<p>So this was originally going to be posted in the ochem thread, but I thought I'd just make it its own thread since it's a huge post, and it really doesn't have anything to do with ochem, but some people had gen chem questions in the ochem thread, but I think it deserves its own thread...anyways...</p>
<p>I have access to my professor's lecture notes for both chem 1211 and 1212 (gen chem for science majors as opposed to chem 1110 which is gen chem for nonscience majors), plus practice problems/answers and practice exam problems/answers if anybody wants them. </p>
<p>If you really want to prepare for chem this summer, I suggest looking over those notes. You don't have to learn it, but if it looks familiar, then you're probably going to be okay. </p>
<p>If you can, take Dr. Shepler. I don't think she'll be teaching chem 1211 this fall, but if she's teaching chem 1212 in the spring, take her! And even if she's not your professor, find out what her office hours are, and go to her for questions. She's amaazzzzinnnnggg!!! She'll help even though you're not her student. Don't worry. Plenty of people that weren't her students go to her office hours.</p>
<p>Advice/Tips for the rest of the class:
* Only strictly memorize the following things - solubility rules (get a head start on this one in the summer if you're that serious...); significant digits rules; equations; strong acids and bases; names of ions (I have the list of ions you need to know if you want it); molar masses of common elements; and the names of the covalent solids. Everything else - UNDERSTAND IT. Don't memorize it. Memorizing anything except the things I mentioned (and maybe a few other things) will get you NO WHERE. They ask conceptual questions. You need to be able to apply the information, not just spit it back.</p>
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<li><p>Keep up with your work. Review the material at least once a week (at the end of the week is probably best). Write down things you don't understand or didn't catch then go to your professor's office hours and ASK. ASK QUESTIONS. Best way to learn.</p></li>
<li><p>Go to your professor before you go to your friends. If you and your professor aren't clicking...go to Dr. Shepler. Seriously. </p></li>
<li><p>You take your tests on the computer (I'm assuming they aren't going to change this for next semester). Most of the time, they give you the basic equations you'll need to solve the problems with. Don't depend on those equations being provided for you. If you know the equations by heart, you'll be able to recognize elements in the problems they ask, and you'll have an easier time deciding how to solve it. A lot of people have problems with figuring out what to do with all the information in the problem. Knowing the equations left and right will solve that problem. Plus, they only give you BASIC equations. They don't give you equations derived by playing with basic equations. So, just know your equations VERY WELL.</p></li>
<li><p>Know the molar masses for the following elements: H, C, N, O, F, Na, and Cl. They're the most common elements you'll be seeing. Calculating molar masses for compounds becomes easier if you know some of them, and you don't have to look them up. You'll probably end up memorizing them anyway if you look them up enough, but just memorize them eventually. It'll save time. Oh, and it's not necessary to know them to the decimal places. Just learn whole numbers (H=1, C=12, N=14, etc)</p></li>
<li><p>Go to class. They give pop quizzes which count for extra credit. You'll want that extra credit. </p></li>
<li><p>Know your significant digits rules or learn the trick explained later. This isn't very important for the lecture, but necessary for the lab (you get points off for not having the right number of sig digs). However, for tests, you may get an answer wrong if you use the wrong number of sig digs and your answer is out of the range of accepted answers. So just use the right number of sig digs and that won't screw you over.<br>
So, the trick - If your number has a decimal point, start from the left hand side of the number and count the first non-zero number and every other number to the right of it as significant (0.001 has 1 significant figure; 0.0023 has 2; 0.00203 has 3; 0.020400 has 5; 23.00 has 4). If your number doesn't have a decimal point, start from the right hand side of the number and count the first non-zero number and every other number to the left as significant (100 has 1 sig fig; 101 has 3; 10400 has 3). </p></li>
</ul>
<p>*Tip for lab - DO NOT FORGET UNITS ON YOUR NUMBERS. They count off for that. And show ALL your work. They count off for missing work too. </p>
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<li>This doesn't mean anything now, but if you remember when you get to it...there are different ways to draw lewis structures and solve redox reaction problems. If you don't understand the way you're doing it, ask Dr. Shepler for the other way (or if you are doing it the way she taught us...ask her for help!)</li>
</ul>
<p>Phew!!! That's a really long post! Hope it helps :)</p>