<p>Is it possible to take Chem 1A first semester and Chem 4B second semester? On the online schedule it says that Chem 4A is a prerequisite for 4B, but one of my friends told me he took 4B after 1A. Did I misunderstand him or is this possible?</p>
<p>If this is possible, how much of a shock would 4B be after 1A?</p>
<p>There are indeed people who go from 1A to 4B. That aside, who are they? Material Science Engineering majors? It can’t be pre-med or any other engineering majors…</p>
<p>^I’m doing Chem 1A->Chem 4B. AppleJuice recommended that I do it, and his recommendation has some weight because he followed that track.</p>
<p>I don’t see why it can’t be pre-med, honestly; 4B is pretty easy, and totally noncompetitive.</p>
<p>Does anybody know approximately when the book for Chem 4a will be posted? It would be really nice to order all of my textbooks together, but I might have to order my other ones beforehand if the chem one takes too long.</p>
<p>@singh where are you ordering them from?</p>
<p>i was wondering that too. we have to have the textbooks when school starts, right?</p>
<p>Okay, so on the textbook search thingy Chem4A now says “course materials are now being finalized,” and there is a section note:
"Section note for 01:
*OXTOBY IS REQUIRED READING; CHOOSE ONE VERSION "</p>
<p>I’m assuming that is referring to this ( [Amazon.com:</a> Principles of Modern Chemistry (9780030353734): David W. Oxtoby, H. Pat Gillis: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Modern-Chemistry-David-Oxtoby/dp/0030353734]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Modern-Chemistry-David-Oxtoby/dp/0030353734) ) textbook. Should I just go ahead and buy the newest version of this book? Or should I wait for this to be officially confirmed.</p>
<p>Edit: wait…it could also be this ( <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Science-David-W-Oxtoby/dp/0030331889[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Science-David-W-Oxtoby/dp/0030331889</a> ). I guess I’ll just wait.</p>
<p>@ studiotendo. Meh, forget your AP scores. If I can compete and score the same as kids who got a 5 on the calc BC exam in Math 1B with only taking AB in high school, then you can do the same for chem. Yes, you might feel your academic background was not rigorous enough or that it’s unfair to be competing with kids who have way better scores but what are you going to do about it other than make the best of it? I never even took Honors Chem in HS yet I still passed Chem 4A. I bet I could have gotten a B in the class had I not given up at around Thermodynamics. My best advice would be to read, do the HW, do the HW again so it becomes familiar, read again, then do practice sets from past midterms or supplements you find online.</p>
<p>For the initial quantum mechanics part, reading the Wikipedia introductory article is helpful since you’ll be learning everything up to Pauli’s Exclusion Principle on that page.</p>
<p>[Introduction</a> to quantum mechanics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_quantum_mechanics]Introduction”>Introduction to quantum mechanics - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>This link helped me understand Molecular Orbital Diagrams. Also, they pretty much assume you completely understand hybrid orbital theory so make sure you’ll absolutely solid on that stuff (I still review it because it comes up so much).</p>
<p>[Diatomic</a> Species by MO theory](<a href=“http://www.meta-synthesis.com/webbook/39_diatomics/diatomics.html]Diatomic”>http://www.meta-synthesis.com/webbook/39_diatomics/diatomics.html)</p>
<p>I don’t have anything on Thermo though, sorry. My best advice for that is re-derive the formulas/equations in the book. For me never seeing thermodynamics before in my life, it took me a week to memorize all the bloody definitions (which always helps for a better understanding of the material).</p>
<p>For acids and bases, you’re on your own. I failed to understand the material fully and I’m sure it’s gonna come bite me in the butt later down the road. ICE charts are essential and you’ll be combining those with buffers and dissolved ion species.</p>
<p>Finally, you’ll touch on redox reactions but they’re not too difficult. I manged to teach myself oxidation numbers a day before the final so it’s do-able. This material shows up again in Chem 4B (in much greater detail, I might add) so it’s worth remembering.</p>
<p>As a book based supplement, I bought a used AP chem book (Zumdal) and it REALLY REALLY helped.</p>
<p>Hope this helps! :)</p>
<p>Oh wow, this upcoming Chem 4A doesn’t use Siska textbook? I guess somebody realized it’s about damn time to get rid of the garbage.</p>
<p>@ UpMagic: Damn straight, that book was ATROCIOUS. The 4B book is REALLLYYY GOOD for the record.</p>
<p>Edit: That first book is rated bad lol.</p>
<p>@chaolin: You are my hero. seriously. i love reference websites…</p>
<p>you seriously didnt take ANY chem in hs? and chem 4a was doable…
what are you doing right now?</p>
<p>Sorta jumping in >.>, but the textbooks were recently posted in an announcement on bspace. Here’s a copy paste if it might be of help:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is a nice thread btw, thanks to all the posters for the information in here :). If I might throw in a question: is it safe to get books an edition older for Chem 4A? The prices on these books, even used, are pretty daunting.</p>
<p>^ Yeah I was wondering the same thing. The lowest prices I can find at this point for those two books are like $100-150 each. That’s not outrageous, but it’s kind of annoying haha.</p>
<p>okay, so i found one, but it is the INDIA edition…would it make a difference? I mean, if the content is the same, but it is printed in India…</p>
<p>@ studiotendo: Np, mate. I had general chem if you could call it legitimate background. It was basically learning about moles, elements, balancing chemical equations (no redox), stoichiometry, and other random, otherwise useless topics.</p>
<p>Edit: I’m still following the track for Chem-E but I have yet to take the ultimate weeder course, Chem 140A. I hope I can make it but if not, I’ll just settle for Chemistry.</p>
<p>Just took it with Pedersen, do all of the problems in his test book. You will be fine. Have fun in OChem!! Go to office hour, his office hour is like a whole new class where he goes over problem solving [lecture is more theory based]. That should be fine. </p>
<p>Homework is about 20-50 problems per problem set. There is a problem set every few lectures. You should be fine over the school year. Over summer, it is intense because you get a PS every 2-3 days. Over the school year, you will get a week or so…more than enough time.</p>
<p>I <3 Pedersen. Prob. the best Chem 3A professor.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, you should have the textbook. BUT, I never used it. Pedersen teaches his own stuff, he claimed that he didn’t even read the book. You can live with an Indian edition. Don’t waste money and buy the molecular set. He says it’s very important, but if you are good at seeing 3D [and it’s not hard], you don’t really need it. I used it once for cyclohexane, that’s about it. </p>
<p>And the internet is far superior in 3D image.</p>
<p>Okay, I see on the BSpace lab syllabus thingy that there’s no lab this Thursday. Does that mean we don’t have to show up? Or should we show up regardless to make sure?</p>
<p>I don’t think you have to unless it says you need to check into the lab. Ask your GSI on Thurs/Fri (they usually sit in the back).</p>