$PV=nRT$

J_Rodriguez_Dis2k
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:00 am

I know that in the course reader it says to read chapter 5 for a review for gases. But every time i try reading the textbook i get intimidated and i stop reading the textbook . Do you guys find it more helpful when you guys read the textbook?

TeaK1C
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:00 am

I find it helpful to read the book when i don't completely understand a concept, because there are examples in the text as well. Maybe you should try just looking at the examples to see if you understand it and then if you don't reading the explanations around it instead of reading everything in the beginning.

Hayley Hammons 1L
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:00 am

Yes, I read the textbook and takes notes on information that comes up in the course reader. It takes a while but I find it really helpful for memory because you're writing down key concepts and it provides great examples and explanations that I can associate with concepts to help me remember them. If you don't want to read the whole chapter, there is always a bolded summary of the key concepts after each section in the chapter. For example, section 11.5 in chapter 11 will have a bolded summary separated from the last paragraph at the end. One could probably compile all the summaries to make a great study guide for the final!

Anne Cam 3A
Posts: 71
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:00 am

The text uses some different symbols from the ones we use and the equations are more advanced which can be intimidating, but it has a lot of useful background information in the actual text portion. The bolded words are also relevant most of the time.

Martha Xuncax 3G
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:56 pm

I personally find it easier to go through the course reader again to fully understand the key concepts, then start the homework, and if I come across concepts that i don't understand, then I go through the textbook to understand the smaller details.

Wesley_Rugen_1E
Posts: 23
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2016 2:00 am

I read the book and find it helps a lot when understanding difficult topics. They can use different symbols which can be confusing, but overall it helps me out a lot. Also doing the self-tests when going through the reading give me confidence when learning the content.

Chem_Mod
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### Re: Reading the textbook  [ENDORSED]

Several good suggestions here. Focus on the core and then expand.

The core is my lecture notes, examples, and assigned homework, then expand to the textbook for additional examples and details.

Focus on Chemical Equilibrium lecture notes and online modules (videos I made and Q&A).
Then do homework problems and textbook examples.
If you have some difficulty problem solving in this Chemical Equilibrium section then also look at the online Math Resources on my class website.

Additional background reading on Ideal Gases is only suggested if you have some difficulty on how to use PV = nRT for gas-phase reactions in the Chemical Equilibrium section. For example, as discussed in class:

P = n/V (RT) = concentration x RT
This equation allows conversion between concentration and partial pressure for a gas, and vice versa.

Hope this helps.

Korosh Bahrami
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:55 pm

I read the textbook for CHEM14A with Professor Li. I usually read it before lectures in order to gain a general understanding of what she was going to talk about in lecture. The key is to slowly read it over a few times until the information gets stuck in your head.

Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:56 pm

Are any textbook problems going to be included on the quiz and midterm or are they just going to be problems assigned in the homework? I usually do more than just the assigned problems anyway and sometimes I would find some similar questions during 14A with Lavelle.

Randon_Zahlout_3B
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:57 pm

I find reading the textbook very helpful. I usually like to do it while completing assigned problems- this way, I can try and learn how to solve a problem by going back and reading relevant sections instead of just trying to read the whole chapter at once without actually practicing any of the material.

Alex Uy 2D
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 2:00 am

I think reading the textbook is helpful after going to lecture because sometimes I leave lecture with a lot of unanswered questions and the textbook helps expand on details. It does get to be quite confusing sometimes though. Going to the peer facilitated learning sessions are also very helpful to me usually.

Tycho_Meimban_2B
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:57 pm

When reading the textbook I make sure that I not only read what is important, but also jot it down in a notebook, such as a definition (unless it is something that Dr. Lavelle does not mention) or a formula, even if it is a derived formula. I feel like reading the textbook is very helpful, if you know how to read a college textbook properly. Obviously, there's so much to read, and you cannot take notes on everything (unless you REALLY have the free time to do so, which I believe is impossible), so just look at what's important.

Hope this helps!

