<p>For those of you who are taking Gen. Chem 1, where are you in relation to material, and what are your grades like so far? We took a midterm right before spring break (I bombed it), and now we're doing a chapter on gases and the kinetic molecular theory. My professor is about 200 years old. He wears a hearing aid and still can't hear a damn thing.</p>
<p>My last exam (moles, molar ratios, ionic reactions and all that crap) I got 102 out of 105. My average right now is 98.5 :D
Right now we are in OR, Energy and Chem Change and Properties of Gases (exam in next Thursday). Will be moving in The Quantum Mechanical Atom right after that...hope that helps!</p>
<p>my advice is practice. Chemistry is like calculus and general physics. It's more important that you know how to work out a problem than whether you remember that certain vocabulary word.</p>
<p>just practice. </p>
<p>what chem book are you currently using?</p>
<p>I had 2 mid-terms, got a B+ and an A, the class averge is 41/80 and 57/100. Letter grades are assigned on an absolute scale based on score, no curves of any kind. However I feel that my grade is not a rigid representation of how much and how well I learned of chemistry. I think it's partially due to my inexperience with chemistry (first chem class ever) and the format of the class overall. Lectures are just too short to cover all the material and many important things are only briefly introduced. But on the other hand, this is a good test of the students' study habit. I think if the students in my class would just follow the syllabus and do what they are told which isn't all that impossible, the average won't be anywhere near that ridiculousness. It's really the work ethic that got a lot of them. In terms of materials, we just finished doing molecular orbital and all that fun stuff. I still have trouble understanding them though I got lucky on the second midterm.</p>
<p>I got a 87 last test...we have a test on monday on gases, ionic reactions and heat...I lose points on stupid **** like not putting in units...its crazy cause I get the right answers</p>
<p>I took it in summer 04. My exam average (four tests in 6 weeks) was 102 or something (there were always 10 points of extra credit). Chem1 is a lot of math, so yes, you just have to practice :) I'm sure you understand all the material, but practice makes perfect. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll bounce :)</p>
<p>As for the teacher being old... if you can't learn much from his lectures, then you might have to rely on the book. We used Kotz' "Chemistry and Chem Reactivity," if that helps. I'm sure there are better books out there, but Kotz was satisfactory. :)</p>
<p>You'll be fine! Don't worry :)</p>
<p>If you're having trouble with chemistry i highly recommend Chemistry: the central science</p>
<p>there's alot of people who says it's basic, but trust me you will be able to grasp the concept and how to work out the problems quickly if you read that book. Pick up a cheap copy from half or amazon.</p>
<p>The widely used zumhadl (sp?) and chang is also good. </p>
<p>Petrucci is horrible. The diction is horrible. You literally need a phd in english to understand it. I mean so horrible that an old chemistry book published in 1970 was more helpful.</p>
<p>My gen chem class required petrucci, but i just couldn't understand it. I brought Chemistry: a molecular science by Moore. It's a really good book. The diction is student friendly. Plus he gives alot of example problems; in addition, he gives a strategy and explanation after ever example.</p>
<p>there's my suggestion. I think you're going thru what i'm going thru. The professor is of no help, and the book isn't the clearest. Just browse around in your local library or on amazon.</p>
<p>The book we're using is by Silberberg. </p>
<p>I'm glad to know there are people here who have done so well. Next time I have a question I'll post it here.</p>
<p>I agree with hnbui. The book "Chemistry: the central science" is a very informative book. However....it is HUGE with almost 1300 pages. This is the textbook we use at Diablo Valley College.</p>
<p>We used the Raymond Chang 8th edition book for our Chem 105 class. I took it last semester, and my grades were definitely nothing to write home about, and rather embarassing. I'm a pretty bad math student, and that coupled with my academic foolishness and naivete during my first semester really killed my grades. Anyway, the farthest I remember us getting was pi and sigma bonds, and redox reactions. We got a little farther, but the stuff towards the very end was frankly very much over my head. </p>
<p>I also don't have very much Chemistry background, since the only class of Chemistry I had before taking Chem 105 was an extremely basic and easy sophomore Chem class in high school. Our school offered no other chem classes. </p>
<p>I myself actually learned a lot more basic chemistry through my biology book (written by Campell) than I did in the chemistry class itself, for whatever reason. I think it explained the material better. Hopefully when I retake Chem next semester I'll be ready to actually do what I need to in order to get an A . . .</p>
<p>I'm in general chem 2, I actually took AP Chem in high school and made a 5 but they only gave me credit for the first semester of chem. The way our grading system works is that there's totally 150 questions, 25 on 4 tests, and then 50 on the exam. He curves it so that only 130 questions count, and thus 117 needed for an A. So far I've gotten 48 out of 50 on the 2 tests taken so far. The last test we had was on reaction rates and solutions, and now we're doing chemical equilibrium and about to move into acid/base equilibrium.</p>
<p>We actually also use that same book, chemistry: the central science.</p>
<p>yeah right now my chem class is currently finishing up buffer solutions and indicators.</p>
<p>We use Brady's: Study of Matter and Its Changes 4th edition
<a href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471215171.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471215171.html</a></p>
<p>I have had to battle with Chemistry. My teacher never even dreams of a curve and the failure rate for the class is 60% and I am talking a Community College folks. The text we use is Masterton and it is absolutely horrible at putting the material in terms that you can understand. I got a C in Chem I and i will get a C in Chem II. One of the hardest classes i have taken so far and i have taken Calc I & II.</p>
<p>my community college chem class is pretty tough too....and people think that community college is jus HS...no sirreee BOB</p>
<p>I am taking chem 2 at a CC. Got a B in chem 1, average for the class was C, only 2 A by two international nerds who studied 24-7. I was borderline C and B going into the final. Studied a week for it, and got a B in the class. My most proud accomplishment thus far as pathetic as it sounds. :)</p>
<p>Right now taking chem 2. It's tough, very tough, my teacher is a witch, she takes off points for sig figs in everything. I hate her soo much.</p>
<p>haha my teacher takes off like 2 points if you miss one sig fig...kinda unnecessary if you ask me, because I thought that the point was to learn the concepts...</p>
<p>it was funny i got one of my labs backs. It's a small lab which was worth 5 points (normal labs are worth 15). I calculater everything right and my data was also good. I got only 2.5 pts cause my data table didn't have proper # of sig figs and my calc didn't have proper sig figs. I was ****ed.</p>
<p>As mentioned above the trick is just practice. A great website with many practice problems and explanations on almost everything is <a href="http://www.chemfiesta.com%5B/url%5D">www.chemfiesta.com</a> This website is by the guy who wrote the complete idiots guide to chemistry.</p>