[miriam0920 (OP)]

I would like to know from all the chemist here, if the first class of chemistry the hardest or not?
somebody told me that the first & second chemistry classes were the hardest from all of the B.S. degree.  Is this true?
I would appreciate your answer and /or opinion on this.

[lightarrow]

I would like to know from all the chemist here, if the first class of chemistry the hardest or not?
somebody told me that the first & second chemistry classes were the hardest from all of the B.S. degree.  Is this true?
I would appreciate your answer and /or opinion on this.

I think that's right, if you don't have already a pretty good knowledge of basic mathematics and physics; anyway I'm referring to my old studies in Italy, don't know in your country.

[miriam0920 (OP)]

Hey thanks!  Lightarrow, I thought so, and was hoping you said yes because this first chemistry class is a challenge.  What part of Italy are you?  Italy is awesome.  I've been to Venice, Livorno, and Rome.  Being American as I am, we have to change the English system to European system (Metric).  I guess that's the hardest part for me.  But once I practice it alot it will become routinary   []  I hope.  Any advise?   I also need a tutor in chemistry any volunteers?

Marianne

[lightarrow]

Hey thanks!  Lightarrow, I thought so, and was hoping you said yes because this first chemistry class is a challenge.  What part of Italy are you?  Italy is awesome.  I've been to Venice, Livorno, and Rome.  Being American as I am, we have to change the English system to European system (Metric).  I guess that's the hardest part for me.  But once I practice it alot it will become routinary   []  I hope.  Any advise?   I also need a tutor in chemistry any volunteers?

Marianne

Hello Miriam!
I'm from Arezzo, Tuscany (near Florence), born in Florence.
About tutoring, we will do what we can. Ask the issues you really cannot solve by yourself after a deep effort, and try always to describe the way you have used to "face" the problem, ok?
Best wishes for your studies!

[miriam0920 (OP)]

Florence, Italy, what a beautiful place.  So are you a chemist?  I guess it's easier for you because now here in USA after studying the English Conversion we have to change to the Metric Conversion.  I hope you understand from pounds to grams.  And for now this is giving me a headache.  I have a quiz on Wednesday and would like to know a tip on how to easier convert mL to L  and kL and vice versa.

[lightarrow]

Florence, Italy, what a beautiful place.  So are you a chemist?  I guess it's easier for you because now here in USA after studying the English Conversion we have to change to the Metric Conversion.  I hope you understand from pounds to grams.  And for now this is giving me a headache.  I have a quiz on Wednesday and would like to know a tip on how to easier convert mL to L  and kL and vice versa.

No, I'm not a chemist. I studied physics for 3 years and then chemistry for 2 years; didn't get any degree.

[DrDick]

I would like to know from all the chemist here, if the first class of chemistry the hardest or not?
somebody told me that the first & second chemistry classes were the hardest from all of the B.S. degree.  Is this true?
I would appreciate your answer and /or opinion on this.

Let me see if I understand your question, first.  Are you asking if the first year of a chemistry degree is harder than the first year of other degrees?  If so, I suppose that depends on the person.  Personally, I found the first year of chemistry pretty easy (I have a B.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry).  I found my humanities classes more difficult.

Dick

[Make it Lady]

I never did the first year. I was so brilliant they put me straight into the second year....Joke.

I actually did my first year part time whilst working in Industry. I found that easy but then the full time second year was hell on Earth. I really enjoyed my third year as I could specialise (read choose all the easy courses so I could doss around.)

[miriam0920 (OP)]

Dr. Dick , OMG chemistry easy?  I guess you're a born scientist!  Is that I heard some time ago that chemistry is hard at first, but then it's a piece of cake.  Hope so because Im making my last years of career working in a pharmaceutical company.  Hopefully, I'm just fulfilling my mid-life crisis.  9 years ago I decided to study science since I enjoyed them so much in school.  Just wanted a change in my boring life, something challenging.  I guess I found it. How many years of your life this you study?

[Make it Lady]

Most people buy a sports car and find a new partner. I have never heard of anyone choosing Chemistry studies as a mid-life crisis.