Posts: 37
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I read the textbook to prepare for Quiz 1, and what I found to be very helpful was to make my own formula sheet separated by subject (based on each section of the book). For example, I had one section devoted to enthalpy, one to entropy, one to Gibbs, etc. I also find highlighting very useful, but I definitely recommend only highlighting the super crucial information to avoid an overload of colors. Also, only highlighting the salient information helps your brain stay engaged with the reading. In addition to the homework problems assigned at the end of the chapter, I went through the self-test and checkpoint questions throughout the chapter, which were very useful particularly because they had step-by-step explanations.

shreya_mantri_3I
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:28 am

Just a question? Are some of the formulae in the textbook different from the formulae in the course reader? Speaking from experience, i usually find that reading different formulae really confuses me.

s_pinto2e
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:58 pm

Yes, I think some of the formulae are a bit different but not by much. For example in the specific heat equation, n is used for grams in the course reader whereas it is given as g (for grams) in the textbook.

904571591
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:00 am

I think read the textbook is needed if you have time. Our lecture goes really fast and no one can get all the point in the lecture, so reading the textbook and try to understand better is necessary. It is also a good way to review.

Phillip Tran
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 2:00 am

I should start reading the textbook more...

Jessica Wakefield 1H
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 2:00 am

To prepare for our test yesterday, I used the modules and also took notes on the suggested textbook readings. I think that taking notes on the textbook sections aided in my understanding in addition to the modules. I did find the modules more helpful and more engaging, though.

Jessica Wakefield 1H
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 2:00 am

To prepare for our test yesterday, I used the modules and also took notes on the suggested textbook readings. I think that taking notes on the textbook sections aided in my understanding in addition to the modules. I did find the modules more helpful and more engaging, though.

Janet Nguyen 2H
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:05 am

I think reading the textbook would be helpful even if you don't understand it. That way you get a taste of the material so during class the lecture will flow better.

Richard Braun 1I
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:05 am

I find reading the textbook helpful to gain a base understanding of the concepts, making solving the homework problems easier.

Richard Braun 1I
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:05 am

I find reading the textbook helpful to gain a base understanding of the concepts, making solving the homework problems easier.

Mitch Walters
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:07 am

I find reading the textbook to be invaluable.

Peter Dis1G
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Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:04 am

Mishta Stanislaus 1H
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:04 am

I️ think the best way to approach the textbook is by using the lecture notes as a sort of outline for the book. That way you can focus on the relevant informations as delivered in class. This method weeds out some of the overly complex detail in the textbook. Hope that helps!

Karen Zheng_2H
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:04 am

These methods really helped, thank you!!

AlyssaRivera
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:04 am

How useful is studying from the textbook in regards to test taking? Are tutoring/lecture notes better to study from?

Mjay 1F
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:02 am

AlyssaRivera wrote:How useful is studying from the textbook in regards to test taking? Are tutoring/lecture notes better to study from?

One of my friends who took this course last quarter said that it was helpful to study from the textbook only if you need further explanation but not to always use it because it does have different variables than from class sometimes which will overwhelm you!

Nienjou Claire 1E
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:05 am

I think reading the textbook definitely helps. Personally, I feel like it gives me a better overview of the big topics I am supposed to be learning. Professor Lavelle's lecture tend to be a little more focused on one specific topic and one specific example so I read the textbook to link ideas together and also to see more examples that are worked out step by step. I do usually skip the parts that we don't have to know/learn about.

Steve H
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:03 am

I find it tiresome to read the entire chapter in one night. Personally, I find the textbook useful so far as my chem background is not the best. I typically try to read the textbook in different sections and go to office hours if I am really confused.

Chem_Mod
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Reading the textbook can only help in further providing you with additional understanding.

Erin Li 1K
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:03 am

I get overwhelmed and intimidated when reading the textbook too, so I would recommend only doing so when you have your full attention to the book and no other distractions.

Jocelyn1B
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:04 am

I have the Pdf of the textbook and I also get overwhelmed reading it.
I do want to ask if the textbook would be recommended rather than reading it from the Pdf?

Angelica Garcia 1-H
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:02 am

is it helpful to work out the problems in the textbook from the chapter?

