jenmarie

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

* 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.

* Go to your professor before you go to your friends. If you and your professor aren't clicking...go to Dr. Shepler. Seriously.

* 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.

* 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)

* Go to class. They give pop quizzes which count for extra credit. You'll want that extra credit.

* 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.
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).

*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.

* 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!)

Phew!!! That's a really long post! Hope it helps

jenmarie

Haha, one more thing...

* You are only allowed TI-30 calculators. I suggest getting a TI-30XS MultiView. I'm sure most of you are attached to your graphing calculators. I have this calculator and it's AMAAAAZING. It's the closest to a graphic calculator that you're gonna get. It allows you to see what you've put in the calculator, review past work, and redo past work (so if you have to do a new calculation, but it only changes by one number, you just have to press few buttons for it to show up again for you to edit). Being able to see what you put into the calculator helps you make sure you don't make mistakes. The only annoying thing about it is that you have to manually put in a number in scientific notation (1x10^2) instead of pressing like 1e2, but you'll get used to it.

I'll probably keep adding things to this thread when I think of them.

dandahamman

Hello,

Thank you for posting this very informative thread! I'm taking credit for 1211 Chem and I will be taking Chem 1212 in the Spring. How does class registration work for Spring semester? Do you think taking Chem 1212 will be a big jump from high school? Where does Chem 1212 start off? If it is okay with you, would you please send your Chemistry past materials to dandahamman@yahoo.com. I would like to get a head start on all the Chemistry over the summer. Thank you so much!

dandahamman

Oh, Jenmarie, you're from CA too? I'm from Anaheim!

jenmarie

Haha, not really. I'm an air force brat. I lived in CA for about 5 years when I was younger. My parents just moved back to CA (Lancaster) this year, which is why I'm there now.

Registration - you'll make an appointment with your academic advisor. You'll go to them, and they'll clear you for registration. I'll make another thread about registration since it's important and if you have registration questions, I doubt you'll come to this thread, so haha, hold on tight, I'll go do that after this.

For me, chem 1211 felt like a repeat of high school chemistry. If you're good at chemistry, and you had a good chem teacher, you probably won't have a bad time transitioning to chem 1212. However, I think it might depend on which professor you get. There's one professor here that I think kinda skips though things you really need to know. I had Dr. Shepler, and she was so thorough with her lecture that I never used the book to study with (I'll get those notes to you soon). It just really depends on your level of ability with chemistry.

Where chem 1212 starts depends on where chem1211 stopped, which varies a little for every semester. If you're taking chem1212 in the spring, then it'll start wherever Fall's chem1211 stopped, so just ask chem1211 students where they stopped.

If you're going to skip chem 1211, then I'd make sure I'd know how to do everything they taught in chem 1211 because chem is the kind of class where it builds on past ideas, and not knowing some things from chem1211 will make chem1212 difficult.

patel

I would like those notes also if they are not the same as these: Dr. Schaefer's Chem 1211 Web Page

The info you posted above is very helpful, so thank you once again for taking the time to type all that.

jenmarie

No, they're not. The notes I have are notes made by Dr. Shepler (well, sorta...she gets some things from the lecture notes book).

And you're welcome I'm glad I'm able to help!

jenmarie

Everybody that wants the notes, PM me their emails. I won't get the email out for a few days, but I'll get to it!

jenmarie

bumping for anyone who needs it. By the way, Dr. Shepler is no longer at UGA, but the rest of what I've posted still works