Improvement in chem!

[cjsmith]

I now believe I know how to study for chemistry exams with this teacher.

1) When in doubt, memorize. How many joules in a calorie? How many joules in a liter-atmosphere? What's the gas constant in your instructor's favorite units? What's Planck's constant? What's the density of mercury (for water barometer problems)? What's the constant in Balmer's equation for hydrogen lines? Know them all.

2) The day before exam time, do one homework problem of each major type. Molarity, gas stoichiometry, redox titration, heats of formation, pressure-volume work -- anything that was covered in the appropriate chapters needs to run through the brain once at this point.

3) During the exam, show every last possible detail of work that can possibly be imagined. Explicitly multiply by "1000 mL / 1 L" when needed, and do not skip a single step of algebra. FILL the page. Use the back.

I got a 98. Now if only I can do it again the Monday after Thanksgiving, and then one last time on the final.

Comments

[stormecho.livejournal.com]

My stuff is more practical, almost math-like now. Your memorization seems more in depth than what I had for my first Chemistry class.
Congrats on the high grade!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! What kind of stuff are you working on these days?