[XFantasyX]

Er hi guys, care to share how u guys get good grades for O lvl chemistry? The topics all inter-linking >.< and it's confusing at times. And how to excel if not studying in groups? because i prefer studying alone and not with a bunch of noisy people explaining.

The tips can be the steps to how u approach this difficult subject. Open to all opinions ^^

[shakakuzougeiro]

same i prefer studying alone as well! if it's organic chem, try nt to just keep memorising but understand the formulas at the same time... i have this friend who memorises CH4 =methane= frm alkane grp
she does the same for other chemical substances as well..

[hooolahoop]

for chemistry, it's a both flexi yet woodblock subject. you have to memorise for the foundation, but understand it well to excel.... for those metals and properties, have to memorise... i don't really know how to teach you the method, 'cos for me, i just slack throughout then work on some questions, and i can do okay for my chemistry =X

[XFantasyX]

haha i like organic chem , so tat topic i believe shldnt be a problem anymore,however, the other aspects of chemistry i don't think i 'm gd in it. anyway i have a qns, After clearing my concepts, shld i proceed to TYS or other sch prelim papers 1st?

[Calis]

Originally Posted by XFantasyX

Er hi guys, care to share how u guys get good grades for O lvl chemistry? The topics all inter-linking >.< and it's confusing at times. And how to excel if not studying in groups? because i prefer studying alone and not with a bunch of noisy people explaining.

The tips can be the steps to how u approach this difficult subject. Open to all opinions ^^

Start from the most fundamental concepts - what is a chemical reaction, what are ions, molecules and types of bonds etc...

Almost all topics can be understandable easily except for the physical and chemical properties of metals, especially transition metals which require a certain amount of memorisation.

Browse through your textbook's content page and see how the chapters are organised. Understand why they're arranged in that particular flow - typically:

1. the fundamentals of chemistry - separation techniques, basic lab procedures,
classification of matters, basic definition and concept of chemical reactions,
2. Types of bonds
followed by
3. the specific chemical reactions (redox, acid-base, exothermic & endothermic) and writing chemical equations (able to express elements, ions, compounds in their respective symbols, states and charges correctly)
4. Mole Concept (Concentrations of solutions, the Mole and their calculations etc), Ideal Gas Equation, Kinetic Theory
5. the grouping of elements, the elements itself and their chemical & physical properties,
6. more advanced reactions such as electrolysis,
followed by
7. organic chemistry at the end.

After understanding this flow, when you study each chapter, look for what objectives you have to achieve and get an overview of what that chapter covers by studying the summary at the back of the chapter. After that only do you plunge into studying the details of the chapter. After studying 2 rounds, attempt the summary or write a summary of that chapter yourself from scratch to see if you have grasped the gist.

After covering 3-4 chapters, do a review / refresh of all 4 chapters and identify the links between all the chapters. This will help you piece the whole subject gradually like working on a jig-saw puzzle and see the whole picture from a new perspective.

If you still need any assistance, feel free to PM me. I'll be glad to share more with you on how to study for chemistry.

[ethyne]

O level chemistry arh..
u need a good grasp of the Mole Concept/Stoichiometry which involves simple ratio.when u can get your ratio right your calculations will score.. be very careful and check your work.

Physical Chemistry:knowledge of Chemical Bonding and Structure of Elements/Compounds is very impt. use them to explain alot of properties. u need to visualise the structure of the compound

Organic Chemistry: die die also must remember the reactants . conditions. inter-functional grp conversion and products eg esterification, amide formation etc.

[glamour.ya16]

Chemistry drives me nut.. I can hardly understand the organic chemistry

[Calis]

Chemistry isn't that hard. For organic chemistry, the gist lies in understanding the chemical properties and reactions of the functional groups and the carbon-carbon bonds.

[XFantasyX]

Originally Posted by ethyne

O level chemistry arh..
u need a good grasp of the Mole Concept/Stoichiometry which involves simple ratio.when u can get your ratio right your calculations will score.. be very careful and check your work.

Physical Chemistry:knowledge of Chemical Bonding and Structure of Elements/Compounds is very impt. use them to explain alot of properties. u need to visualise the structure of the compound

Organic Chemistry: die die also must remember the reactants . conditions. inter-functional grp conversion and products eg esterification, amide formation etc.

haha i notice ur username is ethyne.. similar to Ethene xD

k thx for the advices ^^

[summerberi]

lol....me too. i can't seem to get chemistry.. study or don study still get F9.. zzz... i noe the concepts and all but i still can't do well... even if i don get an A, i shld at least get a pass rite? dunno wat went wrong... maybe shld follow Calis method..

