is:
1) the teacher
2) your point of view - if you hated the class before it started then there is noting you can do about it

and if you get an A from first class you should be absolutely fine for the WHOLE year final...

 

[Gregor Wiesmann]

i am currently taking Chem 2 and Orgo 1...

Chem 1 - i thought it was a joke.... had terrible teacher who was convinced ionic bonds are the strongest.... and there was so much Extra credit that I was amazed some people didnt pass the class... got an A
Chem 2 - i am currently past the Ksp part - and first exam was easy... second was the hardest (acid base eq) but I managed 92% - highest in class with the average being 54%.... it def is not my fav class but its not as boring like my Mus 110 class 😉
Orgo 1 - super easy....although i might have messed up my exam last night 😉 didnt study.....

But in general from my experience, the opinion you get about your class is:
1) the teacher
2) your point of view - if you hated the class before it started then there is noting you can do about it

and if you get an A from first class you should be absolutely fine for the WHOLE year final...

Yeah, this for sure. I had an AMAZING teacher for General Chemistry, and that surely had an impact on my interest in the class material. Probably why I did so well.