[miriam0920 (OP)]

Hahaha, Lady you have make me laugh.  That is so true.  I have never heard of any of that too.  I wanted a Benz badly, but I had to decide whether I wanted to buy one or leave the money in the bank.  I chose to leave the money in the bank for rainy days.  Now I drive a minivan and my other dream was to be a chemist, so at least, since I'm still healthy, beautiful and young I can opt to accomplish that one.  Hahaha.  I can be the best woman chemist known in the 21st century.  The knowledge comes from up above, not any picoentity still unknown to human society.

[lightarrow]

Hahaha, Lady you have make me laugh.  That is so true.  I have never heard of any of that too.  I wanted a Benz badly, but I had to decide whether I wanted to buy one or leave the money in the bank.  I chose to leave the money in the bank for rainy days.  Now I drive a minivan and my other dream was to be a chemist, so at least, since I'm still healthy, beautiful and young I can opt to accomplish that one.  Hahaha.  I can be the best woman chemist known in the 21st century.  The knowledge comes from up above, not any picoentity still unknown to human society.

...Anyway, in case you also want a new partner, I'm single...   []
Bye!

[miriam0920 (OP)]

Lightarrow, thank you, I feel honored, imagine Italian and scientist, wow.  The only thing is that I am happily married.  []
I'm sure you have a lot of cats out there purrrrring for you.


Miriam
 

[DrDick]

Dr. Dick , OMG chemistry easy?  I guess you're a born scientist!  Is that I heard some time ago that chemistry is hard at first, but then it's a piece of cake.  Hope so because Im making my last years of career working in a pharmaceutical company.  Hopefully, I'm just fulfilling my mid-life crisis.  9 years ago I decided to study science since I enjoyed them so much in school.  Just wanted a change in my boring life, something challenging.  I guess I found it. How many years of your life this you study?

I would definitely say that general chemistry (1st year in the states) is not the hardest class in the chemistry curriculum. 

Some people think organic is easier, some think it's harder.  It's just very different.

Physical chemistry is definitely harder.  General chemistry is kind of like P-chem lite. 

I didn't think inorganic chemistry was too bad, but descriptive inorganic is a lot of memorization (more so than organic).

How many years of schooling?  All-in-all, 11 years since high school, but I sometimes don't count my two years at Caltech, since I didn't get a degree from there.  I left to get a job, instead, then returned to grad school several years later for a second try.  Normally, it's 4 years for the bachelor's + 5 years for the Ph.D., although that can vary a bit from person to person.

[miriam0920 (OP)]

Dr. Dick,

Excuse my question, but what is physical chemistry?  I've never heard of that one.  I know inorganic chemistry deals with elements with non-carbon on it and organic chemistry deals with carbon.  What do we learn in physical chemistry?

[DrDick]

As I mentioned, physical is a lot like general chemistry, but you go more in depth into the topics.  Physical chemistry is, as implied, a mix of physics and chemistry, and studies the forces and properties associated with matter.  To give a few examples of topics:
thermodynamics
kinetics
quantum mechanics
electrochemistry
atomic structure

Since you've taken general chemistry, you should recognize these topics.  In general chemistry, the coverage of the topics is rather superficial.  In p-chem, you dig deeper into these topics, which requires more math (meaning calculus, at least).  In my opinion, this was the most difficult of the chemistry courses that I took, but it was also one of the most intellectually rewarding.  I liked it so much I took three semesters of it, although I eventually went into the field of inorganic chemistry.

Just as physics and chemistry can combine into physical chemistry (or chemical physics), you can also combine physical chemistry with other chemical fields, to get things like physical organic chemistry, physical inorganic chemistry or bio-physical chemistry to name a few.

Dick

[miriam0920 (OP)]

Dr. Dick, thank you for your reply.  You know, I have taken college chemistry before, but changing from one university to another (due to PCSing)I had to repeat this chemistry (101).   If all the professors were as good as the one I have right now, I would easily succeed . I mean this professor explains chemistry as if we were five years old, hahaha.  Well at my age I guess I should just consider a B.S. in chemistry.  I guess for me that would be satisfactory. Living in Europe (Germany) for five years put a stop to my studies, yet I don't regret it.  I love Europe and spent my time very well traveling to different countries that borders Germany and even England, Spain and Sweden.  Hey, I can't complain about that. Luckily now here in good old Texas, and by the way, howdy, I have the opportunity I've been waiting for.