Courses What other chemistry courses use the periodic table?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the limited use of the periodic table in introductory chemistry courses, specifically General Chemistry I and II and Organic Chemistry I. Participants note that while General Chemistry I covers the basics of the periodic table, subsequent courses do not require extensive knowledge of it, often treating it as assumed knowledge. The conversation raises questions about which advanced chemistry courses utilize the periodic table more deeply. Suggestions include Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Analytical Chemistry. Additionally, it is mentioned that fields like materials science and engineering involve significant use of the periodic table, particularly in the study of materials like semiconductors and optical glasses. Overall, while the periodic table is foundational, its practical application varies across different chemistry disciplines.
Ric-Veda
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So far, I have taken General Chemistry I and II, and Organic Chemistry I. Out of these classes, only General Chemistry I seems to make use of the periodic table, but it is mostly just going through the basics of the periodc table. Not so much in Gen Chem II or Orgo I. I mean they give it to you, but you don't need it that much. I will be finishing Organic II, but what other chemistry courses will make heavy use of the periodic table?
 
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This is kind of like asking: after kindergarten, when else do you use the alphabet?

The periodic table is a tool. Once you cover the basics behind it, you advance to other things. The table itself becomes "assumed knowledge."
 
Ric-Veda said:
So far, I have taken General Chemistry I and II, and Organic Chemistry I. Out of these classes, only General Chemistry I seems to make use of the periodic table, but it is mostly just going through the basics of the periodc table. Not so much in Gen Chem II or Orgo I. I mean they give it to you, but you don't need it that much. I will be finishing Organic II, but what other chemistry courses will make heavy use of the periodic table?
Always, ALL courses
 
Ok maybe every chemistry course uses it. For my organic chemistry class, I just needed to know a few elements, electronegativity, and atomic numbers, but other than that, there was no use of the periodic table. Gen Chem II, It was the same thing. but we never looked at the periodic table. I understand that you need to know the basics of the periodic table, but what other chem courses do you use the periodic table extensively or study it more in depth? Inorganic, Physical, Biochemistry, analytical?

Again you just needed to know a few parts of the periodic table for Gen Chem II and Organic I, but we never really went in depth with it or use it extensively.
 
Ric-Veda said:
Ok maybe every chemistry course uses it. For my organic chemistry class, I just needed to know a few elements, electronegativity, and atomic numbers, but other than that, there was no use of the periodic table. Gen Chem II, It was the same thing. but we never looked at the periodic table. I understand that you need to know the basics of the periodic table, but what other chem courses do you use the periodic table extensively or study it more in depth? Inorganic, Physical, Biochemistry, analytical?

Again you just needed to know a few parts of the periodic table for Gen Chem II and Organic I, but we never really went in depth with it or use it extensively.
If you get more involved with the chemistry of materials (often taught in a materials science and engineering dept rather than a chemistry dept), you will make extensive use of the periodic table. E.g., for semiconductor materials, you will study Group IV elemental semiconductors and Group III-V and Group II-VI compound semiconductors; for optical glasses, you will study rare Earth's; for high-temperature applications, you will study refractory metals; ...
 
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