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pmart491
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Hey, I'm going to college next year and I am majoring in chemistry. Just wondering, what chemistry class was the most difficult to understand?
No wonder it was my favorite chem class! (Making a sparkly purple chromium compound in a bomb reactor helped too!... I kept that stuff in a vial for years :yuck: ... and it's possible I still have it!)Joskoplas said:And inorganic? ... The Wild West of chemistry. No tame lewis structure molecules here.
Joskoplas said:Some of us got into chemistry because we found the whole thing easy. Hopefully the same will be true for you.
General Chem was probably the hardest one to take, because it wasn't interesting enough -- it was the fundamentals. Face it, solubility products are boring. But later on, in Physical Chemistry, you discover the real story behind them.
Organic is a great course if you like solving puzzles. Yes, there is memorization, but the rules generally make sense: just remember 'plus attracts minus' and it explains a decent number of reaction mechanisms ;-)
Analytical is an excellent course for learning proper lab technique. You might, for instance, think you want to be a synthetic chemist one day. Well, no one will believe you've made a new, pure compound unless it can be proven with analytical methods.
P-chem gets a bad reputation, but I blame the 300+ student calc classes for that. It's turned it from an actual math course into a weed-out procedure. My advice: learn all the math beforehand, on your own, and practice it. Then when you walk into p-chem and are hit with differential equations, you'll be like "Oh, these again?" and not like the panic-stricken masses who 'learned' by cramming for the test last year.
And inorganic? It was my favorite. The Wild West of chemistry. No tame lewis structure molecules here. Organometallic compounds like ferrocene. Agostic bonds from a metal to a C-H bond. Every metal its own adventure ;-)
In short, good luck with it, and don't worry about what's 'hard'. Prepare ahead and master it.
The Chemistry major is an academic program that focuses on the study of matter, its properties, composition, and reactions. It covers various subfields such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and more.
The classes required for a Chemistry major vary depending on the specific program and university. However, common courses include general chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry. Other requirements may include lab courses, math and physics courses, and electives.
The Chemistry major can be challenging because it involves complex concepts, extensive lab work, and requires strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It also requires a solid understanding of math and physics. Additionally, the workload can be demanding, requiring students to spend a significant amount of time studying and completing assignments.
The class that is considered the hardest to understand in a Chemistry major varies from person to person. However, many students find classes such as physical chemistry and analytical chemistry to be particularly challenging due to the abstract and theoretical nature of the material.
To succeed in a challenging Chemistry major class, it is important to attend lectures, take thorough notes, and actively participate in class discussions. It is also crucial to regularly review the material and seek help from professors or tutors when needed. Additionally, practicing problems and completing assignments can help improve understanding and retention of the material.