chemistry unit 2!

[ashoni]

Hey guys, so as the end of Unit 1 subjects approaches, im considering to change from Legal Studies --> Chemistry. I found LS to be reaally boring as it didn't play to my strengths at all (strengths is mostly maths, but science is pretty fun too!). I was just wondering would it be any disadvantage for me that I had missed out the whole of Unit 1 (is it that important in context to year 12)? If so, what advice could you give me so that I can catch up a semesters work.
Also, if I do end up picking up chemistry, would it help me in a way with any of my other VCE subjects (English, Further Maths (Year 12), Mathematical Methods (CAS), Specialist and Physics) probably physics the most beneficial.
And, I'd just like to know how hard Chemistry is? In terms of content and also time studying.

Thanks

[Markkiieee]

I find it hard. Mainly because I find it boring and I'm not to good with maths.

[ashoni]

:O! if chemistry is mostly maths I'd be over the moon!

[IndefatigableLover]

From what I understand of Unit 1... It's basically:

• Atoms (History & RAM + Ions)
• Periodic Table Trends
• The Mole (Empirical/Molecular)
• Bonding (Intramolecular and Intermolecular)
• Organic Chemistry

:O! if chemistry is mostly maths I'd be over the moon!

Maths plays a part in Chemistry due to the numerous formulas/constants so yes it would play to your strengths

[ligands]

i'd make sure you know the mole concept (really well), bonding and organic chem fairly well but mol concept is tested throughout all of unit 2 (stoich), the rest of unit 1 is pretty pointless other than atoms but they are very straightforward

[Destiny]

The maths in chemistry is unegaging and rather repetitive.  Sig figs gets confusing, be warned, since Methods asks for decimal places/exact values
English - definitely not, but english is important understanding chem questions (lol)
Further - no clue
Spesh - A tiny bit (applications).  The only thing I really got out of it is alpha symbol = directly proportional
Physics - no clue
methods - nope, Chem has a level of maths that 13 year olds can deal with.
Biology and chem share a quater of the course.

[ashoni]

Hmm yeah im pretty sure I can tackle those topics over these semester holidays, even after exams
I reckon I could do reasonably well in chemistry, kind of regretting not choosing it in the first place, but I'm not that far off everyone else am i? But I really want a SS>35 for chemistry

[Lasercookie]

Also, if I do end up picking up chemistry, would it help me in a way with any of my other VCE subjects (English, Further Maths (Year 12), Mathematical Methods (CAS), Specialist and Physics) probably physics the most beneficial.

VCE subjects don't really 'help' other subjects all that much, there's a bit of overlap and related concepts (e.g. calculus, learn about vectors in spesh, use them in physics etc.), but I wouldn't say it's really a 'benefit', more like 'oh neat, these concepts relate together pretty well'.

There's things like in Unit 3 Chemistry, you cover spectroscopy, which relates pretty well to content in Unit 4 Physics. In Unit 3 Chem you also do a bit of protein and DNA stuff, which relates to biology - I don't know what part of VCE bio specifically though (don't get put off by this, it's actually quite interesting). I dunno much about Unit 4 chem, having not done it yet.  edit: Oh and the different models of the atoms also relates to Unit 4 physics - overall though, they're slightly different perspectives on things, the main focus for the topics is different.


While things have neat mathematical relationships and that you will be calculating a lot of stuff in Chemistry, it's not a maths subject, the concepts and what's going on 'chemically' is what is the key (you could replace the word chemistry and chemically with physics and physically here too). 

In terms of catching up, have a talk to the chem teacher at your school. They might point you in the right direction. In terms of resources, chemguide.co.uk and youtube (khanacademy specifically) might be a good place to start (but you'd need to know what topics to take a look at first though). You're not really disadvantaged at all really, you'd be able to pick up Unit 3/4 chemistry without having done Unit 1/2 if you really wanted to (provided you were willing to work hard to catch up)

[Destiny]

Stuff in bio and chemistry:
-DNA structure and function
- Protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary) and function
- Gel electrophoresis, PCR and restriction enzymes
- Condensation reactions
- Carbohydrate, protein, lipid and DNA composition (elements)
   - The monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides
   - Names of the bonds (e.g. peptide, phophodiester, glycolysis)
- General knowledge.  It helps when doing practice exams because where your peers who haven't done bio go WTF over some slightly off question, you can just use your Bio knowledge and answer the question. Plus, you're more likely to have seen some bits in Unit 3 before, and not freak out on the exam.

[KevinooBz]

I find it hard. Mainly because I find it boring and I'm not to good with maths.

It says you might want to get into medicine, don't you need Chemistry as a pre requisite? Back to the thread, don't do subjects you find boring because you'll most likely achieve better results with subjects you enjoy. When you did Year 10 Science, did you enjoy Chemistry? If you did, moving to Unit 2 from a Legal seems like a viable option for you. You also have heaps of time to catch up so there shouldn't be any issue, unless you realize you hate Chemistry. Chemistry is one of those bludge classes for me but when I get home I read all the material myself and the concepts aren't über hard. Seriously I play Pokemon on my phone and I got 100% on the first SAC. Don't recommend it though if you have a good teacher, my teacher has a terrible Malaysian accent and he doesn't answer my questions I ask him in regards to the subject.

[Destiny]

I hated chemistry in Yr 11, now it's my favourite subject