Chemistry Resources

Study Tips for Chemistry

This is specifically written for CHEM 1001 but can apply to other Chemistry courses as well.

By completing past exams that are posted on Brightspace it provides a helpful example of the format that your exam will most likely follow.

Do the past final exams that are posted on Brightspace

These will greatly resemble the format of your exam

  • Redo your own midterms
  • Redo the past midterms posted on Brightspace
  • Redo the tutorials
  • Make sure you can do the questions without looking at your notes or your formula sheet

Review WileyPLUS and ORION

  • Look over the assignments
  • Complete extra ORION questions
  • Look at your proficiency graphs to see where you should focus your studying
  • Review Read, Study and Practice Tab
    • Classroom Resources
    • Videos
    • Animations
    • Interactive LearningWare
    • ChemFAQ

Create a formula sheet and memorize it

  • Make sure you memorize the formulas that keep popping up on the past exams/midterms – these are the ones you need to make sure you know!
  • Also include any constants that you need to know (R) and their corresponding units
  • Also include conversions you need to know (°C to K)
  • Make sure you understand the units of the variables within the formula so that you know how to properly use the formula.

Make sure you understand and can recite any key theory

  • Review both the textbook and lecture slides for aspects of this category
  • Know key chemical concepts and reactions
    • Chapman cycle of ozone
    • Definitions of ∆H, ∆E, ∆q, etc.
    • Quantization of energy levels to produce color
    • AUFBAU
    • Hybridization theory
    • VSEPR
    • Just to name a few!

Make flashcards for important information

  • Include some information such as
    • Formulas
    • Terminology
    • Chemical Symbols
    • Le Chatelier’s Principle
    • Acids and Bases
    • Oxidants and Reductants

    • Unit conversions

Rewrite out your notes or create simplified notes

  • These can be based off just the lecture or by incorporating the textbook as well
    • Sometimes the textbook has useful definitions or mechanisms that may be tested on and are good to summarize within your own words
  • The key to study notes is taking the information and putting it into your own words. It helps you to not only interpret what you are reading and learning but also be able to read back what you wrote in a way that makes sense to you.
  • Try using different colors within your notes for headlines or important topics so that it makes the information more exciting to read back.
  • Try to keep these study notes as neat as possible and try not to just copy down every single word that is in the textbook or on slides rather try to summarize to lighten your load.

Practice, Practice, Practice

  • Try using some of the online tools in order to practice sample questions
  • Review tutorial questions
  • Reread your notes
  • Complete the Mock exams and worksheets created by PASS as additional practice.
  • Use practice websites such as Khan Academy
    • This will review not only questions but also lecture content
  • Chemistry Undergraduate Administration
    • They have office hours in which they may be answer some of your general chemistry questions or questions regarding your degree.
  • For CHEM 1001 there is a list on Brightspace for Chemistry Tutors if you think that you may need additional course-related assistance
  • For general studying techniques and time management feel free to come to the SSSC to be assigned a mentor to go over different techniques such as these.

 

Last updated 08/10/2023

Search Carleton