ACE CHEMISTRY WITH THESE TIPS AND TRICKS
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General chemistry is one of the few scientific subjects that is both logical and abstract. Let me explain.
You are going to use a lot of
mathematics and algebra. So you need to understand that.
But you will also need to learn about
electrons, what they do, and how they are likely to behave, elements
name with atomic mass. You
are going to have to try to understand what valence shells and orbitals are and
why they exist the way they do.
There are new symbols that you will
only learn about in chemistry. Also, there are types of math used only in
chemistry.
If you do not quite understand what I
am talking about yet, you will as you delve further into the subject. There are
a lot of abstract concepts.
The easiest way to learn general
chemistry
Let us talk about the easiest way to
learn General Chemistry. Of course, this is just my opinion, and I am assuming
you are taking the course or about to.
Here is what you need to do if you
want to make learning chemistry easier.
1. do it well at the beginning
As I said earlier, chemistry is a
progressive subject. Everything you learn at the beginning of General Chemistry
will be used later in General Chemistry.
So you really need to pay attention
and understand well. Especially in the beginning.
The topics and material you learn
before you take your first chemistry exam will come back to you throughout the
course.
This means that you need to really
push yourself in the beginning and not fall behind.
If you feel the need to slack off or
take a break, you should do so towards the end of the semester.
Your best bet is to make A's at the
beginning. Believe me... it's easy at the beginning compared to the rest of the
course.
2. study a little before the course
Look at your syllabus (or ask your
professor) and find out what the topic plan is.
3. attend every lecture
If you do not go to every single
lecture, you are not putting enough effort into learning general chemistry. If
you need to prioritize your classes, every chemistry class is a top priority.
If you miss a class, you will need to
make up the material you missed that day. Since chemistry is an ongoing
subject, missing a class can affect your grades and understanding for the rest
of the semester. Possibly even future courses.
4. Study in a small group with
others.
There are many benefits to learning
with others. When you study in a small group, you have many opportunities to
learn.
For example, if you are struggling
with a particular topic in General Chemistry, someone in the group may be able
to help you understand it better and tutor you.
On the other hand, if you understand
a subject really well, you can help others who do not.
Research shows that learning in small
groups or even helping to teach others improves your ability to understand and
retain knowledge.
Remember, the key is to really
understand the topics in General Chemistry. Especially at the beginning of your
studies.
5. if you have difficulty on an exam,
go back and study the material.
In most subjects, if you do poorly on
a test, just keep studying for the next test. Most people do this, and it
sounds like it makes sense.
Do NOT this in General Chemistry!
If you miss ANYTHING on a test, go
back and study that exact material until you master it. Do this before you move
on in the class.
You will probably need that exact
knowledge or skill for future topics.
For example, let us say you take your
first General Chemistry exam and miss all the questions on Dimensional
Analysis. You simply did not understand them.
If you do not make up for it, you
will fail General Chemistry... Guaranteed.
You will use Dimensional Analysis for
most of your calculations in Gen Chem 1 and 2.
6. Understand the behavior of
electrons.
Here goes. This one is gold.
Understanding how electrons behave in
relation to your General Chemistry material will give you an advantage over
almost everyone else.
So many students still have no idea
about electrons after studying General Chemistry.
Remember, this article is all about
understanding. Understanding is the key to success.
If you clearly understand how
electrons work, you will have a better understanding of how reactions, atoms,
ions, valence, orbitals, acids, bases… pretty much everything.
So, go study some reactions, electron
affinity, stoichiometry, and valence shells. Then pay close attention to the
electrons and their behavior.
Concluding
thoughts: Is chemistry hard?
Chemistry is
considered to be very hard. In fact, chemistry is considered one of the most
difficult subjects in college. Some of the advanced chemistry courses (such as
Physical Chemistry) are considered the most difficult subjects in college.
Point.
Ask any
chemical engineer. He will tell you that chemistry is more difficult than
physics. Still, there are steps you can take to make your general chemistry
courses easier. Learn topics in advance (or pre-learn, as I call it). Make sure
you fully understand new concepts before you move on in the course. Also
involve your family in school by allowing them to give feedback for
school from parents.
Never miss class. Finally, study and practice every day.
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