Is Chem over-rated?

[Yacoubb]

Hi guys I'm starting yr 11 Chem this year. I have a love for Science + I am passionate about Chem! Is it really over-rated? I mean, I'm fairly good at becoming used to set topics and I adapt quickly. Are these important assets for Chem? Also, how much (dumb question, I know) relevance does it have to 3+4 in terms of content? This is because I don't want to disregard yr 11 Chem whilst doing my 2 yr 12 subjects this year.


Thanks,
Y

[Reckoner]

What do you mean by over-rated? It general terms, no way! Chem is awesome 

Chemistry is one of the subjects where units 1/2 are very important and relevant to what you do it units 3/4. Topics such as moles, stoichiometry and gases have to become almost instinctive. This takes time to happen, and is very difficult to achieve without a strong base from year 11.

Of course prioritise your 3/4s over your 1/2s, up to a point. As the year progresses, regularly ask yourself "am I falling behind on my 1/2s? Do I understand the topics as well as I'd like to?". If the answer in no, then dedicate a little more time towards them. However, your obviously aware of not neglecting your 1/2s,you're passionate about chem, and you sat you can understand topics fairly quickly so I'm sure that you won't fall behind. And if you do find yourself behind though, ask as many questions as you like on the forum, heaps of people are more than willing to help you out!

Best of luck with chem, I'm sure you'll love it! 

[Yacoubb]

What do you mean by over-rated? It general terms, no way! Chem is awesome 

Chemistry is one of the subjects where units 1/2 are very important and relevant to what you do it units 3/4. Topics such as moles, stoichiometry and gases have to become almost instinctive. This takes time to happen, and is very difficult to achieve without a strong base from year 11.

Of course prioritise your 3/4s over your 1/2s, up to a point. As the year progresses, regularly ask yourself "am I falling behind on my 1/2s? Do I understand the topics as well as I'd like to?". If the answer in no, then dedicate a little more time towards them. However, your obviously aware of not neglecting your 1/2s,you're passionate about chem, and you sat you can understand topics fairly quickly so I'm sure that you won't fall behind. And if you do find yourself behind though, ask as many questions as you like on the forum, heaps of people are more than willing to help you out!

Best of luck with chem, I'm sure you'll love it! 

Thank you so much for the advice!!

[watto_22]

Is it really over-rated? I mean, I'm fairly good at becoming used to set topics and I adapt quickly.

I don't really see how those two sentences are related - how is 'over-rated' linked to being 'used to set topics' or adapting quickly - so I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "is chem over-rated?"

However, aside from guys who ended up getting 45+ scores for chemistry, I do not know of anyone who has said positive things about chem.
At my school at least, you were either really good at chem and you enjoyed it, or you were not a fan of it at all.
Sounds like you'll be in the former.

1/2 chem is really important for 3/4. Make sure you are completely confident with the 1/2 course before you start with the 3/4 stuff or else you'll be in serious trouble for chem 3/4

[vcestudent94]

Maybe he means overrated at being a subject that is easy to do well in? That's the only thing I could come up with that makes sense.

[Yacoubb]

Sorry look maybe I mean over-rated like people say its too difficult and literally an impediment to get over 40 raw! Or I don't know lol!

[pi]

It's a tough subject, but it's not *that* tough.

[Yacoubb]

It's a tough subject, but it's not *that* tough.

Thank You That is the answer I wanted. I haven't really been exposed to the huge difficulty yet. I have, for holiday homework, completed electron shells and sub-shells, and they are so much fun!!

[Shenz0r]

If you do all the required work and have a passion for it, no subject is too difficult. Chemistry was a very fun practical subject; I always looked forward to pracs in Year 12, such as making Aspirin. The 3/4 course was very interesting.

That said, in 1/2 you must make sure you build a strong foundation for calculations, which is the harder part during Year 11. Because next year, in 3/4, you will encounter calculation questions like no tomorrow.

[teletubbies_95]

Yay! A cool Chemster!! Firstly , if you have any problems, post on the chem 1/2 board and I'm sure someone will answer you!

Chem, was like one of 3/4s in year 11. I had to put a lot of hard work and practice into it, with my brain saying " if I don't get it now, I'll never get it in 3/4" . The 1/2 course is largely connected to the 3/4 ( ie. the first 5 chapters are revision of year 11 concepts). So I personally wouldn't neglect it. And as you are passionate about science, I don't think you will.

I had a heap of trouble doing moles! And I think it's best to tell you that it will take time to grasp onto the concept and a lot of practice. It's a tough topic , so don't worry and just do a lot of practice! I took me like a month to grasp it!

Experiments, i think, are the best part of chem. especially titrations, which you do in unit 2!!

Good luck!!

[thushan]

Is chem overrated? In terms of awesomeness, no.

[Shenz0r]

Experiments, i think, are the best part of chem. especially titrations, which you do in unit 2!!

They're actually so fun because they require precision. You have to go as slowly as possible, because if you accidentally put in one drop more than you're supposed to...YOU OVERSHOOT THE ENDPOINT

And then you get E for your practical.

(i'm just joking here - but it's awesome when you're the only one who doesn't overshoot their titration)

[Yacoubb]

They're actually so fun because they require precision. You have to go as slowly as possible, because if you accidentally put in one drop more than you're supposed to...YOU OVERSHOOT THE ENDPOINT

And then you get E for your practical.

(i'm just joking here - but it's awesome when you're the only one who doesn't overshoot their titration)

Ooh thank you for the tip!

[MagicGecko]

Over-rated? Heck no!
Underestimated? Hell yeah! *shivers*

[chisel]

Over-rated? Heck no!
Underestimated? Hell yeah! *shivers*

haha yeah good point, how much is it marked up?