Prepare for class. Read the book before material is to be covered
in class, and come prepared with questions on things you don't understand.
A large portion of the course involves solving various problems, even more
so in CHM 1046 than in CHM 1045. In addition to the old tests and quizzes
on the web, interactive drill problems on the web, and the practice quizzes
and tests on the Prentice Hall web site, a list of suggested end-of-chapter
practice problems is given below. Answers to the odd problems are given
in the book, and a solutions manual is available that explains how the
problem is worked. Usually there is more than one way to set up and solve
chemistry problems, especially complex ones, and understanding what you
are doing and why is preferred to memorizing steps.
Some memorization will be necessary, such as solubilities, and you should
undertake these tasks as they come up, not the night before a test. Take
good class notes, revise them after class to see if there are points you
don't understand, and develop a content outline from the notes to serve
as a study guide for each exam. When you have trouble working a problem,
after it is explained try working another similar one from those at the
end of the chapter. Try making up your own substitute problem to solve.
Back to top