[-chocomint]

Originally Posted by Calis

Start from the most fundamental concepts - what is a chemical reaction, what are ions, molecules and types of bonds etc...

Almost all topics can be understandable easily except for the physical and chemical properties of metals, especially transition metals which require a certain amount of memorisation.

Browse through your textbook's content page and see how the chapters are organised. Understand why they're arranged in that particular flow - typically:

1. the fundamentals of chemistry - separation techniques, basic lab procedures,
classification of matters, basic definition and concept of chemical reactions,
2. Types of bonds
followed by
3. the specific chemical reactions (redox, acid-base, exothermic & endothermic) and writing chemical equations (able to express elements, ions, compounds in their respective symbols, states and charges correctly)
4. Mole Concept (Concentrations of solutions, the Mole and their calculations etc), Ideal Gas Equation, Kinetic Theory
5. the grouping of elements, the elements itself and their chemical & physical properties,
6. more advanced reactions such as electrolysis,
followed by
7. organic chemistry at the end.

After understanding this flow, when you study each chapter, look for what objectives you have to achieve and get an overview of what that chapter covers by studying the summary at the back of the chapter. After that only do you plunge into studying the details of the chapter. After studying 2 rounds, attempt the summary or write a summary of that chapter yourself from scratch to see if you have grasped the gist.

After covering 3-4 chapters, do a review / refresh of all 4 chapters and identify the links between all the chapters. This will help you piece the whole subject gradually like working on a jig-saw puzzle and see the whole picture from a new perspective.

If you still need any assistance, feel free to PM me. I'll be glad to share more with you on how to study for chemistry.

woots!thanx!im doing olvlchem next yr & thanx 4 ur advise!sryy i dun have any advice

[booey]

i think organic chem got alot to memorise and metals too

[Calis]

Originally Posted by booey

i think organic chem got alot to memorise and metals too

Actually organic chem don't have a lot to memorise. Unless you want to go into details of the mechanisms of dehydration, hydration, cracking, esterification etc. As long as you grasp the functional group each family has and understand the reactions for that functional group, you're safe. For 'O' level syllabus, general mechanisms / equations to explain the reactions should suffice.

Metals have much more to memorise, especially transition elements (cuz of the various charges & colours for each charge). But for "O" levels syllabus, it should be manageable.

[stormcontrol]

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[Lunatiquely Lem]

I FAILED chem... stupid redox and qualitative analysis... and now, electrolysis... I am so screwed...

[Calis]

Originally Posted by Lunatiquely Lem

I FAILED chem... stupid redox and qualitative analysis... and now, electrolysis... I am so screwed...

Where are you having difficulties in these 3 topics? Redox is the easiest among these 3.

Redox = Reduction & Oxidation occurring at the same time.

For QA, you have reference on the various ions. Follow the procedures and use elimination or deduction methods to derive the possible ions. The important skills to master are clean filtration and keen observation of changes of solution colours, precipitation, production of gases etc.

[booey]

Originally Posted by Calis

Actually organic chem don't have a lot to memorise. Unless you want to go into details of the mechanisms of dehydration, hydration, cracking, esterification etc. As long as you grasp the functional group each family has and understand the reactions for that functional group, you're safe. For 'O' level syllabus, general mechanisms / equations to explain the reactions should suffice.

Metals have much more to memorise, especially transition elements (cuz of the various charges & colours for each charge). But for "O" levels syllabus, it should be manageable.

yea the dehydration, hydration, hydrogenation, cracking, ESTERIFICATION, MACROMOLECULES must memorise alot, especially the reactions' conditions.

[xiaolinn]

memorise and understand, and learn to apply it, because in the exam they dun come out normal questions..they usually test on your application.

[fathernature]

wow is pure chemistry that difficult?

[Calis]

Originally Posted by xiaolinn

memorise and understand, and learn to apply it, because in the exam they dun come out normal questions..they usually test on your application.

Yes, the capability to apply what you understand to explain and solve problems presented is the demonstration to the markers that you have fully grasped and mastered the topics, especially when multiple topics are within the problem.