Gabi Landes 1-H
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2018 3:00 am

Personally I would only work out the pre & post module questions along with the assigned homework problems. Dr. Lavelle seems to do a good job of making what he wants you to know clear. If you try to do all the problems in the chapter you'll probably get overwhelmed.

Angelica Garcia 1-H wrote:is it helpful to work out the problems in the textbook from the chapter?

Amir Akhavan 1E
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:01 am

I feel that reading the textbook is very helpful in getting a better understanding of the topics in much more detail. Although it seems intimidating at first, it is readable and highly recommended.

yazminedesan1F
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 3:00 am

what's the best way to learn the material for someone who's not so familiar with chemistry concepts?

princessturner1G
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yazminedesan1F wrote:what's the best way to learn the material for someone who's not so familiar with chemistry concepts?

Completing the pre-assessment and the post-assessment are extremely helpful. I recommended doing these and watching the videos as well.

Yitzchak Jacobson 1F
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 3:00 am

In my opinion I feel like the textbook can be very helpful when filling in gaps for chemistry topics to get more clarity. with that said, when I have difficulty understanding certain concepts that Professor Lavelle covers, I find it very useful to watch is lectures online first, and then reading the textbook. I really hope this helps :)

Megan Phan 1K
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:04 am

In my own experience, reading the textbook helps me to clear up any confusions I have. When you already have the foundations from going to lecture down, reading the textbook solidifies any small misconceptions or reaffirms what you know. It's good to read it in order to absolutely make sure you are on the right track, when in doubt, reading it helps.

Taizha 1C
Posts: 36
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:01 am

Has anyone found any other resources outside of class that is useful for preparing for the test? Like any practice exam/test problems?

105012653 1F
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Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:02 am

Taizha 1C wrote:Has anyone found any other resources outside of class that is useful for preparing for the test? Like any practice exam/test problems?

I think using the course reader and taking advantage of the Peer Learning Sessions are really helpful, especially since my friends who had the class before really recommend it.

Jocelyn1B
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:04 am

How do you balance your other classes while still studying for chemistry?

yazminedesan1F
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 3:00 am

Jocelyn1B wrote:How do you balance your other classes while still studying for chemistry?

typically I set a certain amount of time each week just for chemistry, at least three times a week while also studying for a test the week before so I don't get overwhelmed

ElizabethP1L
Posts: 59
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:01 am

I think Dr. Lavelle is very thorough when it comes to explaining things, so maybe just use the textbook to brush up on something or for diagrams/visuals. Sometimes the practice problems throughout the chapter are good for solving the math in the exercises. Hope this helped! :)

Jocelyn1B
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:04 am

yazminedesan1F wrote:
Jocelyn1B wrote:How do you balance your other classes while still studying for chemistry?

typically I set a certain amount of time each week just for chemistry, at least three times a week while also studying for a test the week before so I don't get overwhelmed

Thank you!

Nimrat Brar 1E
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Been upvoted: 1 time

yazminedesan1F wrote:what's the best way to learn the material for someone who's not so familiar with chemistry concepts?

As someone who is also not very familiar with the chemistry concepts, I have found that watching the modules that Dr. Lavelle has posted online are extremely helpful. While watching them, I suggest to also take notes so you do not miss any of the important topics discussed. Additionally, reading through the textbook for further clarification on the lectures has proved to be a successful studying method for me! If you need a more simple basis to go from, I would also recommend Crash Course videos on specific topics as well as Khan Academy videos. Hope this helps.

Allen Chen 1J
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:04 am

I feel as though reading the textbook is not necessarily necessary, but I do find how it works through example problems helpful in particular.

Allen Chen 1J
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:04 am

yazminedesan1F wrote:
Jocelyn1B wrote:How do you balance your other classes while still studying for chemistry?

I try to go to the peer review sessions before each test.

Allen Chen 1J
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:04 am

Taizha 1C wrote:Has anyone found any other resources outside of class that is useful for preparing for the test? Like any practice exam/test problems?

Looking at the tests from fall quarter as extra practice can be really useful

Angelica Garcia 1-H
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:02 am

maybe he has tests in the test bank

Jocelyn1B
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:04 am

How many peer review sessions does one go to?

MinyoungHong_1L
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